When I picked it up it powered on and the stepper in the right rear kept trying to cycle. Once I got it home it wouldn't do anything but light up. Here are the first of likely hundreds of questions:
My DMM doesn't have a tone to test fuses so I've been testing fuses with the diode mode reading 0. I have a couple of slow blow fuses that seem to have 2 wires after the black "diode" inside. If one of the wires is burnt is the fuse blown?
I'm just wondering if this gear is a missing tooth. It sure looks like it to the untrained eye but I just don't see how it would break. It is the same stepper that was firing continuously and I've got a fuse on the PF that is blown. I'll clean off the stepper and replace the fuse and hopefully be able to get a little farther down the chain. Reasonable?
I've read and reread the pinrepair.com EM page but since fuses are the first bit I want to get them worked out before going farther. Any of you have an advice that you wish you knew when you started working on your first EM?

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Guess I just hoped it being stuck open blew the fuse. Where I'm just starting out I thought I'd keep it simple when possible. What I'm thinking now is to get all of the right fuses and start down the list on pinrepair.com including getting all the gunk off of the gears. I've gone over the playfield switches once and didn't see any broken wires but I'll take a closer look when I start cleaning everything up. Thanks for the help!

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

A couple more questions:
I don't see anywhere that tells me what amp the playfield fuses are. Would you feel okay just replacing what is in there currently? They are all low amp slow blow.

My coin door looks like a turd so I may be missing something but is there a start button for this machine? Thanks for humoring me.

I saw that but wasn't sure that's what it was. Thanks for confirming it.

Cleaned out the cabinet of my other game and found the schematic for QD. You pretty much nailed it from memory stashy.

Through all of this, I've had one concern in the back of my head and I thought I'd just ask so I can rest easier. I have power to all of the lights but nothing else does anything. I have no problem going through it with a fine tooth comb and getting it cleaned and adjusted (as much as I feel confident in).
Are EMs likely to have a machine ruining problem that makes all of that work go down the drain? The idea I got was that there could be any number of problems but once found were relatively easy to fix. Is that naive?

Short of that?

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. I was very antsy when I first got it home but I've adopted a more patient view and I'm looking forward to going through it and getting it to play right. If I get too excited to play a game they have a QD at the Pinball HOF. I can get my fix there.

I finally had a chance to look at a couple things. Here's where I am so far:

On power on, the start motor runs constantly (any life at all was welcome).

If I trip the coin switch it sounds like the reels try to reset then stop.

I can see the game over relay resetting over and over which is tripping the backboard game over lamp.

No tilt lamp lit.

If I then hit the start button all that I notice is that the credit wheel tries (unsuccessfully) to move.

The pictures are of the Ax relay and it does not move when manually released at all. The switch screws were about a full turn loose but have been tightened.

This the first time I've had anything but lamps so I'm on cloud 9 but if someone would like to point me in a direction to go from here, I'm all ears. It seems that there are a few threads that start at a machine in this stage so I'll read those in the mean time.

Is this level of excitement over every little accomplishment normal? This could be dangerous.

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Probably leading to no spring either way. I was wondering, could I adjust it the same way as in pinrepair.coms Ax relay video as far as which slots the blades are in? Or are they not that universal?

The good news is that the rest of the relays look pretty well kept. This one stood out immediately. I have an alignment tool coming next week so I may just have to clean some reels until then.

I got all the blades in the right slots (fingers crossed) but no adjuster to dial it in. I'm going to get the score reels cleaned up next so I can keep up some forward momentum.

Here's how the ax relay turned out. Didn't adjust any that looked open when they should be and vice versa.

On power with all reels at zero
Score motor runs
Game over relay pulls in
1st ball relay pulls in
Tilt hold relay pulls in

With credits:
Start button advances credit wheel

It looks like there are any number of things that can keep the score motor running. Have noticed one switch on a score reel that is missing a contact. Other than that there is a weird blade that looked broken but all reels switches look like this. (Last picture)

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Going to try trouble shooting a couple things on the score motor:

Motor 1 C: As discussed above, this is the normal at rest position for the score motor. It functions as the motor override switch, and always operates the motor until 1C opens. This switch insures that the motor always stops at the same relative place, regardless when an external switch opens that triggered it. Additionally, motor 1C opens the replay button, keeping the player from energizing the start circuit until the motor is back to normal. Motor 1C cuts off power to the playfield switches while the motor is “off normal”, to keep scoring from the playfield from interfering with scoring coming through the motor. I may also control lights associated with scoring conditions active only when the motor is off normal.

This switch will often show a blue spark, especially noticeable in a darkened cabinet, that is a normal consequence of the motor’s EM field collapse when it turns off. Although normal, it causes pits and shortens the life of the contacts of 1C, which may need to be cleaned with a flexstone file or sandpaper, and its gap re-adjusted (if necessary), for reliable operation. This switch is the first thing that should be investigated when a score motor will not stop running.

My score motor runs continually from the second I turn on power. It doesn't seem to be binding and I need to look for the brake blade again. I didn't see a wireless switch last time I looked for it. Should I be able to manually position the motor at 1C and maybe keep it from starting?

Can someone tell me if the Ax relay should be activating during start up?

Keep in mind that score motor is always running but my start up sequence goes like this:

Pressing replay button actuates S relay (check!)
This relay will lock in through its own switch and a motor 2B switch (doesn't lock in, switches at 2B appear to be adjusted right and all wires have good connections and no visible shorts)
S relay starts the motor running (well it's already running so who knows if it's doing its job here)
Ax relay actuates through switches on U and S relays and a switch on motor 2C. Q and U relays deenergize when Ax relay operates. (U and S relays energize momentarily when you press the replay button but Ax does nothing at all. Again, all 2C switches appear to be in working condition.)

Please, any help would be appreciated. I've unplugged all other connectors (coin door, play field, back box) to try to isolate the issue. Ive had other options to try that I hoped would solve it but I'm out of ideas! I can provide pictures of anything requested including schematic and manual. Just need some guidance.

Thanks everyone. I am going through the schematics and going to try to translate them into something my brain can understand. I am really starting to feel very over my head. Every time I feel like I understand what I'm doing I end up in the same spot. If I could just get the score motor to stop... UGGGHHHH!!! Will there be a "home switch" on the schematic or do I need to figure out which switch is the home switch? I'll be looking at where the score motor gets power but I am just so frustrated now! I don't even know what questions to ask.

It seems I need to get motor in home position, understood. "In a normal at rest condition, the score motor will be in a position where a “dog” will be resting in one of the 3 notches in the Top Cam, at Level C, Position 1." I'll look again when I get home but all 1C switches appeared to be in the right state (NO switches were open, NC switches were closed). WTF?

I can take some pics of it and e-mail those. It'll be this evening.

I would really appreciate any help.

That's the switch I assumed too. It definitely looks well worn. I'll make sure to get it cleaned up tonight.

Thanks again for the help!

I WILL DO THAT!

Thank you for translating that. It's funny, I saw that and thought "Oh God, I hope that's not what I need to check!" But if that's where you suggest then I'm all over it. Thanks for that. It's very cool of you to help me out.

I will. I'll let you know how it goes.

It worked!!

There were several NO switches that were closed. Thanks so much for the help way2wyrd!

I've got one stepper to put back together then I'll try starting her up. It was all I could ask for to check those switches on Valentines Day!

Next issue:

When I press start button a Ax relay make break switch blue sparks and starts sore motor running. There is a big blue spark on a 1A switch while motor continues to run.
Up until that point everything in the start sequence is happening correctly.

I am going through the schematics but I'm still learning how to read them. I've checked all relay switches as near as I can tell there isn't a problem there. Any advice? Thanks!

No. The motor just keeps running after that.

Just a quick question while I try to track this down. I have the PF removed but can I unplug the back box Jones plugs to try to get through the start sequence or is it necessary?

I'm going to look at these suggestions first:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gottlieb-new-york-score-motor-keeps-spinning-after-start

Well I know that I saw the game over relay on the main board in the cabinet but I'll check on the SB relay. I'll be honest, this only started when I was trying to get farther in the start sequence by adjusting all the relay switches to match the schematics. When people say the AX relays are tricky to adjust what does that mean? They all open and close the way they should as car as my limited knowledge tells me. Don't mean to be a pain. Just looking for some help. I really do appreciate the help.

Also, I have the manual so I can post a picture of the start up if it helps.