Dodgey globes

[pinball god]

Don't ya hate that odd insert or two that won't turn on or are dead for days or even weeks and then all of a sudden they come to life. Then they turn off again after a few games.

I've tried changing the globes, the twist sockets, clean the pcb, check for continuity and re-solder pins etc etc and all seem to temporarily solve the problem. Take my T2 red bank of targets lights or my TZ gumball and extraball insert lights in that great big line up of inserts. They work, they don't work 

Any tips to try to get the reliability up? I'm nearly considering running wires to these problem globes and bypass the tracks 

[Marty Machine]

Hey Rob,

On the twist-sockets, bend the 2 small copper contacts bushes UPWARDS, so they make contact harder against the PCB when you screw them back in.
Looking at the side of the socket, you can slip a fine screwdriver under the contact, and then bend it upwards towards 45degress.
Works for me !!

I used to fix lotsa sign-displays (scores) at work that are full of those twist-lamps, and all the intermittent ones were fixed by simply bending the contacts UP as above......

MM.

[pinball god]

Thanks mate will give a try. I have tried squeezing the contacts inside the socket using MM probes with some success. Also reflowing solder on the twist tracks again with varying success. So I'll try your method.

BTW spewing you worked so well making today a no goer was looking forward to a day out.

[pinball god]

Your method worked fine on the T2, Marty thanks, but TZ being tempremental. I got the Gumball light to work for a brief moment by pulling the plug out slightly so I'm betting a dry solder joint on the pins 

[Marty Machine]

Dodgy Dodgy.......at least i 1/2 helped then hehehehehhee.

[shansta]

Your method worked fine on the T2, Marty thanks, but TZ being tempremental. I got the Gumball light to work for a brief moment by pulling the plug out slightly so I'm betting a dry solder joint on the pins 

I'm no guru - but I had to resolder a couple of lamp PCB's on my PZ...

Same problem as you - the solder cracks around the base of the connector pins. Took me a day or so to work out too fuggit! (After following the same steps as you BTW!)