Gottlieb Far Out (Gottlieb, 1974) EM scoring reels behavior

[sdrob]

Been trying to solve an issue with the scoring reels on a buddy's machine. No amount of scoring reel switch adjustments seems to change their behavior, and they do different things based on which playfield items get triggered. I shot 4 brief videos of each scoring reel in action - hopefully these will allow someone to offer guidance and next-steps.

Current suspicions are with the player unit in the backbox, as my understanding is that this unit sends playfield signals to the L, M, and N relays, which then tell the scoring reels to advance appropriately. Is this correct? Perhaps someone can explain the normal signal path from the playfield to the relays, scoring reels, and player unit.

Here are the videos:
Player One score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ht4dq2yof80yx97/player1.MOV?dl=0
Player Two score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gcs02opqvcwrtm/player2.MOV?dl=0
Player Three score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybvkhjp3ir3ya29/player3.MOV?dl=0
Player Four score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ak39dk2d3tl7e8n/player4.MOV?dl=0


Thanks for any additional help, and happy holidays

 

[pinballdaveh]

Been trying to solve an issue with the scoring reels on a buddy's machine. No amount of scoring reel switch adjustments seems to change their behavior, and they do different things based on which playfield items get triggered. I shot 4 brief videos of each scoring reel in action - hopefully these will allow someone to offer guidance and next-steps.

Current suspicions are with the player unit in the backbox, as my understanding is that this unit sends playfield signals to the L, M, and N relays, which then tell the scoring reels to advance appropriately. Is this correct? Perhaps someone can explain the normal signal path from the playfield to the relays, scoring reels, and player unit.

Here are the videos:
Player One score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ht4dq2yof80yx97/player1.MOV?dl=0
Player Two score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gcs02opqvcwrtm/player2.MOV?dl=0
Player Three score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybvkhjp3ir3ya29/player3.MOV?dl=0
Player Four score reel behavior: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ak39dk2d3tl7e8n/player4.MOV?dl=0


Thanks for any additional help, and happy holidays

The scoring sequence of events is:
A playfield switch closes and pulses its scoring relay.
The scoring relay will close and sends its pulse into the player unit where a cam for each player will close a stack of switches, transferring power to each of player up score reels .
When multiple reels turn at the same time without a nine showing on a reel, it usually has something to do with the 9th position switch on the score reel, the switches and connections on the scoring relay, or something wrong with the stack switch for the player up on the player unit.

 

[sdrob]

Thanks for this detail, Dave. I'll reset my diagnostic approach and focus on the player unit. I've heard horror stories about taking those apart, but it may come to that as I've already cleaned and adjusted those switches as well. Wish me luck :)

 

[pinballdaveh]

Thanks for this detail, Dave. I'll reset my diagnostic approach and focus on the player unit. I've heard horror stories about taking those apart, but it may come to that as I've already cleaned and adjusted those switches as well. Wish me luck :)

Some great info from those videos. The next huge amount of info might come from an open back box video tracking relays and reels.

 

[sdrob]

I'll think through how I'd capture an effective back box video of the scoring relays as well as the player unit. For the player unit, would I want to focus on the leaf switches, outer-facing contact board, or both areas?

 

[pinballdaveh]

I'll think through how I'd capture an effective back box video of the scoring relays as well as the player unit. For the player unit, would I want to focus on the leaf switches, outer-facing contact board, or both areas?

A score reel stack switch view from above would be one possible camera spot.
The player unit should be able to flip backwards for the cam and blade switch operation video.