another Judge Dredd trough optos drama

[skywalker]

hey all, did notice this thread few days ago, was going to continue it but started a new thread,

http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=12344.0


Anyway noticed my JD doesn't auto plunge if balls are stacked in the trough 86, 87.
is it meant to auto plunge if switch 87 is activated balls stacked up in the trough, My JD does not, say you have the PF up then lower it the balls are stacked, start a game, comes up missing ball, you manually have to pop the ball out, did do a switch test 81 to 87 all work, Apparently has had new trough opto boards fitted, lights on the board all light up confirming all ok, did remove both boards & clean them, also does get error 85, 86 come up every doz games or so, 

[DSB]

Switch 87 is defiantly there for a ball jam or trough solenoid jam but don't quote me on the autoplunge. I thought my Star Trek NG (when I owned one) used try and pop the trough plunger when balls were stuck on each other at the end of the trough although it was never strong enough to push both balls out. I always had to manually fix the problem. The error 85, 86. Are they check switch errors?  

[skywalker]

85,86 trough error, cant remember exactly what it said, should have taken a pic, stacked 2 balls on my shadow auto plunged straight away once i got out of test mode, have read the Wms wide body especially JD & IJ having opto issues often 

[Homepin]

If the original trough opto boards are installed - pull them out and go over them on the bench. Make sure nothing is loose and the optos are aligned correctly. Often a field repair was done "just well enough" to get it going but the opto may be wonky and only just pointing close to the right direction.

[skywalker]

Just had a quick look, has your boards mike 
will take boards out again anyway to recheck them

[Hashman]

Luke. I heard that the dredd ball trough gets magnetized really easily. Maybe this will solve it.
http://www.pinbits.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_8&products_id=449

[skywalker]

I'm not using the dredd ball is that the ceramic one you use with deadworld mod? haven't got that mod yet, But i tried a trough insert already the balls get stuck with the insert fitted, PF edge needs to be scolloped out, insert makes the ball higher catching the edge 

fitted plenty of those inserts with no issues before

[Strangeways]

Take the balls out the game and see if they are magnetized. Easy test is to place a small screw near them. All you need is two balls magnetised to attract to each other in the trough and this problem will persist.

I had exactly this issue on a JN, and it only presented itself once TWO magnestised balls were next to each other in the trough.

It could be the trough itself, but it sounds like you ruled that out. It is not the Homepin board. I'd look at your balls 

[skywalker]

Thanks all,
this gives me a few more ideas to try out 

[Homepin]

Just had a quick look, has your boards mike 
will take boards out again anyway to recheck them

  - well I doubt that will be the issue then....go with Ninos suggestion and shout the machine new balls....

[4_amusement_only]

Machine had a set of balls from PSPA fitted recently if that helps. If you put those shiny ones in when you got it..they could be the issue as I had no trough issues in 600 games after fitting mikes opto boards

[skywalker]

Machine had a set of balls from PSPA fitted recently if that helps. If you put those shiny ones in when you got it..they could be the issue as I had no trough issues in 600 games after fitting mikes opto boards

  its probably the balls 

[skywalker]

played a doz games or so, seems ok new std balls, trough insert, Scolloped out a bit of the PF so the ball clears going in the trough,
 Waiting for a deadworld mod kit to turn up


  Anyone out there got a JD please do me a favor & manually stack the balls in the trough, turn it on & check if it auto plunges

[Strangeways]

played a doz games or so, seems ok new std balls, trough insert, Scolloped out a bit of the PF so the ball clears going in the trough,
 Waiting for a deadworld mod kit to turn up


  Anyone out there got a JD please do me a favor & manually stack the balls in the trough, turn it on & check if it auto plunges

Are you saying that on power on, the auto plunger fires while the DMD has not booted ?

Glad to hear it was the balls causing the issues. Those cheap balls are just ball bearings anyway.

[skywalker]

Basically if you lift the PF up for whatever reason, once lowered the balls stack up, opto 87 that is the top switch in the trough is active & should auto plunge to clear the trough After you boot it up??? mine doesn't do it,
Just *presuming* it should just like other Wms machines i have,
You boot it up, comes up missing ball, it cant find it, ball is stacked, guessing that is what switch 87 is for??

Anyway was thinking all these issues may have been linked somehow