How to service and test them  
The Crash Course!

 

 
Testing - Before you just launch some balls, do these steps!

Step 1 -Make sure the balls are clean, and correct. If they are the wrong size (10mm /12mm) they will not work. Also NEVER use rusty or dirty balls!

Step 2 - Open up the glass case by pressing down on the lever on the right and side (15) . Swing the glass or plastic door open. Is the glass even there, or is it scratched Plexiglas? If no glass is there, you can't really play it - but you can test parts of the machine.

There are two channels for glass or plastic. What ever you have should be on the inner channel (closest to the playing field). Originally, there was either a insert (near the field) of glass, or plastic, and then a second outer layer of plastic (or again..) glass.. not sure.. But I would assume glass.  Plexi from that time would yellow, and scratch too easily.  However, if you are planning to install or play the machine with small children, Plexi may be safer.

See the Where to get parts, machines, balls, and owners guides page for sizes and more glass details.

 "Does it work" I asked the guy at the flea market. He said
"I duuno, it was my father in laws game, and he's been dead for 20 years…"

Ahh, does it work? Well, you need to break the machine down into its basic areas;

Service can is broken up into the following areas;

Front Side - Ball Launching, Ball Ejecting, Ball Loading,
Ball Ramping, Pins, Spinners, "Feature" Pocket, Winning
Pockets, Losing Ball Return, Oh yea, and the ash tray!

Inside
Ball Loader

Rear Side -Lights and Switches "Winner Light", "Ball T
ray Empty Light" Winning Ball Tray - "Empty" lever, Ball Ramps,
Jackpot/Trigger, Winning Pockets, Ball dump lever, Loosing
Ball Exit, Winning Ball Exit, Ball exit 1,Ball Launcher

  

Step 3 - Carefully inspect the pins, are they straight, are any missing? If they are bent, use needle nose pliers to straighten or remove them.

Step 4 - Inspect the spinners, do they turn easily? Are they perpendicular to the board? There should be 6 total.

Step 5 - Inspect the "Winning Pocket" Main attraction, does it move as it should, are all the parts in place?

Step 6 - Are all the winning pockets in place, there should be a total of 4 "Tulips" and 2 "Pots"

Main "Feature" Winning Pocket
Step 7 - Is the metal for the Ball Ramp in good shape, it should be smooth and clean. There should also be a plastic guide that helps guide the ball up the ramp.

The Ball Ramp with proper plastic guides

  
Step 8 - Loosing ball exit - drop a ball into the bottom of the playing field into the opening for the loosing ball exit. It should end up at (16)

copyright (C) Dan Reed

Loosing Ball Exit

  
Step - 9 Press down on the lever at the left near the bottom of the door.

Note: Some Doors "Swing Down", not out.

  
Step 10 - Swing the Winning Ball Exit/Playing tray (D), to the right.

Press the two tabs and swing open the ball loader and inspect the ball loader (mine had some major carpet fuzz in it..)

Opened

Closed

  
Step 11 - Give the ball launcher a few good shots (without balls at this time!), it should be smooth, and not make a loud thunking or cracking noise (indicating worn rubber stops). It should be smooth and clean and should retract nicely. If it does not retract, the return spring is broken. (8)

At this point you MAY add a DROP of motor oil to the bearings, and only the bearings on the laucher.

Ball Launcher

  
If everything looks ok, proceed to the next steps for testing.    
A - "Winning Ball Tray - Empty" Light - Add more balls, or the machine may jamb
B - "Winning Pocket" Main attraction
C - Smaller "Winning Pockets" AKA Tulips and Pockets
D - Winning Ball Exit/Playing Tray - Where the winners balls exit from, and where the player places balls to play
E - Ball return - miss launched balls exit here
F - Flip out ash tray
G - "Winner" light - Lights up as balls exit to (D)
H - Cabinet Lock
I - "Winning Ball Tray - Empty" - Indicator - machine will not launch balls when this lever is down
J - Ball eject, takes balls from (D) and passes them to (E)
K - Ball Launcher
M - Finger Rest		  
1 - "Winning Ball Tray" - Must be filled for machine to work
2 - Electrical switch for "Winning Ball Tray - Empty" Light
3 - "Winner" light - Lights up as balls exit (13)
4 - Linkage for "Winning Ball Tray - Empty" - Indicator (I)
5 - "Seesaw" - Takes the balls that have entered a winning pocket and sends them down to the ball exit 1 (7) - AKA the Regulator
6 - Reset pin for (5), Must have (5) in upwards position for game to operate
7 - Ball exit 1 - Balls that landed in a Winning Pocket (B, C) exit here.
8 - Backside of Ball Launcher
9 - Power hook up for lights (see electrical notes section)
10 - "Winning Ball Tray - Empty" Light
11 - Dump Ball Lever - Balls from (1) exit out to (16)
12 - Trigger for "Jackpot" - Weight of balls must be on lever for jackpot to function, and machine to work
13 - "Jackpot" - where the balls from (1) are stored before they are won my the player
14 - Electrical switch contacts for "Winner" light
15 - Latch for glass/plastic door to open
16 - "Loosing balls" and "Ball Dump" Exit.		  

HOME - ON TO NEXT STEPS FOR TESTING - Part 2

copyright (C) Dan Reed