Bally Captain Fantastic Help Needed (Fixed, I figured it out :) )

[rilaw]

OK, I bought two CF pins and an extra head.  I cleaned both pins and now have a one clean pin.  I checked all contacts, relays, etc.  I installed new fuse holders as well.  Now, here is the problem.  Hit the power and she lights up as she should.  With credits on the machine, pushing the start button does nothing.  Drop a quarter in, gets stuck.  So, flip the coin switch on the door and the game begins.  You can play one ball fine, all flippers, bumpers, chimes, and playfield switches seem to operate as the should.  When the ball is lost, she does not know.  The flippers still function, yet the ball is lost, next ball never happens.  I checked the switch in the ball return area and its fine.  The score reels all reset fine as well.  I have just not found the issue yet and welcome any helpful info.

TIA  

[stayouttadabunker]

Did you use a multimeter to check the ball return switch?
When the ball falls into the switch - it closes the line.
Check that wire line from the switch all the way back to the board...

[rilaw]

Did you use a multimeter to check the ball return switch?
When the ball falls into the switch - it closes the line.
Check that wire line from the switch all the way back to the board...

Checked it all the way from the playfield to where it plugs into the guts, no issue....
Thanks

[stayouttadabunker]

Thanks...however, I'm wondering if the fault lies with the switch itself?
Did you manually press down on the switch wire to see if it activates the ball return plunger?
See if there's a diode soldered in between the two contacts of the switch
and the two contacts of the solenoid of the ball return plunger?
The diode may be out of specs and may need to be replaced.
The diode makes sure the current doesn't go the other way on the line.
If it's out of specs, the wrong way signal is confusing the board and it doesn't know if it
should start counting up the points and activate the ball return plunger/solenoid.
In other words-it doesn't see that the game has ended.
The best way to check a diode on the ball return solenoid is to go
into the test mode and see if it makes the ball return solenoid/plunger work.
The test modes should be in the Capt Fantastic manual.
There will be tests for the lighting system and the solenoids.

[slotsteve]

no diode  its a em  game  no boards either,  file those points trace wire to relay make sure all stepup units are free and reset to  home spot , Again there nothing on a em pin you cann,t  fix.  But if you swicithed the heads the wires may not be in same place on plug

[rilaw]

no diode  its a em  game  no boards either,  file those points trace wire to relay make sure all stepup units are free and reset to  home spot , Again there nothing on a em pin you cann,t  fix.  But if you swicithed the heads the wires may not be in same place on plug

Dam, I did not think about the head swap deal (I'm going to check the wiring on all three heads)...  I really have no idea which head belongs with this pin.  Two of the heads seem to function fine, the third will not reset the score reels.  There is either a bad relay or a wiring issue, at least thats my guess. 
Thanks..

[rilaw]

Thanks...however, I'm wondering if the fault lies with the switch itself?
Did you manually press down on the switch wire to see if it activates the ball return plunger?
See if there's a diode soldered in between the two contacts of the switch
and the two contacts of the solenoid of the ball return plunger?
The diode may be out of specs and may need to be replaced.
The diode makes sure the current doesn't go the other way on the line.
If it's out of specs, the wrong way signal is confusing the board and it doesn't know if it
should start counting up the points and activate the ball return plunger/solenoid.
In other words-it doesn't see that the game has ended.
The best way to check a diode on the ball return solenoid is to go
into the test mode and see if it makes the ball return solenoid/plunger work.
The test modes should be in the Capt Fantastic manual.
There will be tests for the lighting system and the solenoids.

Thanks for the help but its not a SS pin, its an EM.  No diodes or boards like slotsteve mentioned...

[stayouttadabunker]

Oh okay...I didn't know it was an electromechanical machine...
Raw contact points probably need a good file brush up.

[slotsteve]

Head  and body will have ser #

[rilaw]

Head  and body will have ser #

OK, swapped out the wrong head for the correct one..... Figures, nothing changed....

[slotsteve]

now you know the trouble is in the body

[rilaw]

now you know the trouble is in the body

Yup.. I went through everything yesterday.  I followed every step on pinrepair.com (CFH's site), replaced a few low ohm coils (Then figured out three of the four I replaced only read low because the had to be removed to read correctly), and after everything was done, nothing changed.   It won't coin up (Quarter is just returned).  The start button does nothing, even with credits.  If you open the coil door and activate a coil switch it will play one ball.  When the ball is lost, it does not know and the game still plays (flippers work) but ball two never comes).   I'm giving up for a while before I decide to torch her...

Thanks

[rilaw]

*******FIXED******

So, I was just a few Coronas deep and figured I tackle that dam Pin.... After a little trial and error, and a lot of green sparks, overheated wires, and smoke.... I figured her out!  I found two broken score motor contact switches.  I replaced them and the freakin thing came to life!

Thanks guys, I guess I can still fix EM's

[slotsteve]

nice job

[StatFreak]

 

Great "Fantastic" job of sleuthing! K+
I can tell that you feel just awful about having fixed it. lol

So, what does this pin look like? 

Stat

[rilaw]

OK, just went out to the garage and took a few quick pics...

Adjusted a few playfield switches, put down a few coats of Millwax, cleaned the plastics etc, replaced a few rubbers, and played a few games.  Nice Pin

[StatFreak]

WOW, that is really clean! 

It looks like your second self beat your primary self by 900 points (or 9,000 of you count the phony zero).

[stayouttadabunker]

The play-field looks like it's in excellent shape considering the year of that machine!
Great job taking care of it!

[aklarry]

Hey Bunker Careful on the age thing I remember pulling that pin new out of the box actually quit a few of them it was a profitable pin for me.
AkLarry

[stayouttadabunker]

LOL!!!    I, of course, meant no disrespect... !!!
I have a 1979 or 1978 ( I have think I also have CRS...lol) Stern Stars pinball machine.
I know from research that the EM's ...uh...were a bit older...
Still, your playfield looks much nicer than mine.
I wish I had time to take it apart and restore it like it needs to be.

[slotsteve]

cap fan  is a great em pinball best if you have one with there rare back glass ,I only have 1 capt leftlast one I sold in nj they guy offered 2grand I was hurt only wanted 1200, never refuse a good offer












i

[rilaw]

cap fan  is a great em pinball best if you have one with there rare back glass ,I only have 1 capt leftlast one I sold in nj they guy offered 2grand I was hurt only wanted 1200, never refuse a good offer :200-i

Um, for 2K its available    lol   So I guess I got a good deal on the 2.5 I bought!  I'm going to try and get the other one working, but its missing the Backglass and the playfield is worn....

[slotsteve]

Back glass,s do comeup from time to time