Hey folks,

I have a LWJP that the play field magnet quits before the snagger grabs it.
The magnet energizes and usually grabs the ball but then quits and the snagger goes
back. In the switch test the "snagger motor home" and I think something like "snagger down"
are closed.

Any ideas as to why the mag quits?

Milton

Thanks LTG!

I will give it a whirl when I get done chowin'!

How's the WOZ? I was down there to pick up a hailed S.I. but again,
did not have time to stop! One of these days I'm going to get a room and
hit all the arcades!

Milton

Wait! It is the play field mag that stops!

Milton

Anyone? Play field mag quits and then the snagger does not move and eventually returns to the home position.
Sometimes the snagger gets partway towards the mag captured ball but usually
the play field mag quits and then it goes back home.
Should I check the transistor?

Milton

Hi StevenP,

The magnet is a little loose between the core and the bracket. But the core is tight against the
play field. The magnet works in the test phase. The snagger operation and snagger motor do not.

I pulled the assembly and the little board on the motor assembly has had some repairs. The holes
are messed up or I would re-populate the board. I will look for a replacement and see if that cures my probs!

Milty

Hey StevenP,

You can get one at Marco's. 520-5162-00 Opto slotted board.

https://www.marcospecialties.com/control/keywordsearch?SEARCH_STRING=520-5162-00

I have not checked with Jimmy @ the pinball resource yet. I'm not 100% sure that's it.
I don't have any more time until tomorrow night to diagnose. I may just jumper out the board to
make sure before I order it.

Milty

Well I really must have messed it up now! I put the motor back in and now it reports an error!

"Coil 18 Use Snagger Test" and now the center drop target does not reset! Yikes! I had better
quit fixing stuff!

Milton

I have done some more diagnostics: IF I enter the diagnostic portal and select "Lost", I can energize the motor and it will move up and down. I have verified the correct switches are closed. (Motor home, snagger down, drop target down).

When playing, the ball always gets captured by the upper pf magnet. Then it rolls down the lane and gets "caught" by the lower play field magnet. It holds it for about a second
and then releases it. The snagger usually does not move. Sometimes I get the snagger sound effects. In diagnostic mode the mag works fine.

Any ideas?

Milton

Nope. I wish! Sometimes it partially works. The snagger will start to come up but the lower pf magnet lets the ball go and it stops.

Will try some more tomorrow night.

Milty

I will check to see if there is another switch stuck on.

You may be on to something!

Milton

I think StevenP is on to something with another switch being on.

I have not got time to check it out.

Milton

That's what I'm thinking. I remember before being in the switch test mode and I think there was a
"ball trough" switch on. When I get some free time tonight I will diagnose and report.

Milt

I only had a second to check it out. Active switch shows the "VUK opto trough".

I bet that is the prob. It thinks it lost the ball before it does! I will check it out on Monday
and report the findings!

I hope I can sleep this weekend wondering about it!

Milty

Well that is not the problem. Back to square one. Active switches show 1,2,3, and 4th ball vuk.
Motor home, snagger down.

Weird! The top magnet snags the ball. Gravity rolls it to the pf mag below the snagger. It energizes for a second and stops the ball then quits. It activates the snagger sounds but the snagger does not move. In the diagnostic screen I can move the snagger.

Any ideas?

Milton

Drop target down works as well as drop target reset.
In the "Coil Test" the snagger will not operate.
In the "Lost" test the snagger works fine.

Crazy! Also in the switch test I noticed the entry/exit ramp switches are wrong on both sides. The exit is the first switch and the entry is the second!
Checking the wiring confirms they are wired correct. (i.e. brown/orange to brown/orange)
I think this must be a error on Sega's part.

Milton

Any Sega techs out there?
Routers? Someone must have had this problem before!

Milton

I pulled the whole mech and looked at everything.
The frame was a little twisted. Installed new opto board on the motor.
Same problems. Now the unit will only go "down". Checked the overtravel switches and they
are working as they should. In the "up" mode the relay just clicks.

Anyone have any suggestions where to go now?

Thank you for your time,

milton

Does your lower pf magnet grab the ball then let go?

Milty

I back traced power to the relay board.
Relay will not stay engaged. Ordered new relay. Will check wires and transistors now.

Milton

Another thing I find that switch 20 is stuck on.
Switch 20 is not used.

Anyone have a LWJP that they can verify switch 20 is on?

Milton

All transistors check good.
In the service alerts it claims switch 20 is stuck on.

In the switch test it does not report switch 20 as being on.

Milton

You have a different problem then me I believe. I would check the motor limit switches IF the optos
report good in the switch test. (i.e. motor home, snagger home, drop target down) IF the overtravel switch is engaged it will cut power to the snagger.

I will install new relay tomorrow IF it arrives in time. I did notice both transistors 18 and 19 have been replaced before. 18 must be a crossover as it is different from the rest of the them.

Milton

I can't figure out the "Switch 20 on". Switch 20 is not used! I think that is what is making
this whole problem.

I might have to start a new thread! Anyone with a LWJP have the same problem?

Milton

Sweet! Thanks.

Milton

Replaced the relay. It no longer clicks but still no reverse.

Took the assembly back down and checked it over. Bad diode on limit switch and
limit switch is intermittent. Using the "Dr.Pinball" on the service screen and following
all their "tests" it claims the I/O board is bad. I will wait for a limit switch and install new
diode and report. The switch 20 stuck on is what worries me. Perhaps the Dr. is right and the I/O is
bad.

Milton

Hey northvibe,

I'm glad to see you have the same switch stuck open.
That leads me to believe it is the bad limit switch/diode.

That would be too easy. Still would not account for the magnet releasing prematurely.

On Monday I should have more time to sort it.

Milton

Hi northvibe,

I was talking about my machine and what I believe is the problem. A bad limit switch and a bad diode. It may explain the replaced transistors on the board. IF the diode was bad then it may have taken out the tranny. They replaced the tranny but did not find the bad diode?

The stuck switch #20 really had me thinking it was causing the magnet to let go.
The machine thinking it did not have the ball because a switch was activated. But now that I see yours has the same thing I believe I can rule it out.

Hopefully the switch arrives soon and I will let you know if that solves it.
I think the snagger will then move in both directions but the mag will still not hang onto the ball.

Milton

Hey northvibe,

Will do! Hopefully the switch arrives today!

Milty

I need a pic of the wiring on the limit switch on the snagger motor.

Mine looks to be wired different then it shows in the manual.
IF someone could take a pic of theirs I would really appreciate it.

Thank you for your time,

Milton

Can anyone take a pic of the motor assembly under the PF?

I need a closeup of the limit switch and diode. I think the manual is wrong.

Milton

Hi northvibe,

Thanks. The manual is wrong. I will hook it up the way I think electricity works and
see what happens!

Milton

Ok- Replaced limit switch and diode and snagger now works perfectly in test mode.

I have not tried it in a game yet. Hey northvibe, I also ran across a cliffy with no holes
and no front lip. It should work fine. (Still did not find original and the one extra).

I ordered a couple of new bearings and a new belt for it. I also may drill new mounting holes.

Milton

Still have the same problem in a game. IF I put the ball on the lower pf magnet the snagger works fine. But if you roll the ball down the lane from the upper it grabs it for a second or two then wobbles off the magnet!

Anyone have this problem and solve it?

Milton

Well, the manual shows the snagger ass. with the diode connecting the common with the no switch contact. It should be on the nc contact pointing the other direction. To be fair it probably shown just for reference. It's a pretty straight forward system. The over travel switch cuts out the power if the opto misses it. This prevents the snagger from breaking a belt or something similar.

IF you are having trough issues that could cause your snagger to misbehave! The optos on the trough assy. are notorious for problems. I would solder a new led and receiver. They are cheap and easy to do.

I am about ready to give up on the snagger issue. I may replace the magnet in another effort of plug and pray!

Milton

Playing the machine today and it successfully snagged the ball 3 out of 5 times!
Weird!

Milton

I was looking at the magnets for sale and noticed mine maybe incorrect!
Mine looks exactly like the one in the picture WITHOUT the diode! Monday night
I will test mine to see if it has the diode. The mag has been replaced on this unit and
it could be they subbed the incorrect unit. They may have used the wrong mag and added the
diode. It might explain the replacement of the mag control transistor. They hardly ever go bad.

I will check Monday night and report.

Milton

Checked mag. They used the non-diode mag and added the diode.
I replaced it since I had it off for checking. I also noticed I needed to bend the outside lane
metal guide out to deflect the ball to the lower PF mag. Now it works about four out of five times!

Milton

Does the drop target switch work?

Milton