Bally EM - '69 Bowl-O

[Romano]

Greetings Friends,

as some of you know I have been busy restoring a 1969 Bally "Bowl-O", (see 'Restorations' Threads). I came to assemble the game after extensive playfield restoration and I noticed that one of the relay banks (the cabinet had been standing on its back for a few months), had completely come away from the main board and crashed onto another bank of relays. My first thought was, "Oh no, this is not going to be good". It seems there was only one screw holding this in place and after the passage of time it could not handle the weight of the mechanism and eventually it gave way.

Now this game worked perfectly before I started, its just that the playfield required major attention. THE PROBLEM NOW, is that this relay bank now cycles continously during power on. you can even play a game, but the thing just will not stop turning. This IS NOT to do with the tradiaional score reel(s) not closing at zero position as it is NOT the score motor that is turning, its the other bank with "ball played" "Start", etc.

If anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated. On another note, if anyone has a BOWL-O of their own and you can tell me what the relays should be labeled that would be fabulous. The labels in mine are so badly faded they are unreadable. I have worked most of them out from the schematic but it would be good to be sure.

Thanks in Advance.

[oldpins]

Hi Ramano. Could you post a pic of the problem unit you are speaking about, I'm not a expert on Bally EM's however may be able to help.

GT

[Romano]

Picture attached. bet you can't guess which one is turning. The one in front of it is the score motor and this one is ok.

[goodolddays]

Sounds to me like one or more switches on that mech is now out of adjustment.. but no doubt you have already checked that ?

[Romano]

Sounds to me like one or more switches on that mech is now out of adjustment.. but no doubt you have already checked that ?

Yeah, everything seems to be opening and closing as it should. I did spot one of the switches is ALWAYS closed. This was in the small hours so I am going back there to check it out tonight with the schematic. I am not convinced you would have a switch in an always closed position, or why the switch at all. Anyway, will see how it goes tonight.

Ta.

[goodolddays]

Doesn't make sense to me either to have an always closed switch

I only have experience on EM pin's but expect your game logic would be similar.
Good luck and let us know how it goes

Cheers
Dave

[oldpins]

Had a look at the schematic download from PBD. From what I can see from your picture, it looks to be the reset motor you have highlighted which continues to run on power up. Seems to be a contact not opening. Start with the game over relay. Follow the (orange with green tracer) wire thru the contacts. One at a time work thru the schematics and follow wire colours to contacts associated with the reset motor.

Regards

GT

[Romano]

Had a look at the schematic download from PBD. From what I can see from your picture, it looks to be the reset motor you have highlighted which continues to run on power up. Seems to be a contact not opening. Start with the game over relay. Follow the (orange with green tracer) wire thru the contacts. One at a time work thru the schematics and follow wire colours to contacts associated with the reset motor.

Regards

GT

Thanks for that GT, much appreciated. I have a slight problem in that the labels for that reset motor have faded and are unreadable. Its obvious that the first ten correspond to the number of bowling pins in the game, but I am at a loss for what the others are. I have looked at the schematic and have managed to corelate them on the basis of number of switches and the wire colours. Thanks for pointing this out. I will check it out soon. If you know of anyone with this game that can confirm them all for me that would be great.

Thanks again,
Sandro.

[oldpins]

Hi Romano,
I was told if the labels are faded you may be able to use a ultra violet light to assist reading them. Don't know if this would work for you ?

GT

[Romano]

Hmmmmm, been a while hasnt it?!

Im a little puzzled over the whole "normally open/normally closed" condition of Bally motor switches. I have difficulty expalin the scenario and it would be a lot easier if I knew what a particular metal part is called. I have looked all over the net for its name and I cannot find it, so, im going to call it "the little metal thingy" 

The motor cam has a series of disks which alters the condition of switches depending on whether it is running, or at rest. I am going to assume that the correct condition of a switch will be at its "rest" period. HOWEVER, there is a "little metal thingy" which when it is "pulled", pops down and the whole switch stack drops, further altering the condition of the switches. So, is the normal correct position of switches, regardless of whether the cam is moving or at rest, to be checked with "the little metal thingy" is in pulled in, or not.

I do really hope this makes sense to somone 

[millsy]

 
Does the machine have a problem ? Is the score motor still continually running.?
You may need to follow the startup sequence.

[Romano]

Does the machine have a problem ? Is the score motor still continually running.?
You may need to follow the startup sequence.

Greetings Millsy. Yes it does, and I created it  I was cleaning switches and now the score motor wont stop turning. All the zero position switches on the score reels are where they should be. Im trying to determine when the normally open/closed state of the switches is to be set cos that metal thingy I mentioned alters it.

Sandro.

[millsy]

How far does the machine progress on startup - Score wheels resetting etc
Refer startup sequence http://pinballaustralia.com/startupB.htm
Sounds like a wire off or switch problem - I'm afraid the only way is to recheck all the switches/wiring 

[oldpins]

Are you able post a picture of the 'metal thingy' you talking about Sandro? 

[Romano]

Are you able post a picture of the 'metal thingy' you talking about Sandro? 

You can see a series of metal thingys under the switch stacks and towards the back. befind the metal thingy is a small coil which when enrgised pulls the THING in and the stack drops. getting back to the original quextion, I am guessing the switches are in their normally open/closed state when the stack is UP?