(Topic ID: 258224)

TSPP Restoration - Stumped Multiball and Start Button woes

By pqler1

4 years ago

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Latest reply 4 years ago by pqler1
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The Simpsons Pinball Party Stern, 2003

Posting this to the proper section hopefully!

Newbie into the scene but (Santa) was forced to dive in quickly to get a 2003 TSPP that I picked up into proper working order. Rebuilt flippers, new coils too and they work great. Did all the rubber too! Getting there! I have a few stumpers I need help with. The first has to do with the start button. First it sometimes doesn't respond (have to push it a few times). Then if I add players and keep pushing it it will add 10,000 points to the player every time I push it. Also if I am in a 1 player game it will randomly add another player. Could it just be a bad switch? Looks fine and I cleaned it.

Next one is the ejector for the bus. Very weak. Just replace that assembly?

Next one is a power issue. The machine has turned off in the middle of a game a few times. Then would not come back on for a bit. Very rare but does happen. This one I plan to open up the power supply and check all the wiring. Haven't gone through this one yet.

Next 2 are more game specific for the Simpsons. One is that sometimes there is a long delay after I get it into the garage before it decides to finally bring it up to the living room. Other times it happens right away.

The last one is one that really screws up the gameplay. When I get 2 balls in the couch lock, the game is supposed to just enter back in one new ball for play. But it brings in 2 balls. And I am stuck with that for every new round (keeps bringing in 2 balls) and only way to reset is to turn the machine off and back on.

Thanks in advance for any help on these! Been quite the project but so worth it!!

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
Posting this to the proper section hopefully!
Newbie into the scene but (Santa) was forced to dive in quickly to get a 2003 TSPP that I picked up into proper working order.

Congrats! It’s a really fun pin!

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
The first has to do with the start button. First it sometimes doesn't respond (have to push it a few times). Then if I add players and keep pushing it it will add 10,000 points to the player every time I push it. Also if I am in a 1 player game it will randomly add another player. Could it just be a bad switch? Looks fine and I cleaned it.

Sounds like a switch matrix issue. Google for a YouTube video explaining the concept. Too hard to type it out here

But, any time one switch acts like multiple switches were hit, it’s typically a switch matrix issue.

Side note: It could also be an overly sensitive switch. You can pound on the playfield to see if the same thing happens with phantom switch hits.

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
Next one is the ejector for the bus. Very weak. Just replace that assembly?

It’s supposed to just dribble out the side - not get shot out quickly. This is likely working as designed.

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
Next one is a power issue. The machine has turned off in the middle of a game a few times. Then would not come back on for a bit. Very rare but does happen. This one I plan to open up the power supply and check all the wiring. Haven't gone through this one yet.

Check the TSPP owners thread. There’s mention in that thread of a common reset issue that can be remedied by reseating some connectors.

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
Next 2 are more game specific for the Simpsons. One is that sometimes there is a long delay after I get it into the garage before it decides to finally bring it up to the living room. Other times it happens right away.

Likely the switch on the VUK is going out. *Very* common issue for this pin. Look in the TSPP owners thread for the part number (on my phone at the moment. Sorry).

OP
Quoted from pqler1:
The last one is one that really screws up the gameplay. When I get 2 balls in the couch lock, the game is supposed to just enter back in one new ball for play. But it brings in 2 balls. And I am stuck with that for every new round (keeps bringing in 2 balls) and only way to reset is to turn the machine off and back on.

Not sure I follow. You mean if you don’t have lock lit, and there’s 2 balls already in the couch, it spits out both balls instead of just one?

Might be related to the “couch weld” fix. See the TSPP thread for info on that.

Quoted from cjchand:
Not sure I follow. You mean if you don’t have lock lit, and there’s 2 balls already in the couch, it spits out both balls instead of just one? Might be related to the “couch weld” fix. See the TSPP thread for info on that.

Thanks for the help! Regarding the couch issue, once I have 2 balls on the couch, the game is supposed to eject one ball into the plunger but instead it ejects 2 balls into there. This of course ruins the game play because you are only supposed to have one so if one of the 2 balls in play sinks, you are done. This error continues through the game for every player. Again this only occurs once the 2nd ball is locked on the couch.

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