Hey all, long-time lurker here posting for the first time.

I've just begun to restore my first pinball machine - a Williams Gulfstream. All my previous experience has been with robm's DMDs and SS machines, so it's all a bit new to me.

The machine was bought unworking, and the current symptoms are:

• At power-up, the score reels all reset to zero (although the credit reel doesn't - should it???), the lights come on - looks like it's ready to play
• If the coin switch on the door (NC) is closed, the score motor runs without stopping
• If the coin switch on the door is open, the score motor doesn't run BUT if I depress the switch where the ball sits when it drains, the score motor does run
• Nothing happens when I press the start button

We're just beginning to step through the procedures on pinrepair.com. So far I've:

• checked all fuses
• pulled apart the stepper units, cleaned them up and confirmed that they're stepping freely
• pulled apart the score reel units, cleaned them up and confirmed that they're stepping freely

We don't have any schematics, so it feels like we're a bit in the dark.
So...any ideas?

Ok - from the top....

Scores setting to zero - yup thats good
 if credit wheel is at zero then there are NO credits and game wont play as in essence you have not stuck any money in ya tight bugger
Switch on coin door is IMPULSE - in other words, keep it closed and the motor WILL run and run and run.
To make the switch closure you are emulating what a coin would do when dropped through.. in other words gently tap it closed - it will open again and leave it - motor should run,then stop, ball gets kicked out from trough and you start the game

let me know how you go..

If no luck then make sure that game is reading the switch closure UNDER the ball as it sits in the trough... if this is NOT CLOSED the solenoid will not fire and ball wont come out to play.

Let me know how you go... this SHOULD be a real easy fix