Thanks for the education on these EM machines! I have 3 EM's, one of which is a Williams Grand Prix that I am working through gremlins on and your advise has helped a lot with figuring out some common troubleshooting on my machine which sat neglected for several years before I bought it. Keep up the good material!
Of all the channels I subscribe to; this one always pulls me in, I enjoy every step. I suppose I should try to get one of these machines someday and actually apply all this great info!
The Williams score motors have a magnetically operated armature that moves in/out to engage/disengage gearing. Remove the cover and put a few drops of oil in armature gears to ensure many years of continued operation. Love you videos, keep making them.
I always come into your videos thinking "I'll just watch a few minutes". 45 minutes later, "WTF"!!! Very informative and I love to watch you troubleshoot those spaghetti wires & relays. Such ingenuity they had. Keep on kickin ass!
Doc Brown built a fake nuke out of old pinball machine parts. I wonder what that looked like? And it must have been fun fixing a time machine with 1955 parts. I love the retro stuff!
Fixing a pinball machine is like cleaning your house :) Just pick a single spot, and work on that spot, once you have finished that spot, move onto the next one. Don't try and do it all at once, as you'll just make a bigger mess!
Yup. Exactly the same.... there is a science behind it, when you accomplish something even if it's really small your brain gets a hit of dopamine and it makes you feel like you did good... then you do another little small piece, etc. Break it down into tiny parts and you can do anything. Thanks for watching Ray as always!
I bought an Engineer SS-02 solder sucker after one of your videos reminded me of their existence. I prefer it over the desoldering station for removing things which have a lot of thermal mass. The silicone tip does have the unfortunate tendency to get solder stuck in it, and sometimes it results in the tip ending up in the waste bin.
Hi Ron! I had a thought (my first for 2022!), and was interested in your opinion; Please note that this is intended as a potential enhancement to your existing procedure, and not a criticism. If you think this is useful, I'm sure you can work out a deal with the gentleman who makes your note pads to make these in bulk. - Start with a light card stock, or heavy parchment paper stock. - Cut into strips about 0.75" wide, by 5-6" long - Spray one end with alcohol (or contact cleaner, if you prefer), just enough to dampen one end of the strip. - After you have cleaned the relay with your file, run the damp end of the strip through the relay to remove any residual/loosened crud from the relay contact (This can be done in sections, reusing the strip until the alcohol has dried). - Discard the strip. - Repeat as needed. Thoughts?
I have used a little eucalyptus oil on thin strips of paper. I put the strip between contacts, manually close the contacts, while pulling the strip out. This has worked very well for me. It cleans most things on a pinball machine from contacts to the playfield. … It will remove anything water based, but does not react to the photo inks used on pinball playfield art.
@@markjackson1444 Interesting... I wouldn't have considered eucalyptus oil...have you encountered any problems, residue-wise? Also, if you don't mind my asking, what type of paper do you use? I had suggested parchment paper, or light card stock because it's a little rougher (and presumably stronger) than standard copy paper. And as long as I have your attention, do you cut your own strips, or do you think there might be any advantage to having 'pads' of strips available? How much 'milage' might one expect from one strip before having to discard it? (If anyone else has any experience with this sort of thing, I'd be interested in hearing about it...)
Hi Dave, … I’ve been using eucalyptus oil on pinnies for over 30 years. It behaves similarly to petrol in that it removes grease and dirt from switches, stepper units, coil stops, timber, and playfields. It will not react with the photo-inks on playfields. It leaves No residue. I just cut strips of white computer paper. I dip the strip in the oil, and then wipe most of it off with a tissue. I then wipe the contacts as previously described. The paper will get dirty after just one or two wipes. I throw that bit away and just get another strip and carry on. Eucalyptus oil has wonderful medicinal properties. It is also great at cleaning grease and dirt from metal and wood. I also use it with cotton buds for flipper contacts, and most playfield contacts. I also think it’s healthy to breathe this stuff. Folks make inhalers from it for when you have a cold. I think it’s fantastic stuff. ….. It is flammable though, so care and common sense are required. I never put it straight on, but rather put it on a tissue, a Colton bud, or a strip of paper, and then use it that way. Hope this helps you Dave. Mark
With paper on metal, I'd recommend rubber cement. Elmers or mucilage-type glue will dry out and pop off. As for nylon on metal, if someone really wanted to lube that, a detergent or glycerin might be the thing to use, and very sparingly. You certainly want nothing petroleum-based on nylon since it will deteriorate the nylon.
…. The broken blade is a worry. … It will be interesting to see where this came from and what effect it has on gameplay. It seems like it came from the score-motor but I couldn’t see anywhere that it broke off from. … Another great video Ronnie.
Cratex sticks would work well for the contacts but they are EXPENSIVE. Catalin is a resin similar to Bakelite but is translucent. It was introduced just after the Bakelite expired.
Thanks again for a fascinating video! When you were showing how the score motor switches work, it reminded me of a VERY old U.S. Navy video that describes the workings of a mechanical gun computer. It shows how they do timing things just like you showed, multiply a number, divide, everything they needed to calculate the shot for the big guns. Well worth a watch! ua-cam.com/video/gwf5mAlI7Ug/v-deo.html
One of the funnest pins out there to play 👍👍
Thanks for the education on these EM machines! I have 3 EM's, one of which is a Williams Grand Prix that I am working through gremlins on and your advise has helped a lot with figuring out some common troubleshooting on my machine which sat neglected for several years before I bought it. Keep up the good material!
Thanks Muzeman, good luck with your machine!
Of all the channels I subscribe to; this one always pulls me in, I enjoy every step. I suppose I should try to get one of these machines someday and actually apply all this great info!
I just started restoring a 1970 Williams Ringer game and your videos made it possible. 💪🏼
I do not miss working on these. When the electronic ones came out I found my calling fixing those.
You have such a great voice. It is somehow soothing and exciting at the same time. 🤣
I love the voice he uses when he's reading the capacitor value
I agree. Ronnie has something in his voice which makes you want to listen to him. …. that voice could sell ice blocks to Eskimos.
Wait a minute....I also watch all your videos!! I love them!!
Thank you Patrick you're the man!
There is a beauty in these electromechanical units...
The Williams score motors have a magnetically operated armature that moves in/out to engage/disengage gearing. Remove the cover and put a few drops of oil in armature gears to ensure many years of continued operation. Love you videos, keep making them.
Thanks for watching Kent!
Great video as usual Ron, love your explanations, love your sense of humour(with Matt) love your accent.
Thank you Simon, glad you enjoyed it!
I always come into your videos thinking "I'll just watch a few minutes". 45 minutes later, "WTF"!!! Very informative and I love to watch you troubleshoot those spaghetti wires & relays. Such ingenuity they had. Keep on kickin ass!
RIP Lyman Sheats Jr. famed programmer for Data East, Williams/Bally, and Stern.
Huge loss to the pinball community, he was as big as it gets! He was a world champion player too, he won every tournament he was in...
Im working on a Grand Prix right now. This was great!!!
Been a while since I've commented. Still watching and enjoying every video. Thanks Ron
Man, love that old tech
Awesome video Ron. Thanks again for all your help!
Thanks man, I haven't got to your email yet but I'll talk to you soon!
Doc Brown built a fake nuke out of old pinball machine parts. I wonder what that looked like? And it must have been fun fixing a time machine with 1955 parts. I love the retro stuff!
Fixing a pinball machine is like cleaning your house :)
Just pick a single spot, and work on that spot, once you have finished that spot, move onto the next one.
Don't try and do it all at once, as you'll just make a bigger mess!
Yup. Exactly the same.... there is a science behind it, when you accomplish something even if it's really small your brain gets a hit of dopamine and it makes you feel like you did good... then you do another little small piece, etc. Break it down into tiny parts and you can do anything. Thanks for watching Ray as always!
I bought an Engineer SS-02 solder sucker after one of your videos reminded me of their existence. I prefer it over the desoldering station for removing things which have a lot of thermal mass. The silicone tip does have the unfortunate tendency to get solder stuck in it, and sometimes it results in the tip ending up in the waste bin.
I have this game it is a fun game to play.
Hi Ron!
I had a thought (my first for 2022!), and was interested in your opinion;
Please note that this is intended as a potential enhancement to your existing procedure, and not a criticism.
If you think this is useful, I'm sure you can work out a deal with the gentleman who makes your note pads to make these in bulk.
- Start with a light card stock, or heavy parchment paper stock.
- Cut into strips about 0.75" wide, by 5-6" long
- Spray one end with alcohol (or contact cleaner, if you prefer), just enough to dampen one end of the strip.
- After you have cleaned the relay with your file, run the damp end of the strip through the relay to remove any residual/loosened crud from the relay contact (This can be done in sections, reusing the strip until the alcohol has dried).
- Discard the strip.
- Repeat as needed.
Thoughts?
I have used a little eucalyptus oil on thin strips of paper. I put the strip between contacts, manually close the contacts, while pulling the strip out. This has worked very well for me. It cleans most things on a pinball machine from contacts to the playfield. … It will remove anything water based, but does not react to the photo inks used on pinball playfield art.
@@markjackson1444 Interesting... I wouldn't have considered eucalyptus oil...have you encountered any problems, residue-wise?
Also, if you don't mind my asking, what type of paper do you use? I had suggested parchment paper, or light card stock because it's a little rougher (and presumably stronger) than standard copy paper.
And as long as I have your attention, do you cut your own strips, or do you think there might be any advantage to having 'pads' of strips available? How much 'milage' might one expect from one strip before having to discard it?
(If anyone else has any experience with this sort of thing, I'd be interested in hearing about it...)
Hi Dave, … I’ve been using eucalyptus oil on pinnies for over 30 years. It behaves similarly to petrol in that it removes grease and dirt from switches, stepper units, coil stops, timber, and playfields. It will not react with the photo-inks on playfields. It leaves No residue.
I just cut strips of white computer paper. I dip the strip in the oil, and then wipe most of it off with a tissue. I then wipe the contacts as previously described. The paper will get dirty after just one or two wipes. I throw that bit away and just get another strip and carry on. Eucalyptus oil has wonderful medicinal properties. It is also great at cleaning grease and dirt from metal and wood. I also use it with cotton buds for flipper contacts, and most playfield contacts. I also think it’s healthy to breathe this stuff. Folks make inhalers from it for when you have a cold. I think it’s fantastic stuff. ….. It is flammable though, so care and common sense are required. I never put it straight on, but rather put it on a tissue, a Colton bud, or a strip of paper, and then use it that way. Hope this helps you Dave. Mark
With paper on metal, I'd recommend rubber cement. Elmers or mucilage-type glue will dry out and pop off.
As for nylon on metal, if someone really wanted to lube that, a detergent or glycerin might be the thing to use, and very sparingly. You certainly want nothing petroleum-based on nylon since it will deteriorate the nylon.
…. The broken blade is a worry. … It will be interesting to see where this came from and what effect it has on gameplay. It seems like it came from the score-motor but I couldn’t see anywhere that it broke off from. … Another great video Ronnie.
Believe it or not I don't think I ever found where it came from... sure looked like the score motor brake though! Thanks for watching as always Mark
Check out that Flight 2000!! LOL. I know, just joking Ron, you did an AMAZING job on that one. Loving this Grand Prix one.
Another really cool video!
Did you get a new camera the picture looks really good
It's the same one, sometimes I get it dialed in a little better than other times :) Thanks for watching Robert!
Cratex sticks would work well for the contacts but they are EXPENSIVE.
Catalin is a resin similar to Bakelite but is translucent. It was introduced just after the Bakelite expired.
Do you also put grease on the switch contacts?
How would you deal with a stepper that is missing its wiper? how would you figure out the configuration?
They have a drawing of them in the manual.
Is that piece from a broken motor brake?
@6:30 ... oh look the serial number you were looking for? maybe?
Yodelayheehoo
Thanks again for a fascinating video! When you were showing how the score motor switches work, it reminded me of a VERY old U.S. Navy video that describes the workings of a mechanical gun computer. It shows how they do timing things just like you showed, multiply a number, divide, everything they needed to calculate the shot for the big guns. Well worth a watch! ua-cam.com/video/gwf5mAlI7Ug/v-deo.html