What's inside a pinball machine? Part 3--How does it all work?
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2013
- In this third video of the series, I explain how an electromechanical pinball machine is able to perform the complex tasks that it does. As I explain in the end of the video, electromechanical devices such as this pinball machine are controlled by altering the wiring of the machine as it runs. The relays that cause sequences are essentially redirecting the actions of a particular device through the score motor so that they happen either at a specific time or with a specific repetition.
Electromechanics are pretty difficult to understand, but I hope that by showing you the various control devices and how they work together you can get somewhat of an idea.
Feel free to ask questions about the machine's operation. I'll try to answer them in the comments as soon as I can.
Looking for the original video?
• What's inside an elect...
Part 2?
• What's inside a pinbal... - Наука та технологія
Just realized you are the "Technology Connections" guy in a younger, non-tweed jacket form!
I just made the same (non-technology) connection!
thanks for doing all the work explaining, I wish u-tube pinball repair video people ,
would go through & thoroughly explain the steppers and switches and relays and wiring paths
like you did. Because each game they work on on these EM pinball games vary. And there's
the, Stern way Bally, way Williams, way, United &, Gottlieb way of building and drawing up schematics shorthand
differ's,Then they could go into explaining how to fix what's wrong and what they did to find
the problem. But I really thank any one that takes the time to help us new to pin repair.
one thing not talked about much in pinball is the wiring that makes these these
features that give free games or balls work , Mine from 1958 has 3 ways to get free games. 1) match the top number/ nobody talks about how that's made possible on EM game mine is Williams. took me along time, but finally figured out they use the stepper's frame ( match unit & 0-9 S.U.) as a ground to complete circuit for the pulse the cable between every stepper on a 2 player game use least 15 digits
2) next way to get a free game/ beat previous high score I was puzzled by the wiring not being able to figure out why the run score stepper 10 digits had to be wired to the center previous high 0-9 score reel stepper 10 solder lugs
because i thought the end of stroke on the other one signaled the other relay for previous high score to clack 1x so the runs would stay even till it beat the main 0-9 reel so my question was why do they hook together with a heft amount of wires like the match unit needed? all I could come up with was they wanted a circuit to
cancel the hold on the clacking relay/
3/ free games for home runs similar to pin games with free ball for points. All I know so far is the run stepper goes way up in notches to keep track adjustment are plugged in solder to rivet heads at certain points, as the machine can't see.
cant hear. like you say it will only do what the factory pre wired it to do .
That why nobody talks about how there wired because most peoples are pre wired from the factory. I took this on so I mite learn something but didn't know I would be taking this long to figure out how to wire a stripped out head all I had was an empty box over years I collected the parts from Craig's list and ebay. I'm getting closae to trying it
Great video production Alec, that took a lot of work. I've been working on EM pins since the late 70's and this will help a lot of people. It will hopefully help keep a lot of these irreplaceable but wonderful machines out of landfills.
Fascinating. I worked as a machine technician in my early 20's when electromechanical had just passed and electronics had just landed. These machines had real character and this video took me back over 40 years. Thank you, you are one very knowledgable dude (as I think you Americans say!) Cheers mate, enjoyed this episode very much.
You are a very bright young man. I'm sure your future is bright.
Thank you so much for this wonderful video! I myself am on the verge of buying my first pinball machine, and an em one at that. Knowing that there are these resources here and at other places around the web do much to ease my concern over owning and maintaining such a machine.
Nice to hear someone explain a topic in which they have a complete understanding. I've never worked in a pinball machine, but kinda know how things work now.
Gosh what a great video it’s the kind of explanation I was looking for feels like pinball mechanic school training great lighting allows to see what you are showing thankyou!
Exactly the videos I was looking for! Knowing what's what and where makes my EM life much easier.
Super helpful! Thanks Alec for the prolific look into working parts.
Magnificent! And may I say that I'm missing a lot of " // This relay does this and that" and " // Just enter next state, do not count up anything" labeled next to the wires. Thanks for the great video :-) Hardware at its best.
Thanks I enjoyed your thorough explanations of how these wonderful EM pinballs work
Great video, Great explanation, No one did like before, A++++++++
The most well explained working of pinball machine I have ever seen. Thanks.
good stuff. really enjoyed this because it helped me understand how my EM pinball machine works.
Very good job of explaining!
This is a great video. Thanks.
Fascinating! Thanks!
Greatest pinball video, Awesome !
fantastic EM video
Stick with it, kid. You're going to be huge one day. 😂
Great video. I will be looking for your previous videos for additional help. I am trying to bring life back to a Williams Grand Prix EM Thanks
It's like an old school dishwasher that I used at work.
It had a physical wheel and switch's to tell what mode it was on.
One wheel and switch wash cycle.
Second wheel and switch drain water.
Third wheel and switch fill tank.
Forth wheel and switch add detergent.
Fifth wheel and switch last wash cycle.
Six wheel and switch end cycle.
And seventh wheel and switch restart at the beginning.
To start the cycle over again.
I always love watching that happen.
That's why it's seared in my memory.
I fully understand it because I understand and have made some switch logic devices before.
Awesome series of videos. You should post these to your main channel.
you got to be a genius to make this!
Best video in my opinion for EM pinballs , great job brother - another subb gained
I have 2 Bally Pinball machines. Electromechanical Monte Carlo and Wizard. And I must say, YOU are a damn genius!!!
Absolutely wonderful video!
Thanks A lot.
I have both a Bally Wizard and Bally Bon Voyage game.
I am having a problem with the “O” in the Bon Voyage game not activating in either of the two scenarios that are supposed to activate it.
The game you demonstrated is very very similar to the Bon Voyage. It just about has all of the same functions just laid out a little different.
At 56 I have fixed or figured out a lot of mechanical devices but these darn pinball machines will bring you to your knees without someone explaining the basics. Between your videos and a few online resources I think I might be able to diagnose the problem.
Thanks again- your videos are very helpful and greatly appreciated.
Also- in all my years you are the only person besides myself and my father I have ever known to be named “ Alec”. Glad to finally find someone else with the name besides me.
Wow, awesome video, thanks! It's really amazing what happens inside these EM Pins, as one plays on them. My "Space Odyssey" is currently down, but it'll be back running very soon. :)
I love EM pins!
The people who design these must be very smart to keep track of all the relay logic.
Hi thank you for explaining how these work to this ol blonde girl,,,I used to play these back In the 80's-90's every Friday and Saturday night at the bar with my girlfriend's,,,I'll have to show them this too,,great explanation,,and you did a excellent job all the way thank you,,, Shawna
Those em machines look like they would be a nightmare to work on.
technology connections?
Great
GREAT video. I have a gottlieb 300. I cant get things to reset to first player. Help
these use relay Logic. which was the predecessor to solid state circuits.
these type of circuits were used to control elevators, early rotary Telephone dialing, / call routing and many other devices that required logic functions. problem was there were lots of moving parts that would eventually wear out, and contacts that could become dirty / corroded and needed occasional maint. not like computer logic of today with no moving parts except cooling fans and some mechanical hard drives [ in the older units. ] but for back in the day this was Awesome technology! and it got the job done and they were alot easier to troubleshoot.
If you want to see relays in elevator controllers, try looking at mrmattandmrchay's videos.
I have a ~1976 (EM) Sterns four player Rawhide machine. Until recently it was working perfectly. But now even though the machine generally works fine the score motor runs all the time, even with Game Over (the score reels all reset to zero OK). Also, I cannot get the game credits to go below 8. If I disconnect the power and manually rotate the credits reel to 1 - when I turn on the machine the credits immediately go to 8. Any suggestions?
Great video, very informative. I watched because I am having trouble figuring out a problem with a 1971 Williams Jackpot machine. It is stuck on ball 1 , player 1. It will not advance to ball 2, whether in single player or multi player. I watched your video and all the relays pulled in on startup like yours and then when I trip outhole switch for lost ball it triggers the outhole relay and all the switch reels turn, but it will not change to ball 2. The outhole relay pulls but does not turn the ball count unit. Any suggestions? Thanks
I need your expertise. I purchased this exact pinball machine in non working order. I have it coming on but it is stuck in reset. I checked all the score reels and they look to be at 0. Nothing is working like it should. Where would be a starting point for me? I have the paperwork that came with the machine.
How to understand an em machine from when you hit the start button williams stardust. Step by step help please
I hit the start button and the motor with fingers goes through cycle, if you put a Ball in the hole it will pop out but nothing e!se.
Anybody with suggestions please
Nice video. Most of the mechanical games I played were by Gottlieb and they were mostly add-a-ball games. Do the add-a-ball games work the same way?
I am currently working on my 1976 Fiesta Playmatic Pinball machine and I having some difficulty. When the machine is turned on and enters into the reset sequence all the score reels reset (its a 4 player machine) and then the score motor remains running as well as the reset control unit relay is stuck on as well as the start relay under the playing field being stuck on and the ball kicker that kicks the ball in front of the plunger to start the game won't stop kicking. All of the score reels stop at 0 and I have tried cleaning and adjusting all the switches on the score reels including the 2 EOS switches as well as the 0 switches and the 9 switches. It's important to note that some of the play field elements are disabled because I have not gotten around to repairing them. The ball counter switch and some of the score elements as well. Could it be as simple as the play field elements not completing the circuits necessary to stop the score motor? Please feel free to comment or email me with any ideas. Thanks for all the help and awesome video!
I figured it out. One of the mechanisms that with increments or decrements the Bonus stepper unit was seized. Some new grease and a few hours of work and the machine reset it self perfectly and is ready to start a new game! Thanks for all the help with learning terminology and how these things work!
Wait a minute . . . are you the same guy from... Tech Connections or something like that. You spend a vid or 2 talking about hurricane lamps.... Is that you too?
And with all the wheel was spinning at the same time.
When either switch 1 2 3 4 5 6 or 7 goes up and make a connection to the main hub.
You can see physically what cycle it was in.
Great I got the feeling I understand this beast of mechanical computer ! Thanx
Can you help me with my Bally Old Chicago!! Odd problem.
The quality if awful and I hate it!
nah jk, just here cos I like the new channel and wanted to see where you came from.
takes things into perspective. Some shots here are out of focus etc.
ya came a loooooong way. lovely
EXCELLENT vid! I have been doing my own repairs for about 3 years now and you deteailed circuits I am not very familiar with. THANKS!
Wanna help me troubleshoot a GTB Jumping Jack that is caught in perpetual reset?
Trying to fix it for a moron that cleaned every switch, all at once, without checking adjustment after each switch. I have fixed three so far but am still missing something.
Can you please give me some help why my score motor doesn't stop running and machine won't come out of tilt
Charles Zarella score motor running is 95% of the time due to a score reel not hitting the 0 position switch. Mostly common on lowest/most used reel. Tilt could be one of the tilt switches stuck or switch touching. 2 on left side of cabinet. Rolling ball, plumb Bob. Or the slam tilt switches one on bottom of the cabinet and one on back of coin door. Or tilt relay stuck.
Super video. I can see you know a lot. Maybe you can help me with a problem on my machine. When you have player one and you score Some points it automaticly Goes to player two During the game. Sometimes After 10 points, sometimes after 100 points. But it moves over to player two. It never happend when playing player 2,3 or 4. Only at player 1. Whats wrong? Where to look in the machine?
Been in an out of the score motor and do not want to go into it again, that is for sure. Not a fan of GTB repairs.
Anyhow, sent you a PM.
THANKS!
oh hey, its mr technology connections
Hello Alec. Do you make house calls?
i've actually played this machine (at least one similar)
The stepper units is really the computer brains of the pinball machine.
But it's done mechanically and physically instead of digitally by the solid state pinball machines of the late 70's early 80's.
Look at the stepper units more like punch card of the 50's and 70's computer systems.
Instead of 1s and 0s input actions it's physical by those arms.
thousands score reel doesn't rotate score motor runs continuously on my 1969 Williams "Miss O"position score reels manually to 0000 press start button and score motor turns one revolution and ball kicker doesn't kick ball game doesn't play I'm out of ideas Thanks
Now do a bingo machine