Hi all, My Drop target seems to have a mind of its own when I start a new ball.

For example, when launching a ball and selecting "Warp 4" the drop target will rise, get hit by the ball, go down, but will not go up again. This happens about 2 out of every 3 balls. This happens on all launch ball modes, Drop target always goes down for starting something, but only goes back up about 60% of the time.

I know the problem is not switch related, because I removed the switch from the equation. The only things I can think of at this point are a bad solder joint or that the problem is a transistor on circuit board.

Help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I should mention that everything works 100% in test mode, up solenoid, down solenoid, and the switch.

Bump?

Even though the switch worked perfect in testing, I physically disconnected it from the drop target (still connected electrically) so that when the drop target dropped it would not hit the switch. On ball launch the ball would hit the target, dropping it, and then it would pop back up as it is supposed to. The problem is that it won't pop up consistently. It popped up some of the time, but not all of the time.

Just to be safe I also replaced the switch with a new switch and reconnected it physically and electrically. It tests 100% fine, triggers on and off when the drop goes up and down.

The problem remains.

Ok, I went into switch edge test and tested every switch. There were no double switch activations.

I also played a couple games. Drop target would come up sometimes, and not other times. When it did not come up when it was supposed to I immediately opened the door and checked the switch edge and it showed that the drop switch was triggered corrrectly.

I also did a full 5 circuits of solenoid activation in test mode and the drop came up and went down perfectly every circuit.

Anyone?

Unless the problem is a bad solder joint on the drop up coil, I'd really prefer not messing with those 3 purple wires.

Target is flush and reset plate is good. Just played a few more tests of just ball launches. The drop target does appear to do *something* after it is hit by the ball.

All I can tell is the drop target moves, It moves by about 2 millimeters. It could even be the drop down solenoid hitting the target, but if it is the drop up solenoid it is not trying very hard. I guess it is time to put a camera in the cabinet to see what is really going on.

When I start a ball the target pops up 100% of the time. It is after that when the problem starts.

Schwaggs, When I installed the new switch this weekend I made the mistake of leaving the microswitch length too long. When the drop target was UP, the up solenoid plate would fall because of gravity, and it would hit the drop target micro switch. At that point the up solenoid would go nuts and keep trying to go up over and over.

I am not sure how this software works. When the solenoid is supposed to be down for a first shot is always goes down. When it is supposed to come up for a first shot it always comes up. When the drop is up and is hit that initial time it is supposed to pop back up immediately. I think it is a one time signal in the software. I really don't know.

I have to go to work, will check more tonight. Thanks for the suggestions!

I understand if say lock was lit, or holodeck was lit the drop should be down. I think that is what you are talking about. Correct?

My testing was just launching ball after ball, so it always should have come back up. If I launch ball 1 it should come back up for me to hit to light the lock. I wasn't actually playing the machine. I did it so much I had a bunch of switch errors on start up from lack of use, including the flipper buttons!

After doing all these tests an opto started freaking out, and I just had to put the whole thing aside. When it works, I love this game. It is a fantastic game, but it has given me more issues than all of the rest of my pins combined.

I'll go back to it in a couple days. Thanks again.

Well.... hahaha. That behavior makes no sense to me, but thank you guys for the heads up.

I think both your games are broken.