Hi everyone, hoping someone can shed some troubleshooting light on a few problems I'm having with my Star Trek Pro machine:

* The middle target (the one used for vengeance battle modes, ball lock, extra ball, etc.) is frequently unresponsive, and does not always work when hit. Quite often the machine does not respond when the extra ball or ball lock is hit, it just goes in and out without doing anything. I'm guessing it has something to do with the drop target/sensor not doing it's job??

* The left flipper button occasionally sticks/gets jammed. After hitting it hard, it usually unsticks/unjams and goes back to normal. Any troubleshooting advice on stopping this problem from happening again? It does NOT seem like WD40 will help.

Thanks, please feel free to ask any questions if you need more details!
Scott G

Thank you very much for the response - I'll give it a go.

I'm about to try remove and reconnect the connectors to the opto board, but I have one problem, what exactly does it look like? I'm no electrical engineer by any means!

Thanks!

Nokoro, I hate to ask, but is there any way you might be able to provide that picture you were talking about at any time convenient for you? That would be quite helpful and frankly, amazing, of you! Thanks for your help either way!

Nokoro, thank you very much for your help! I unplugged and plugged back in, here is what I now know, hoping you or someone else can provide insight:

1) the left-side opto sensor (the one closest to the drop target) is not putting out light
2) I performed the switch test and it says that the opto sensor(s) are working - however, like I mentioned before, this problem only happens sometimes, not ALL of the time..... Just to make SURE, when doing the switch test, only 1 light should go off when testing the opto sensors, right?
3) I gave the machine a couple of test runs and it seems to be working fine - although I will find out for sure during the next pinball session I have. Even though it appears to be working, I am still a little worried that one of the lights isn't on??

Assuming the problem is not fixed, and it does recur...Any further problem solving suggestions? I'm guessing that I will need to buy a new opto sensor for the one with the light that's out?

Thank you all for your help, problem not officially solved but I think I'm close! Just so busy at work that I'm now getting back to fixing this.

So here is what I've come up with officially:

The left opto sensor is not working, even after disconnect and reconnect. However, the switch test does register the beam being broke. The problem with that particular shot not registering still happens periodically.

If I want the machine to work 100% of the time, then does it sound like I need a new opto sensor? If so, does anyone know a good place to buy one/if a VERY AMATEUR pinball repairman like me could replace/fix it?

Thanks,
Scott G