Quoted from PokerJake:I seem to be getting very little to no play in the pops. The only play is when a weak ramp shot falls into them. My loop gate looks like this at all times, appears to be up. Is this normal? I'm guessing not. I go into the test and all it does is flick up a bit.
[quoted image]
Here's where you might want to start...
Since the ball gate is under the top orbit ramp, and difficult to get to, start under the table instead.
Under the top, right corner, below your ball gate, on the bottom of the playfield, you will find this solenoid. I apologize if this is not clear, but it's the best shot I could get with my phone.
On the right side of the photo, you will see the wire hookups, and above, you will see the wide, metal flap that pulls down. Use Solenoid Test #34 to actuate. It pulls on what looks like a flat, copper double L, inside of that oval hole you see on the right. That pulls on a small metal rod that opens and closes the ball gate. Obviously, from your description, it stays pulled down. It might be caught on something, or, possibly the return spring is bad. You can see on the left of my picture, the end of a spring, which is kind of a pinkish red. That is what pulls the metal flap back into position, once the solenoid releases.
Again, the solenoid pills the rod (inside the oval hole) downward, to open the gate. The spring on the left side (not fully in view) pulls on the left to pull the right side away from the solenoid, to push the rod back up. Yours is not going back up, due to friction, or a bad spring.
If you need a photo from the other side to show the spring, I can post that as well.
Hope this helps. If it does, I always appreciate a thumbs up.
IMG_20190220_074631 (resized).jpg