Nice machine! I wish I could help. Haha

I have nothing to offer in terms of help but this is the first game I ever owned (not this specific game but this title). It's the one that started the sickness.

Dave

You are going to love that game. I played a fully restored one over 5 years ago by one of the best EM restoration specialist on this earth and haven't been able to forget what a great player this game is. Nice Find!

Truly Williams big sleeper and most underrated 70's EM. Great rule set, very challenging and fast. Very hard machine to roll over, probably what I like most about it. This game constantly teases you into "Just one more". I have mine set to all conservative settings with 5 balls. You do not want to make it too easy. My own personal goal when I play is just to hit that 530,000 mark. You think it would be easy with that 200K double bonus available with every ball, think again. I have about 3,500 plays on mine and have only rolled it 14 times. My best first ball score is 788K. I accomplished that by constantly getting that extra ball out of the horseshoe.
Like egyptrus, this the game that started my sickness. You will not regret picking this one up.

Small suggested lighting mods that will make your playfield pop. Put a green #44 lamp in the double bonus insert and change all 10 bonus lamps with #44 yellows. Don't use LED's, it will look awful, I tried.

Enjoy.

I had one of these years ago. Did a total shop out and detail job on it and it came out great. My parents' neighbor bought it, and as far as I know he still has it.

I have a Williams Big Deal too.

Does look a... 'slightly' bit different though.

I have a Big Deal as well. My first "repair", still my favorite to play. Has multiple scoring challenges and things to accomplish. Good find, you'll really enjoy it.

I have a Dealers Choice that I need to get started on. Like you, I thought it would compliment my Big Deal.

Yeah, funny story when I got mine. At the time, I was jonesing for the reverse wedgehead single player Williams "Big Deal". I used to post ads in the local supermarket, and would get calls from time to time. So, one night my phone rings, and the guy says he saw my ad and has two pinball machines he wants to sell. I asked him what they were called. He said one was "Cow-Poke", and the other one was "Big Deal". Well, I nearly dropped the phone! I asked him if the "Big Deal" was a single player or multi-player player game, and from his description, I could tell that it was not the one I was hoping for.
Eventually though, I did get the two games (one of the toughest and most drawn out deals I've ever had!) and I restored and sold the "Big Deal" to recoup much of what I paid for the pair. It played fast, and was a pretty good player I thought. This particular one came out great, and I believe my parents' neighbor still has it. His kids are all grown up and gone now, but I guess he is still enjoying it.
The "Cow-Poke" was pretty decent except the cabinet was all slathered in orange paint, with big sunflower decals all over it.

"Big Deal" should behave the same way. If it comes on immediately, check the secondary switch on the left flipper to see if it's pinched closed, and check the relay that is supposed to pull in when you press the left flipper button (it's called a hold relay on a Gottlieb). It may be that the coil is fried and a previous owner simply bent the switch blades or jumpered it so that they're always closed. That's something that you commonly find.
You say the schematic shows that it should come on immediately. Could be, then. If the left flipper switch assembly has two switches, then likely it is configured so that you need to press the left flipper button after turning the game on in order to illuminate it.

I guess your interpretation of the schematic was correct then. I don't recall how mine was. I don't know when Williams changed that feature, but I thought all the EMs did this up until the SS era.

I have had a lot of Williams games. Seems that in 1976 they got rid of the push the left flipper button to power on. My 1976 Williams Space Odyssey turned on as soon as you flip the cabinet switch. Your game is working correctly.

Ken

Thanks for clearing that up. Don't have any of those later Williams EMs around to check.

My 1975 Williams Triple Strike pinball still made you hit the left flipper button to turn on the power.

missing the bracket and coil for the 100000 reel on the second player. Any idea where it can be obtained?

Hey Karl.
I have a ton of williams score reels, drop me a pic, and I will see if I can find one.
your not too far from me...

I had never seen this game before..... looks like a lot of fun!

Will look tonite

You might just be better off to try and find one on ebay or Mr. Pinball for a decent price.

They do come up from time to time.

My Big Deal comes on with the cabinet switch, no need to press the left flipper button......