Sounds like a ball trough opto issue to me. That's where I would start.

Could be as simple as a trough switch issue in which case it's an easy fix. But it's hard to know 100% for sure without more information.

Could be a bunch of things. My #1 thought is that the 6 ball trough opto is acting up, because those always fail. You can get a new set of those for like $80. You should also double and triple check the lock mech on this machine. Ours always had issues due to the bracket drooping.

Good luck with the purchase. Looks like you are set on emulating my unique collection. First Maverick and now potentially Popeye. Then you just need a JD, STTNG and Laser War to make it complete.

I would agree, probably a trough opto issue. They are notorious on widebody pins and replacements are readily available. Hope you get the game, don't let the haters who haven't even played it or put a couple games on a broken one deter you, it's a great challenging game.

+1 on that....

I would not recommend replacements unless you have no ability to solder, or the ones you have are fubar'd beyond any repair. If you do, please give me the old ones if you will!

The new ones are all SMD and thus most of us can't repair those, and those optos seem to fail even more frequently then the through hole ones do. I have never had to deal with a repaired opto board again in my time, but people I know that bought the SMD ones seem to have an issue with them 2-3 years down the road.

My advise is that when there is any possible trough opto issue, pull both boards, break the piggy bank for the $5 in parts and install all new receivers and emitters. My experience is that if you have one intermittent opto and fix it alone, you will soon have another, and another.

Did you to take all the balls out? Turn it on and then feed the balls to the drain one at a time.
Also I put the marco ball trough liner in. Its under $10. Seems to be fine!
UPDATE FOR ALL. . . / / / trough liner didn't help Realigned opto pcb for trough. Helped alot. also noticed it doesnt do the swirling thing/ thinking/ in between players anymore.

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