Star Trek: The Next Generation
Williams, 1993I switch every opto on every next gen I get. Even if they check good. If they original, it's only a matter of time before they start to go. It's great how the game stages to speed up the ball delay. Unfortunately that makes all the under playfield optos essential to run smooth.
Next thing is exactly what trilogybeer said, replace the canon wires. Another big issue with the game. If the wires pull tight it causes the optos to flicker and wont fire properly.
Problem is it never even tries to stage the 1st ball. Cannons just spin and can't start a game. Clearing balls with the menu they all eject fine
An easy way to tell if the problem is the wiring to the cannons is to separate the wires going to them and gently pull each one chances are one or more of the wires will pull through because they are already broken . The turning of those cannons puts stress on those wires and over time they break . They should be replaced .
Try disabling the cannons in the settings and see if it behaves any differently, I would expect it to stage a ball to the left VUK and then be ready to start the game but I haven't actually done this before. You can try disabling one then the other then both. Do the cannon switches all register properly (home, away and the opto for ball sense)?
Both cannon switches do test properly. But they don't ever stop at home. I assume that's the issue. I will open the right cannon harness as the left one was just rebuilt.
Quoted from SDVmnt:Still having a hard time getting STTNG back up and going. All optos in trough are testing fine. 6 balls loaded. No errors on start up. But canons keep searching and it won't stage the balls or load a ball in the launcher?
Any tips?
Sorry, just seeing this now, I do have a couple tips.
1) There is a diagnostic menu specifically for the cannon, run this test to verify the column 9 switches.
2) In switch edge, block the cannon optos to verity they work...even if you replaced them.
3) While I would be happy to sell you one, replacing the cannon wiring harness is a PITA, don't replace it unless you know its bad.
You can verify this with a simple continuity test that takes far less time than replacing the harness and is also free.
4) Post all STTNG related questions to the ST:TNG owners forum 
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/sttng-owners-club
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Davenport, FL