I'm newer to EMs, just added Sky Jump (Gottlieb, 1974) to my collection and hope to share my EM journey below. Your help and comments are very appreciated so thank you in advance!

I was told it was working when I purchased it (wasn't there in person) and after fixing a loose connection, played 3 balls, heard a buzzing start in the backbox, played 20 sec more and then couldn't play anymore - lights on but can't start a game anymore.

I've checked wire connections and it looks OK other than black wire (pic attached). Anyone know if this should be connected? Otherwise, any ideas where I should start?

(Learning the hard way that EM's can be pretty frustrating but I'm learning patience patience)

image (resized).jpeg
image (resized).jpeg

Thanks Darcy, OK soldered wire (see pic). When I turn it on, score reels don't reset, just lights are on and otherwise no response.

image (resized).jpg

OK thanks pinhead52, but now that score reels not resetting, how do I test? Previously I would set all to 1 and restart game.

Q: is it possible for a stuck score reel to damage other parts of pin? As mentioned in original post, game was working, then heard buzz, went to take look and now whole game doesn't work. Is this possible?

Thanks Matesamo. Ok, was manually zeroing the score reels and found that I cannot manually advance the 10-thousand score reel. Pressing it all the way in does not move it so something here is definately not working. Also saw the 'X' mark written on this one.

Is next step to rebuild this score reel? Is the only way to remove it to unsolder all wires?

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

(Thanks again)
I cannot manually advance the 10-thousand score reel like I can the others (currently on 0 now). Since All set to zero now, I turned on machine and nothing when I start a new game, just GI and no sounds from anywhere so I'm guessing this issue had fried something else.

One more clue is that the first game I played I played a few balls before it stopped and this must have been because I had not yet reached 10,000 points. When that happened, score reel must have tried to advance and then something fried.

1. OK so first step to unsolder score reel right?

2. Also, what else could have fried because this was stuck?

Very helpful comments - thanks Mark! I will report back. Cheers!

Thanks for the help and comments everyone

Update: I'm taking the methodical approach now and checking components in more detail than I ever have before and I've found a number of issues that need addressing first.

First, I checked the relays in the backbox (N,M,L) and most of them have switches that need adjusting (always on).

Also, stepper F sticky movement and not aligning well.

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

Also noticed this on 10 times value relay inside cabinet

image (resized).jpg

Also noticed a rollover switch with no gap so all these issues need to be fixed. Enjoying the process so far

Question: Anyone with a Sky Jump able to post high res pics here of where these stickers are supposed to go? "Ten thousands unit" I know.

image (resized).jpg

Question: I'm assuming this pin is not factory right? (Hold relay R)

image (resized).jpg

Question: Is there supposed to be pin holding this large backbox stepper (center of image)? (Pin only on right side but missing on left)

image (resized).jpg

Question: How does my transformer look to you? Normal?

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

BTW bought this cheap lamp at IKEA and it works great. Might have to put cloth under clamp to protect cab though.

image (resized).jpg

Thanks for responses. Yeah, schematics on their way so will be easier then.

Vacuumed a bit but have yet to clean/rebuild any components. Has 72,000 plays.

=======================

OK, I'm back again and have made some progress so will be doing some updates here.

First of all got my package in the mail which included, along with parts, the manual and schematic so this makes it much easier to see what is going on.

The first thing I forgot at one point was to check for credits (thanks MarkG). Since this was my first game not set to free play, I forgot this

On credit stepper I pressed this coil in and got more credits:

image (resized).jpeg

I had a number of lights out so I decided to change all light bulbs to 47s. I started on bottom of playfield by bending back holders a bit and changing bulbs.

image (resized).jpg

Then replaced remainder from topside of playfield:

image (resized).jpg

Finally, replaced all bulbs except for blinking bulb in backbox. For many bulbs, I found using my new bulb remover indispensable (basically almost impossible to do without).

image (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpeg

Everything looked so much better after changing all the bulbs since eventhough some old bulbs were still working, they all seemed to look a bit different so I'm glad I changed them all.

I had also resolved another issue and that was that the middle pop was sticking on after each time it was hit.

Since I'm a new at this, the first thing I did was rebuild the middle pop. Took apart, cleaned the parts and rebuilt using the pbresource pop rebuild kit and then reassembled.

Then tested it and it still stuck after being hit... Arg!!

image (resized).jpg

By looking at schematic, left pop is activated by Q relay so that was the next thing I took a look at.

Here is a thread where I asked some questions about switch stacks while rebuilding relay Q:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/sky-jump-relay-switch-stack-questions

Yay! And after this, middle pop was no longer sticking on! I can see now how working on games opens up a new level of appreciation of pinball - really enjoying the journey!

image (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpg

Thanks for your comment - yes I rebuilt Q and now center pop not sticking on.

So my plan for this thread is to detail the steps I am taking to get this Sky Jump into top form so it might be helpful to others.

To that end, it's about time I check all the fuses (which is something one should do earlier on I know).

Sky Jump has a 10 and 15 amp fuse for the lights and another 15 amp for main 25V circuit.

The first thing I find is that a 10A and 15A are switched so put those in the right place. The 5A slow-blow main is correct.

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

Target bank reset fuses are correct at 2A slow-blow. How do you know which are which? Just check wire colors on schematics.

image (resized).jpg

image (resized).jpg

But wait, sequence bank fuse is 5A slow-blow so changed that to correct value of 1A slow-blow.

Fuses are now all correct. What I've learned is that people put all kinds of wrong fuses into machines so take a look and put in correct ones.

image (resized).jpg

Thanks very much, just jumpered middle credit switch and free play works now

image (resized).jpg

Q: Can anyone recommend what foam is best to glue onto lockdown bar here? Where to buy? What glue is best for this? (Thanks)

image (resized).jpg

Found the thread, thanks Darcy:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-the-beer-seal-vids-guide

Watched some Vic Camp vids of his Gottlieb collection recently and saw he uses much wider gray seals on his pins so will have to check into what width is best for mid-70s gottliebs.

(at 9:00)

Thanks for all the comments! I am slowly going through them and will post questions/comments/updates.

Until then, I have a question...

For the drop target assembly, what size are these hex screws? None of my set of SAE hex tools work.

image (resized).jpeg