Crane Game Issues-The Gobbler Crane

[Frank A]

I have a crane game called the Gobbler that I am having an issue with. When I picked it up it was working OK. I did extensive cleaning and changed the 110 volt cord. Now it short cycles by beeping and showing only a single zero in the time elapsed window LED. It stops beeping and drops 2 inches and shuts off. No travel at al and the joy stick has no response at all. Could it be a fuse for the control circuit ? I don't have a schematic and have never owned a crane game. Help !!!
Thank you,

Frank

[channelmaniac]

It sounds like a limit switch isn't working or you reassembled it incorrectly after cleaning.

Double check to make sure the cables are wound the right way and that the limit switches are in the right place.

When the crane fires up, it expects to return to "home" and if it can't tell it's at home by the limit switches it'll error out.

RJ

[Frank A]

Thank you for the reply. Where is the limit switch located ? On the claw head possibly ? I only cleaned around the claw and did not take any switches apart. Maybe I nudged something ?

Frank

[diecaster]

Who is it made by?

I have a Kramer Krane and can supply some info on that.

When I got my crane, it wasn't working either. It had an alarm displayed in the LED display and it turn out to be a wire stuck on one of the coin switches.

Most cranes are the same and if you push the trolley away from "home" position, it should run through a cycle at power on to return home. Doe's your crane do this?

[Frank A]

Yes it does. The boards were made by SMS Manufacturing. I found the volume pot, but there are 2 more pots that I can't figure what they do since it doesn't work yet. I assume one is claw strength and the other may be time. There are dip switches too, but without a schematic I don't want to touch them. Thanks for the help.

Frank

[Frank A]

Good news. I have the game working. There was a problem with the coin mechanisms. The only issue now is that the claw won't grip anything at all. It closes, but it doesn't have any strength. Is one of the 3 pots the grip strentgh or is the adjustment on the claw itself ? One pot is volume, one is the timer for the start and duration of play. Thanks,

Frank

[diecaster]

One of the pots is defiantly for the claw strength. It's amazing that the claw may look like it snaps shut fast, but won't pick up a feather. I always knew those things were rigged.

You should be able to adjust it through trial and error or put a volt meter on it to test how well the pot is working.

P.S.

We stock our crane with toys from the dollar store. It still seems to come out cheaper than buying in bulk.

[diecaster]

Just had another thought.

You may want to post on the pinball and arcade collecting newsgroups for information on a SMS skill crane. That's how I got the manual from my machine.

You could play with the dip switches if you record the original settings. They should control type of claw movement, music, and coins / free play.

Many of these crane makers came in went in a short period of time.

[Frank A]

Thank you. I am off to the garage now to try your ideas. We tried to bring the game down the stairs to the game room, but it is too big to make the two 90 degree turns in the stairwell. It will become a permanent resident of the garage until I trade it or get a smaller crane.

Frank