Looking for some guidance on a recent problem with my Surf 'n Safari (Gotttlieb System 3)...The VUK at the back of the playfield has stopped firing (no issues previously). I was playing it the other night and a ball got locked in it, bu wouldn't kick out and, after a few seconds, the "Ball Stuck Call Service Person" message came up on the display.

I *think* I've narrowed it down to needing to replace the coil itself, but I'm a newbie and would like to confirm. Here's some more detail:
- I can freely move the plunger by hand, so don't think there's a mechanical problem
- The switch on the upkicker tests fine
- The coil does not fire even in the Relay and Solenoid test mode
- The fuse is good (checked with DMM, and the other up-kicker is on the same fuse and still works)
- Checked for voltage with my DMM...other coils in the machine have ~67 volts DC at both lugs. This coil has ~67 volts at one lug, but only ~25 at the other.

I think all of this is pointing to needing to replace the coil. Anything else that I should look at before doing so (and anything I can do to prevent a replacement coil from dying, too -- not sure if this is common?)

One last thing, the coil in VUK is a A-16570, but the manual calls for A-5195. Are these OK to substitute for each other?

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. I haven't tried that. Did a quick google search and not sure exactly how to do it. Looking at the coil, I can't even see that one wire is smaller than the other.

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lb1 Thanks for the help, and the kind words on the restoration. It is a fun game and a fun project.

I ended up pulling out the VUK last night. I can buy a replacement coil locally, so planning to do so this week. Out of curiousity, though, I did take a picture of (what I think is) the page you mentioned. It's labelled top upkicker on this diagram. Could you help me decipher how to read the wire colors on this?

Thanks again.
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Thanks! Will let you know how it goes. Appreciate your help.

Good news! Replacing the coil fixed the problem. Not sure if this contributed to the coil failing in the first place, but I noticed that the manual calls for an A-5195 coil (and this is what I put in it now), but there was an A-16570 coil installed in it.

In any case, so far so good and I'm back up and running. Thanks for the help in deciphering the wiring diagram; I appreciate it and will put that knowledge to good use next time something breaks down (hopefully not too soon!)