I think i've figured the problem, but not a solution yet.
I pulled the assembly apart and it all seems OK.
I noticed by shining a torch in the coin door at startup (and holding the door switch closed) that the machine in its power up cycle tries to drop and reset the wall target. What happens is that the target drops, and resets, but then tries to reset 3 or 4 more times - this is due to the fact that the pivot bracket assembly (C shaped bar on end of main solenoid plunger) rests on the microswitch at the bottom - making the machine thing the wall target is still down, hence why it tries to reset 3 or 4 times when it is already up.
Now this assembly is a bit flogged out, but i can't see how (even with a new one) it is meant to 'stay up' and not activate the microswitch, as the solenoid does not hold in, only fires to latch the wall up?
Can anyone take a picture of their setup, maybe the switch blade is the wrong shape - or is it something else?
Thanks
Rob