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Bally vector troubles - FIXED

deathrow

deathrow

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10 Years
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
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Location
Cromer - ish
Ok.. so I’m almost bald now from tearing my hair out

got my machine up and running but the ball holding lane switches at the bottom are playing silly buggers.
They all register and work but with the lower most switch engaged (the one closest to the ball shooter coil) the playfield upper gi goes out and the majority of the of pattern lights stop working
Diodes seem ok, boards re pinned etc
Game will play with this switch deactivated but will not allow multi ball as it thinks there’s still a ball in play
Anyone able to point me in the right direction please?
Thanks
 
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I would check other switches in the same row/columb to see if they are stuck or have faulty diodes,I had a similar problem with mine,and it turned out to be a duff diode on the "E" target,in my case it would register a hit as soon as the ball was ejected from the shooter lane
 
I think the key here is why the game goes into the lights out mode.

Is it possible that the symptoms you are experiencing (lights going out etc) are the machine believing that it has been tilted or slam tilted? With the trough switch removed - try the tilt and slam tilt switches to see what they do.

Vector has several tilt mechanisms so ensure you investigate all of them. Rolling ball. Coin door. Trembler below playfield. Tilt bob.

I would look at the diodes on the "square" formed when you map the trough switch and tilt switch. Then look at the diodes on the square formed by the trough and slam tilt.


If these diodes are ok, are there capacitors on the tilt mechanisms ? These capacitors fail over time and give problems. Many folk just clip them off and forget about them - but they are there to register momentary connections. I replace as necessary. Clip them one at a time to see whether removing them from the situation deals with it. You just solder the clipped leg back together if no change
 
Erm...

white and green, white and red/orange are where I’m having issues with my switch matrix... I think??

with the game in attract mode I can activate the ball trough switches and these will fire each captive saucer and the aforementioned lights issue on the one client to the launch coil.

Now think I’ve hit my head as I completely overlooked the fact that there’s an odd ball launch switch? Can anyone shed some light?
Just so happens that the wire colours linked to it are.. yup white and green plus white and red/orange
Does anyone have any pictures of what should be in its place if anything at all and where the wires should be?

btw I’ve gone through every switch diode and done full testing for shorts etc, checked all the tilt wiring too. It’s of note that the knocker coil is missing but this doesn’t seem linked to my issues imo

D5E4E650-3851-4E3E-AD29-F816AB3420CA.jpeg5D2E93D9-5190-499A-9753-EC1CBECE282A.jpeg
 
Looks like a nice factory fitted mod you have there...! :rofl:

Not a diode in sight either... no wonder you've got problems! :rolleyes:
 
What the hell triggers that microswitch ? That is not a factory piece!

That is probably your problem. My vector is long gone, but there are some vector brothers on here

You want a photo of whatever that switch should be
 
DRD said:
What the hell triggers that microswitch ? That is not a factory piece!

That is probably your problem. My vector is long gone, but there are some vector brothers on here

You want a photo of whatever that switch should be
Click to expand...
5DB550E9-FC64-408F-95AA-738A11FEDAD0.jpeg
 
deathrow said:
Erm...

white and green, white and red/orange are where I’m having issues with my switch matrix... I think??

with the game in attract mode I can activate the ball trough switches and these will fire each captive saucer and the aforementioned lights issue on the one client to the launch coil.

Now think I’ve hit my head as I completely overlooked the fact that there’s an odd ball launch switch? Can anyone shed some light?
Just so happens that the wire colours linked to it are.. yup white and green plus white and red/orange
Does anyone have any pictures of what should be in its place if anything at all and where the wires should be?

btw I’ve gone through every switch diode and done full testing for shorts etc, checked all the tilt wiring too. It’s of note that the knocker coil is missing but this doesn’t seem linked to my issues imo

View attachment 128368View attachment 128369
Click to expand...
:rofl::cuckoo:
That should be in Andy N or Chris Bs (cant remember which) awards for great fixes

Its a Rube Goldberg fix that must have taken far more effort and expense than just replacing the switch ...
 
I checked mine,those white/red wires go to a trough switch,but there should be a diode on it,your bodge job that someone did does not appear to have one
 
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As funny as this mod is I don’t think it’s linked to the issue having looked at the schematics
The switch is only momentarily actioned when a ball passes over it
Odd sound issues too.. v-v-v-vector! :hmm:

Thanks for the picture, if anyone can take a few closeups on their machine of that area I would be most grateful

cheers
 
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Sussed it!

pin 1 and 2 short on the mpu at j3

component failure is to blame and not me forgetting to double check the solder flow under the header pins on top side of pcb ;)

now have a working machine

next up will be lots and lots of soldering in new connectors and switches etc

500347AD-A69F-4019-AD9D-9AE318A8DD9A.jpeg
 
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