EM Pinball issue

[g.robert]

I'm a long time home arcade guy with a designated dark room housing Street Fighter 2 CE, Defender, Area 51 Site 4, Tecken Tag Tournament, Cruisin USA SD, Galaga, Pac Man and KISS pinball. Brand new to the EM pinball with a $200 Stampede that appeared to work fine... Now it won't reset after game completion. It just sits there clicking... Narrowed it down to the 1st number wheel on 1st player not moving back to zero (sticks between 9 and 0). Also after getting the 2nd player to work by wiggling wires at that solenoid, 2nd number wheel from left on 2nd player not moving back to zero (sticks at . I can manually move those wheels to 0 and game resets.

Not sure what to do next...Any pinball gurus with the solution??

[Ken Layton]

Start here by reading through this:

http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index.htm

Now load up your printer with plenty of ink and paper and print it out.

[pbj]

Watch the switches when you manually reset the scores.  When they're on 0 they should align a certain way.  Clean the contacts and make sure the switch stack screws are snug.

[Fursphere]

And when you do get it working, play that damn thing at least once a week.

EM's that sit develop gremlins.  You need to play them to keep them working.   

[jennifer]

      Id make sure your getting proper power to the coils, and are they dirty (that slider part), if they check out that far most likely they will need to be replaced.

[g.robert]

Thanks guys. Player one fixed, Cleaned off mechanism, applied some 3-1 lube. Still off. Shortened return spring 1/4" and works like a charm now... Should I replace that modified spring or OK to leave it?

The 2nd player is confusing me some. Does not lock every time but when it does it's always at 8... It does not appear that the coil is firing repeatedly trying to reset to 0 like it did on the 1st player but I could be mistaken...

[jennifer]

   Jenn would take them out and rebuild the as sure as I im sitting here, Oil is a BAD idea, especially on that contact wheel in the back of the cab, (the one where the contacts slide though the board) **again DO NOT OIL, But that also could be a source of your problem, dirty contacts. or so worn the blades just are not making a nice connection.

[pbj]

Once you get something going on an EM, do not mess with it further.  "Clean and adjust all the switches for proper operation" = you're selling it for $50 as-is six months and 100 hours later

[g.robert]

   Jenn would take them out and rebuild the as sure as I im sitting here, Oil is a BAD idea, especially on that contact wheel in the back of the cab, (the one where the contacts slide though the board) **again DO NOT OIL, But that also could be a source of your problem, dirty contacts. or so worn the blades just are not making a nice connection.

The lubrication was just on the mechanical side where the physical parts slide back and forth. Nothing was applied to the opposite side that has the electrical contact paths... Contacts on that wheel were not the issue. The issue was a week return spring or mechanical drag that I possibly band aided by increasing the tension of the solenoid return spring...Thanks for all the suggestions though..

[Karetaker]

Lube is a bad idea even for the mechanical parts. It's a dirt magnet and eventually you will end up tearing it apart again and cleaning it. If you get them good and clean they don't need any lube. With these EM's you always start with cleaning the switches and tearing down the steppers and cleaning them. Generally that cures most of the problems.

[TopJimmyCooks]

Lube is a bad idea even for the mechanical parts. It's a dirt magnet and eventually you will end up tearing it apart again and cleaning it. If you get them good and clean they don't need any lube. With these EM's you always start with cleaning the switches and tearing down the steppers and cleaning them. Generally that cures most of the problems.

Sigh.  There is one place where a certain type of teflon lube is used.  It is true that it's for electrical contacts, not really for mechanical operation.  Read enough of the literature (Ken layton's link below) that you know where that goes and then go under the hood. 

DONT start tearing down the steppers and cleaning them.  Find the main problem and fix that one, then proceed to the next, smaller issue in turn.  Get the machine working 100% or close first.  then when you start monkeying around and trying to Clean and Adjust everything and ---fudgesicle--- it all up, you'll at least know where you were messing about and therefore where to go and undo your mistakes.  Take good advice from someone that successfully fixes em's on a regular basis. 

[pbj]

Do not tell newbs to take apart steppers

 

[g.robert]

Thanks again for all the input... Issue is resolved for now, still may have to work on the sticking 8 on player 2. I'll review all supplied info prior to seeking further assistance.  Family and friends are enjoying playing the game for now. Action sure is slow compared to the KISS PB I have...

[Karetaker]

If you never take a stepper apart how are you supposed to learn how to take a stepper apart? Good Lord it's not an Apollo Rocket it is a stepper. Pretty straight forward stuff if you ask me. I never tore a stepper apart before I tore my first one apart. I didn't have any problems with it. As for lube I don't care what anyone says I've rarely come across a situation that required it. Furthermore, go back and read.... he didn't use Teflon lube. I can't say I've ever read a single article on EM's in my life. I was too  busy fixing them in dark smoke filled bars with a flashlight.  The only thing I ever recall putting lube on/in was the motors in a six card and neatsfoot oil on the leather washers.

[jennifer]

     "Dark smoke filled bars".... OMG, how I miss those.

[lilshawn]

     "Dark smoke filled bars".... OMG, how I miss those.

Went to a casino on the indian reservation a while back (looking for new locations for equipment) the bar actually allowed smoking still. (something that has be outlawed here for a number of years.) they had ashtrays on the tables and everything. it was like stepping back into the 80's.

[Karetaker]

You can still smoke in most of the bars here in PA. If their revenue is made up of 20% or less of food they have smoking. There was one bar here who tried to go non-smoking when the smoking Nazi's were pushing it hard. They lost so much business that they started allowing smoking again. But, they couldn't bring their clientele back. They closed the bar and declared bankruptcy.

[jennifer]

      We used to smoke in school (not really wanting to date myself  ) But there were giant smoldering coffee can ashtrays on the desks, and mostly preged teens all like chain smoking during class .... They put a stop to that years back, But the time clock is still there so I hear.