Complete Williams Expo 1969

[Ashbo]

Virtual cab stenciling done...now I'm free to get back to Expo......

 

[Ashbo]

Moved her in to my house last week and that has really helped progress.

We have been repainting the playfield and cleaning.

Also 3d printed off some bits for the buttons that had wasted away over the years and put some new springs on the plunger.

Starting to feel like progress.

 

[Ashbo]

Lunchtime tinkering...coin door on the lock down bar (previously rusted together as one solid lump) now seems to work

45mins up, next thing to work will need to be me!!

 

[Ashbo]

Couldn't resist just seeing what it will sound like....like the child I am

Fuses on order, the next task, connect some power and test the transformer.

 

[Ashbo]

It's alive!!!! Lots to fix, but a big sigh of relief in my house as it powers on!!!

 

[Ashbo]

Made loads of progress last night:

1) found a short from some damaged cable in the wiring loom to the relays under the playfield. This caused the 115v relay reset coil to over heat when repeatedly trying to reset, luckily I caught it in time.
2) the 1.6A slow blow fuse protecting this part of the circuits didn't, it's in tact, but sure as hell isn't 1.6A - swapped out.
3) resoldered half a dozen crappy connections to fix a few issues. The score reel never stops though, even though the game plays.
4) finished cleaning the plastics.
5) repopulated the playfield.

This lunchtime I've given her another wax and she is starting to look really nice. Popped an order into pinball heaven for some rubbers and a new ball.

This weekend I WILL find out why the score reel keeps spinning. I will, I will, I will.

 

[ronsplooter]

Assuming it's just to one score reel that keeps spinning,? The score reel will have a few different switches on it, one of which will be the zero position switch that lets the game know when it's reset back to 0. I expect this switch isn't being made so it just keeps going forever.

Compare the switch positions on one of the working reels to the non working one and you should be able to spot the relevant switch and adjust it

Not sure about a Williams reel but if it's anything like Gottlieb and Bally then it's probably have the following switches:

• Zero position - tells he game when the reel is at 0
• Nine position - tells the game when the reel is at 9
• Run out switch - tells the game that the reel needs to be advanced to reset
• EOS switch - stops the coil from locking on (not needed for the game to work but obviously safer if you leave the game on and unattended)

 

[Ashbo]

Assuming it's just to one score reel that keeps spinning,? The score reel will have a few different switches on it, one of which will be the zero position switch that lets the game know when it's reset back to 0. I expect this switch isn't being made so it just keeps going forever.

Compare the switch positions on one of the working reels to the non working one and you should be able to spot the relevant switch and adjust it

Not sure about a Williams reel but if it's anything like Gottlieb and Bally then it's probably have the following switches:

• Zero position - tells he game when the reel is at 0
• Nine position - tells the game when the reel is at 9
• Run out switch - tells the game that the reel needs to be advanced to reset
• EOS switch - stops the coil from locking on (not needed for the game to work but obviously safer if you leave the game on and unattended)

Thanks Ron, I think you may we be right. The player 2 works perfectly and there may also be something up with the credit wheel leaf switch too. This will benefit from disassembly this weekend and having a close look with the schematic on a big screen.

 

[Ashbo]

A cracking weekend has been had in Expo land ...

Over 50 #47 bulbs changed and mostly new rubbers throughout.

Somehow managed to buy the wrong size for the slingshots, so cleaned up the old ones and they will do for now.

Score motor still spinning away, so I'm sure it's a switch wrong somewhere...anyway...

Also fixed the broken pop number. That was a copper plate bracket for the leaf switches. It seems it was touching the ground wire (it is supposed to) but was tarnished underneath the ground wire and wasn't conducting any electricity. Remove, clean, reassemble and a drop of solder to keep it in place, pop bumper back in action.

Next was the eject on the select and spin hole. This was a pain, first problem was it had completely seized. Remove, clean, reassemble and it worked when manually hitting the relay, but not in gameplay. Ended up being a wrong leaf switch on the 500 point relay. Awesome....on a roll...

Next, getting the lights for the ball count and game over working. This ended up being some wires not soldered correctly on the Jones plug. That's my bad, another easy fix.

Then, we see the painted back glass starting to tell tales and the numbers blinding me when lit. Onto Amazon for some coloured gels...commission my daughter to do the needful, done still nowhere near perfect, but it's starting to be fun to play.....

 

[Ashbo]

How do you fix something that you have neither the skill or first idea where to start??? Ask Dad! that's how!! In two hours this afternoon my Dad sorts out the broken laminated wood at the bottom of the Expo's case by splicing and gluing in new hardwood sections. Looks great! Thanks Dad!

 

[Ashbo]

Unfortunately, after the glue had set and I reassembled everything, it didn't work properly again. Deep breath, will look again another day as too dark now....

 

[Ashbo]

Stopped working because there were no credits!!! No, removed the crocodile clips I used for free play...what a Wally!!

Anyway, one step forward, three steps back... I found the cause of the score motor issue, this was a short on the 300 point switch. It then worked perfectly for half a game....

.....the outhole lost power and then stopped the score motor and now the bank reset coil won't fire....

...everything has now functioned...just never at the same time. Lol, soon we will be there...

 

[Ashbo]

Been putting it off, but need to clean each part one by one.....

 

[Ashbo]

It's alive!!!!!!!!! Seems cleaning works!

 

[Ashbo]

Not much progress recently as been busy with work. We are in the local paper though as our virtual pinball cabinet is out in use at a local VR Arcade. Some nice pics of Expo being restored by my daughter and dad.

Three generations of pinball wizards

Three generations of a family have come together during lockdown to build a virtual gaming machine.

www.spaldingtoday.co.uk

 

[Ashbo]

Well, after enjoying a fully functional Expo for a while, it's time to dismantle and sort out the cosmetics. Not sure the dogs are too happy with me. I have the next week off, let's see how far I get. I know you are supposed to leave the exterior paintwork alone on EMs but I hate the scars on this girl, going to fill, sand and touch up. If that looks crap, make stencils, sand back and re-spray.

 

[Ashbo]

No turning back now......

 

[Ashbo]

Slightly darker blue...I like it!

 

[Ashbo]

Not a fan of watching paint dry...time to try and do something with the legs, Dremel with wire brush attachments...not the finish I was hoping for, but better than it was!

 

[Ashbo]

White and blue done on the left side...time consuming stuff this. Bought some Fabsome, high tack painters masking tape. This stuff does take the old paint off within seconds of use, but, it does give an amazingly sharp line.

 

[Ashbo]

"Oi, Dad!! Stop messing with that old box and take us for a walk!!!"

I do having to keep looking at the old photos to convince myself this is worth the effort...

 

[AlanJ]

White and blue done on the left side...time consuming stuff this. Bought some Fabsome, high tack painters masking tape. This stuff does take the old paint off within seconds of use, but, it does give an amazingly sharp line.

High tack means its sticky, so will be more likely to take paint off, better to use something low tack.

 

[Ashbo]

Had some success stenciling the world logo. Nice.

 

[Ashbo]

December's pinbargo over, time to get cracking again. New lock relay from pinball center. Cursing myself for not getting a bell knocker and rubber up post at the same time.

 

[Ashbo]

Bar a few bulbs she has gone as far as I can take her. Need the space to get Minizag done and not allowed to spread into the living room so Expo will be leaving for pastures new.

Would have loved to have tried for super mint, but you have to draw a line somewhere...?? So many games to play, so little time and space.

I will enjoy playing her and tinkering until I find her a new home.