I bought my first EM 4 days ago and powered it up for the first time 2 days ago (yeah, never plugged it in when I bought it).
I think I have it figured out but wanted some knowledgeable input before I tear into it.
Symptoms: when a Special is scored 2 coils lock on in the lower cabinet and will not turn off until power cord is pulled. They are the credit knocker and the lock relay. The larger lower coil on the replay unit in the head does get activated which I think is correct.
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This is where the problem is. the smaller coil on the replay unit should then be activated to release the arm connected to the larger coil which it does not do. If I manually move the plunger it will release the lever and the 2 coils in lower cabinet turn off. The plunger on this small coil moves very tightly (feels like there is a spring inside of the coil sleeve or it is just too tight). The number reel shows 2 and that has never changed, does not seem to move at all. My conclusion is that one or more parts on this replay unit are gummed up so they will not move freely. Which are the plunger on small coil, the part above and a little left of this coil, the wheel itself possibly.

One other item that is not electrical. The metal L stop brackets at the top of the head prevent the glass from falling out. I assume some sort of rubber bumper cushion should be on these to prevent glass to metal contact. I am guessing that a rubber bumper the same as on the bottom of the credit knocker is correct since the wood insert panel also uses these brackets as a stop when closed. Would like to know what was originally used.

Thanks for your time.
Ed

Thanks guys, put a little oil on these parts and got them to move somewhat, the reel is still very tight. Need to get some Teflon grease to do it right (not going to use axle grease) since most likely I am going to go through all the mechanical parts to do a thorough cleaning/lubing needed after 50 years of use.

Ed

Jack,

Williams Heat Wave

Just finished putting it back in. Got it all back together without referencing a picture. More fun like a puzzle this way. the large shaft was so stuck that I had to repeatedly pound on the shaft end (Yes there is a proper safe method to do this) with a 16 oz. hammer, even with a soaking of PB Blaster, Supposedly this machine was brought to a shop in St. Joe a couple of years ago to be gone through.

Ed

Just reviewed the pictures I took before disassembly and one thing does not look right. I put it back together as it was. Just played a game and it is working, at least counts down when start button pushed. See this picture.
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at the lower right there is a small spring attached to the lever. It does nothing the way it is but if it were attached to the tab on the left it would put slight pressure on the larger lever tab that is actuated by the large coil. Seems correct to me to change it, also there is an almost identical unit for the thermometer animation which has this spring attached where I think it should be (tab on the left). The small lever was as froze up as the large main shaft and needed a hammer to remove it.

Thanks for that link. Looks like the spring is installed as pictured, seems wrong but if it works I will run with it.
I did not even think to look for a parts manual because I have bought them for early solid state machines and they really do not show much detail so I figured it would be the same for this. Learned something today