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Pinball Repair Kingston Ontario

icanswim70

New Member
Jun 13, 2016
18
1
3
Kingston
Hey Everyone,

I have a 1975 Gottlieb Sure Shot sitting in my garage. I've ben working on it for over a month now trying to figure it out, but have had no luck. I'm looking to get someone to come out and give a second opinion and get it working. I cannot put it on a trailer as I don't have one and I drive a acrossover.

Here's the problem.

My family bought a cottage about 12 years ago just outside Toronto, and with it came this pin, that of course didn't work, why would it?

I immediately started tinkering with it, but have had no luck.

The machine turns on and the head lights up, that's all good.

The problem is, whether the machine is in freeplay mode or set to accept quarters, it doesn't start. No matter what you do, the game will NOT start. You CANNOT get a game going, so there's no way to tell which mode it works in. Again, there's been a lot of confusion on other forums, so i'll say it one more time, THE MACHINE DOES NOT START A GAME AT ALL, YOU CANNOT PLAY/GET A GAME GOING.

I opened the lid and took a bunch of pictures, with the exception of 2 wires, everything looks pretty good. You can nudge the stepper motor and it will turn, the fuses all look good (no burnt marks or broken wires).

So, I need someone who is willing to come out and look.
 

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icanswim70

New Member
Jun 13, 2016
18
1
3
Kingston
You may not get far without schematics.

If you want to keep tinkering, I would suggest spending an evening and read the following: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/

(I don't work on EM's but maybe something like a lockout coil/tilt is stuck on causing the issue?)

Do you think it could be the start relay, or something to do with the Stepper?

Do you know which coil would be a good place to sstart?
 

DRANO

Super Member
Nov 15, 2012
2,827
519
113
Mississauga
http://www.pinrepair.com/em/

You can probably skim the first 2 sections, but part 3 will help you immensely.

If you can't get it going after reading through this, call in an expert and pay for repairs. There are a few people that come to mind not too far from you.

Good luck.

PS.
Make sure you have eliminated the obvious like the machine needs to have credits and non of the various tilt switches are stuck closed.
 

icanswim70

New Member
Jun 13, 2016
18
1
3
Kingston
http://www.pinrepair.com/em/

You can probably skim the first 2 sections, but part 3 will help you immensely.

If you can't get it going after reading through this, call in an expert and pay for repairs. There are a few people that come to mind not too far from you.

Good luck.

PS.
Make sure you have eliminated the obvious like the machine needs to have credits and non of the various tilt switches are stuck closed.
Who are the pin techs if you don't mind me asking, at this point I'm pretty stumped, that link hhas a wealth of great info and is my bible!

But I'm not convinced it's as easy as experienced pins have told me, I'm thinking it could be multiple bowln fuses or disconnected wires, and I'm nmot about to pull out a solder gun!
 

joecarsoe

New Member
Jul 19, 2016
1
0
1
35
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
I'll shoot you a PM

Hey DRANO any chance you could shoot me that PM as well with the techs nearby? Assuming they're relatively close to Kingston. I've got a Dredd machine with the left kicker not working. Ordered a replacement but still nothing. I'm worried it might have been damaged in my recent move but I don't have the technical know-how to dig deep and figure out what's wrong.
 

Menace

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Nov 14, 2012
2,440
255
83
Santiago de Aurora
First things to do is run the coil tests and confirm the coil is in fact the problem. If the kicker you mention doesn't fire in test then check voltage to the coil. If you have a DMM, in VDC put the black lead on the side rail and then the red lead to one leg of the coil. Should read at least 70VDC. Repeat for other leg of the coil, should get the same reading. If you don't get any voltage reading check the fuses on the driver PCB in the head and if those are all ok look for a broken wire on each coil under the playfield. (one side of each coil is a common power wire and is daisy chained to each one) If you get voltage on one leg of the coil and not the other, then you have a bad coil but you mention you replaced it already so that is likely not the issue.

If everything above checks out then you have to move to the next stage of troubleshooting, which is a little more involved and if you're not comfortable calling someone in would be the best thing to do.

I do house calls but I'm nowhere near Kingston.

D
 

JonnyPinpockets

New Member
Aug 27, 2016
3
0
1
42
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Hey folks. I'm from Kingston as well, and looking forward to purchasing my first pin. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good place to start looking? I'm looking for something in the $1500-2000 range, and would genuinely appreciate any advice you folks could provide for a newbie like myself. Thanks in advance! (ps. I couldn't figure out how to start my own post, so I figured commenting on a post from Kingston would be a good place to start)
 

icanswim70

New Member
Jun 13, 2016
18
1
3
Kingston
Does anyone have any feedback about Pinball Medics? The main guy, mike said he could come get mine here in Kingston and service it. That was 4 weeks ago. I texted him last week and he replied saying he ll be out here this week for sure and let me know, yet still have t heard from him.