Testing a 1964 EM transformer

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Hey guys
I have here a ‘Heat Wave’(Williams 1964) EM
(will start a restoration thread, once I have it kinda working)

Plugged it in, dead as a doorknob
Not even a hum from the transformer

I have replaced the power cord, as it was looking seriously dodgy. No help

I have removed the 4 fuses from inside the door, all conduct power

There is no on/off switch on this game

The transformer does not look as if it has shorted and burned, nor does it smell like it

I do not really know how to use a multimeter, but willing to learn

Any way to properly test the transformer?
Or is there something else that may be stopping the power getting through?

Pete

[ddstoys]

Try pushing the left flipper button pete?

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Try pushing the left flipper button pete?

That got some life into it



Which bright spark thought this stuff up??????

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Well, some things are working (motors  relays)
but some stuff isn't

but let the good times roll 

[ddstoys]

Sweet had that happen once spent ages trying to find the problem.  Then leaning in I hit the flipper and it fires to life.     

     Best advice I can give you to get this game going is to rebuild all the stepper units and score reels.    Check out the 101 section and I've made threads on how to do this if you have never done one.   90% of EM problems come from the steppers and score reels

[Strangeways]

Sweet had that happen once spent ages trying to find the problem.  Then leaning in I hit the flipper and it fires to life.     

     Best advice I can give you to get this game going is to rebuild all the stepper units and score reels.    Check out the 101 section and I've made threads on how to do this if you have never done one.   90% of EM problems come from the steppers and score reels

+1

EMs have a knack of sometimes fixing themselves after a few games. Things start "working" again, but as Daniel correctly stated, you will need to rebuild steppers etc. Have a read of the many EM restores and Marvin's EM Repair guide and you will build up the confidence. If in doubt, there is plenty of help at hand - just ask the question(s) !

Great to see you have added an EM to the collection 

[pinnies4me]

Try pushing the left flipper button pete?

That got some life into it



Which bright spark thought this stuff up??????

And I thought Daniel was being funny! Didn't realise this was a real thing.. .. D'oh!   

[ddstoys]

Try pushing the left flipper button pete?

That got some life into it
Which bright spark thought this stuff up??????

And I thought Daniel was being funny! Didn't realise this was a real thing.. .. D'oh!   

    .  I thought pete wouldnthinkni was being a smart ass.    Some of the ok Bally EMs are the same from memory

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Try pushing the left flipper button pete?

That got some life into it



Which bright spark thought this stuff up??????

And I thought Daniel was being funny! Didn't realise this was a real thing.. .. D'oh!   

So did I
I saw his post, and was ‘WTF?’
But I then looked at the machine and noticed there was more than just one set of wires leading to the flipper
So, ‘Why not?’, and it worked


Yep, there is a lot of reading to do, I have started reading a few threads in ‘Pinball Training 101’
But being an older game, there are less relays and switchstacks, everything is a little more accessable