Discussion:
Gottlieb GROOVY (1970): Ball/player count issues. Help please!
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Souldiver66
2021-08-29 08:06:41 UTC
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After a complete restoration, the machine has some serious issues with the ball/player control. Being searching and mesuring for hours with no result, I really hope to find some help.

Problems:
A: In a one player game, as soon as the XB relay has "dropped" the, an activated "P" relay let's the Player Unit (PU) moves one step too far every time. (=> Ball 1 scores on 1st player, ball 2 on 2nd, 3rd on 3rd, 4th scores on 4th player and 5th ball scoring is lost completely. It does it every time, there is no stuttering (eg. due to badly adjusted contacts on the score motor) and all 5 pulses at the PU are of the same "strenght" as it does during the reset cyle).
B: in a two, three or four player game, the PU steps up perfectly, until the last ball in play. When 1st player loses their last ball, the game triggers "Game Over" imediately, awarding replays if there is/are matched number(s).

Done: Measuring for shorts/bad adjustment on 2C, 1A (Score Motor) and "P" relay. Controlling the relay bank for badly adjusted switch blades ("1st Ball" and "SB" relay in particular) over and over again. Checking the PU for misalignement(s) and other problems.

Any hints or help is really apreciated, as I spent so many hours looking for the solution and I just do not get, what could be wrong here. Thank you!
Souldiver66
2021-08-29 09:10:52 UTC
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Post by Souldiver66
After a complete restoration, the machine has some serious issues with the ball/player control. Being searching and mesuring for hours with no result, I really hope to find some help.
A: In a one player game, as soon as the XB relay has "dropped" the, an activated "P" relay let's the Player Unit (PU) moves one step too far every time. (=> Ball 1 scores on 1st player, ball 2 on 2nd, 3rd on 3rd, 4th scores on 4th player and 5th ball scoring is lost completely. It does it every time, there is no stuttering (eg. due to badly adjusted contacts on the score motor) and all 5 pulses at the PU are of the same "strenght" as it does during the reset cyle).
B: in a two, three or four player game, the PU steps up perfectly, until the last ball in play. When 1st player loses their last ball, the game triggers "Game Over" imediately, awarding replays if there is/are matched number(s).
Done: Measuring for shorts/bad adjustment on 2C, 1A (Score Motor) and "P" relay. Controlling the relay bank for badly adjusted switch blades ("1st Ball" and "SB" relay in particular) over and over again. Checking the PU for misalignement(s) and other problems.
Any hints or help is really apreciated, as I spent so many hours looking for the solution and I just do not get, what could be wrong here. Thank you!
This is unbelievable, but I finally found the Gremlin - about 15 minutes after starting this thread...

Solution: The "P4G" switch on the player unit was, unseen by me, "leaking"! Properly isolated and adjusted, the issue is gone. Four steps in 1 player game and Game Over after last player's last ball.

What a day!!! ;-)

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