1. The score does not reset properly when a new game begins.
2. Skill points sometimes do not register and don't reset properly.
3. The "Special When Lit" lights don't always work properly. (FIXED)
4. Various light sockets need to be cleaned as they currently have a poor connection.
I figured out for the most part what's causing these issues, and for those of you who would like to know more about the mechanics of this machine, I'll go into a little detail on the specific issues (with pictures!)
Alright, first up is the score reset problem. If you take a look at the first picture here you'll see a wheel with a lot of teeth. Each time you score a point the solenoid "A" engages and advances the wheel one step clockwise. When the game is reset, solenoid "B" engages and lifts arm ("C") causing a spring which is behind the wheel, to spin the wheel counterclockwise back to its start position. The reason that the score is not resetting for me is that the spring has lost its...springyness...When the arm is lifted, there isn't enough force to counter-rotate the wheel. Hopefully I can take it apart and maybe give the spring one extra wind, we'll see.
Number Two...The skill points not registering...This is something I was really hoping not to have to mess around with. There's a HUGE rotating disk with a million wires coming off of it, and about 4 total solenoids controlling this system. So far all I've been able to diagnose is why the skill points sometimes don't register. If you look at the picture you'll see a solenoid connected to about a 6'' long metal rod. When you get a skill point, the solenoid pushes that rod out advancing the wheel by one step, and hitting a set of leaf switches. That part works fine. But once power is cut to the solenoid, the rod doesn't retract. Hopefully it will be as simple as replacing that spring next to it which is used to retract the rod.
Finally, the "Special When Lit" mechanism...I already fixed this one, it was a pretty easy fix. Each time you score a point, a solenoid advances this wheel by one step. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?) But with this one, it moves two connectors across rings of contacts, each connected to a wire. Each set of contacts determines which of the special lights are turned on. Each time you score a point, the lit lights change. I used a burnishing tool to clean all of the contacts, as well as the two connectors that slide across them. It works great now.
Anyway, hopefully over the next few days I'll be able to get these issues resolved and be one step closer to finishing this project.
Anyway, hopefully over the next few days I'll be able to get these issues resolved and be one step closer to finishing this project.
