Re: Tech EM: Williams Strato-Flite - triple bonus relay sometimes actives after reset

On Dec 14, 4:45 am, Mike <m...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have a very intermittent problem with the triple bonus relay in that it
sometimes activates after the relay bank resets.  More specifically though,
I'm quite sure it only happens while the outhole relay is activated (which
appears to run at the start of every turn - which I believe runs the score
motor to count down the bonus then resets the relay bank and kicks the ball
out to the shooter lane).

I'm assuming it's specific to the reset durning the outhole relay because
I've paid attention many resets from game over where the relay bank resets
two times before the outhole relay phase (which will then reset the relay
bank a 3rd time), and the triple bonus relay will only ever activate after
the last reset (if at all).

Oh yeah, when I said intermittent, I'd say maybe 1 out of every 30 balls or
so will end up with the triple bonus on at the start of the turn... which
is what has me stumped, the problem is so inconsistent.

I've owned this game for long time and this problem has been lingering for
a while now.  I'm no expert on EM pinball repairs but I'm quite familiar
with my Strato-Flite game (replaced a dead jet bumper coil, fixed an
obvious short, blown fuse...).

I've looked at the schematics and manual a bunch of times, but hasn't lead
to any clues to this problem.

Maybe I should finally add that I have looked at the physical mechanics of
the triple bonus relay a fair bit and I just don't see how it would
activate (pop up) unless the coil is activated (of course I'd settle for
any sort of easy test I could do to confirm this).

Thanks for any ideas on this.

Mike

I'd make sure that the contacts and shaft are not all gummed up. Clean
them and relube with teflon gel. Also check for free movement of the
reset plunger. Spings can get weak. Sometimes the big coiled spring
needs to be tightened one hole. I say that because many people try to
add a little tension by putting one more turn on the end of the spring
that connects to the peg but that results in a 360 degree increase and
usually means too much. Unwinding the spring and repositioning the
lower part of the spring that hooks into the wheel hole give only a 90
degree increase.

Most of the time a good cleaning and lube will fix things though. Only
reposition the big rotary spring as a last resort - it can take a fair
amount of tweaking to get it just right.

Dave
.

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