Maybe the opto boards on the ball trough need cleaning or the connector is loose? I'm far from an expert in repair, but I might check those boards.

Hello Newbie...
Are you saying that ball isn't served from the trough to the shooter lane where the catapult then launches it?
Are you also saying that during solenoid test, a ball isn't served to the shooter lane?
When in solenoid test (and the door needs to be closed) can you hear the coil even attempt to fire?
Have you examined the coil for broken solder joints at the wiring?

Launch a probe, and report back.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.netchibler/Pinbal/index.htm
http://ww.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

Probably not. Coils generally either work or they don't.
You can check the coil number against the coil spec on page 1 of the manual just to ensure it's the correct coil.

One more inquiry...are you sure there is a ball ready to be served. Trough divots sometimes keep balls from rolling down to the "on deck circle".

If you are saying that the ball is ready, it's hit with the coil plunger, but simply doesn't make it all the way into the shooter lane...dropping back down into the trough mech, then you have a mechanical issue.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/cibler/Pinall/index.htm
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

Possible...but improbable. That style of trough usually serves the ball up with great force.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/chibler/Pinball/index.htm
http://www.PinWki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

i would check the area for obstructions. is some wood sitting in there maybe? is the wire form loose and in the way? the ball isn't bouncing off the opposite wall and falling back down, is it? this should be easy to diagnose -- the ball in the trough is visible even before it's shot up to the shooter lane. take the glass off, and fire a ball, watch what is happening. stick your finger in there even.

I would make sure the rubber grommet is still at the bottom of the ball popper bracket. You'd be surprised, but without one, not enough of the metal shaft is in the coils magnetic field and the result is a weak pop. Can we see a picture of the trough popper from under the play field?

Marc

check the screws on brackets holding coil if there to long they wil catch on plunger.How many balls are in trough if more than three pull them out with magnet close coin door power on game and add balls back to game and let the game load them were they belong three held in playfield and three in trough

As Chris said earlier, coils are either good or not. I would disassemble, clean, and check coil sleeve. Replace sleeve if you have one, but certainly clean it. If it appears to fire weakly, it's generally from obstruction of some kind, commonly dirt.

If it's firing, and the ball just isn't making it out into the shooter lane, there are a few things I would look to. First, check all the wiring, bend them, really inspect the soldering and that FULL wire is soldered to the lug. This is common with a weak coil when there are only a few strands soldered on still, and just not enough to allow full current. Just dealt with this on a weak trough kicker on a BW for a friend.

If that's good, rebuild the mech. Take it apart, put in a new sleeve, make sure it's aligned right, put it back together and see. If still an issue, pop the ball with your hand, in test, just over and over, something should become visible as a possibility at this point. You eyes are your best tool.

If that still doesn't help, measuring the voltage there is another option, maybe you have something causing low voltage to a circuit of coils, or all of them, and you are only seeing that here first. That's a long shot.

I'm assuming that the trough kicker continuously tries to fire the ball up, correct? You may be lucky, as this sounds like it's likely the one "ball" issue in the history of STTNG that may not actually involve the optos - but get ready soon after this is resolved.

if you push on the end of the rod, does it go up and down smoothly?

Just leave the through and rebuild the coil. New sleeve and possibly new rod or just take it apart and clean it all up. Then resolder the wires to both lugs just to make sure and you will be good to go.