Complete Williams Sorcerer 1985 - mini-shop

[Ashbo]

I'm over the moon to welcome this old lady into the house. She is gorgeous, never seen a Sorcerer in real life, and the old VPin didn't do it justice. The back glass is perfect, playfield glass immaculate and new legs blindingly shiney, I am a very happy man.

It's been a long journey for her and she has sat a while waiting for transit and delivery, therefore there is a few things to do...and as I have a memory like one of those battery capacitor things, it's best I use a shop log to keep track.

1) Bell needs attention as not ringing. Not a problem as I was dreading the reaction in the house and expected to deactivate it (or be ordered to) immediately. [Fixed]

2) Squeaky top right pop, will remove and investigate. [Fixed]

3) bulb holder in bottom pop intermittent (aren't they all???) [Fixed]

4) top lane change switch isn't working, will look at that at the same time as the pops. [Fixed]

5) player four display, millions digit has a flickery middle sector. I'll check connections etc. [Living with it, affects scores over 1,999,999 on player 4] [fixed]

6) Having got the bug whilst doing Minizag, I may clean and polish the lock bar receiver, sooo satisfying...

7) A tiny bit of the back box left hand side splintered in transit, will glue back.

8) General clean and tidy.[Done]

There is a problem with all of this, I need to stop playing and get started.i may be some time

 

[Ant-H]

The back glass artwork looks amazing. It has a real old school dungeons and dragons feel to it.

 

[Ashbo]

Regarding 1...I'll check it's not off https://rec.games.pinball.narkive.com/lWWNaOcO/tech-sorcerer-wms-sys-9-bell

 

[Ashbo]

The back glass artwork looks amazing. It has a real old school dungeons and dragons feel to it.

It really does, I would have bought this game on looks alone, that said, she's fast and fun....happy days!

 

[Ashbo]

1) Bell fixed, there is a switch that is normally closed on the hammer, it was open....I now need to turn it off in the menu

2) Pop spoon removed, the legs sanded lightly with 1500 grit, no more squeak.

3) fiddled with bulb holder, working for now.

4) re-gapped the lane changer switch, now working.

Not bad for 10 minutes

 

[Ashbo]

No System 9 back box lock? No problem, I can confirm this works with a little bend made in the locking bar....



MOGADEE® Cabinet Lock 16 mm, Cupboard Locks with Key, Letterbox Lock with 2 Pieces of Plastic Handle Keys, Drilling Dimension 19 mm, Post Box Lock, Barrel Lock, Door Lock https://amzn.eu/d/e49oJIb

 

[Ashbo]

A bit of a odd one to fix...the backglass didn't sit quite flush. But seemed fine as all displays lined up.

Closer inspection....it seems there was a rubber post wedged in the lower glass recieving trim. Removal saw the glass level but displays were off.....strange....

...or maybe not...



I've moved the displays back to original holes.

I'm saying nothing, perhaps there was a good reason for having the glass wonky...all good now.

 

[GezTheHealer]

Beautiful looking game! Awesome backglass and artwork - great game to pick up!

 

[Ashbo]

Beautiful looking game! Awesome backglass and artwork - great game to pick up!

Thanks @GezTheHealer. It's definitely causing no outrage amongst the non-pinballing family. I think that's a real concern when the only player in the house, must be pretty and family friendly theme.

 

[Devorian]

It's finally arrived!!! I bet you're really chuffed. I'm sure we are going to have plenty to discuss.

 

[Ashbo]

A bit of playfield cleaning this evening.....as much as I dare.

Had already done over with foam cleaner, lots of swirls, it's a good game and will have been well played over the years.


Tried a small bit of magic eraser, as much as I dared.

I really don't fancy doing any more than that.

So, more cleaning with foam cleaner and then a bit of wax.

Attached are some before photos of the swirly areas before I waxed.

 

[Devorian]

It's looking really good, I look fwd to watching your progress. Here's about the least expensive mod you can get for your machine. A guy on eBay does the coin door decal for less than £2.50 posted.

 

[Ashbo]

It's looking really good, I look fwd to watching your progress. Here's about the least expensive mod you can get for your machine. A guy on eBay does the coin door decal for less than £2.50 posted.

Ooh, this one?

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Devorian]

Ooh, this one?

Pardon our interruption...

That's the one, just mention it's for the coin door so it comes the right dimensions. Otherwise you'll get a bigger one.

 

[Devorian]

.... I've also been taking all the metal parts off to throw into the polisher. Hence the alternative plunger on my table. It was a left-over from a Williams Straight Flush and thought it looked better. I also ordered a load of the metal acorn nuts from Pinball Mania to replace those plastics ones which improve its look no end. It's getting there, currently I'm wtg on new decals for the spinners from Ministry of Pinball, spinners always get hammered on older tables.

 

[Ashbo]

.... I've also been taking all the metal parts off to throw into the polisher. Hence the alternative plunger on my table. It was a left-over from a Williams Straight Flush and thought it looked better. I also ordered a load of the metal acorn nuts from Pinball Mania to replace those plastics ones which improve its look no end. It's getting there, currently I'm wtg on new decals for the spinners from Ministry of Pinball, spinners always get hammered on older tables.

Needs a shop log

 

[Ashbo]

All controlled lamps on j6 pin 3 just went screwey. Flickering LEDs and the incandescent 6x bulb won't light.

Found a broken return wire on the left outline, but I think it's been out as long as I've had it. Fixing this hasn't fixed the problem.

To go just like that this evening wonder what's gone wrong. Can't find any obvious shorts. I'd rather not get the boards out and start replacing transistors just yet. Connections are new looking, assuming all ok. To flicker, you'd think short or something let go in the pin 3 line on the board?

 

[Ashbo]

Leaving a link for myself to use tomorrow.....

Pinball Lamp Matrix - Theory and Troubleshooting -

Your pinball lamp matrix acting up - Multiple lamps turning on when only one should - one lamp stays on? This is how to fix it.

homepinballrepair.com

 

[Ashbo]

Found the issue, a poor contact in the top lane, C, bulb holder. That then affects all the rest of the bulbs on that row. Wiggling fixes, but need to fix the holder or replace.

 

[Ashbo]

3-lead bayonet base on order

 

[Ashbo]

Replaced the bayonet base today and saw some improvement but not totally fixed, the whole row flickers when on, at least not fluttery and dull which is where we were before replacement and wiggles.

We go again...

Also found an unexpected present lodged in the earthing at the back of the body... A head bolt....always useful not far away from shorting something so happy to spot it when the playfield is up.

 

[Mozie]

Lucky you found that . Not a machine I was aware of beforehand but seeing this thread makes me want one.. There's alot to be said for the simplicity of the older titles and this looks great, love the artwork

 

[Ashbo]

Fixed the flickering, checked each bulb holder, last one to check was the tilt bulb in the backbox ... Wiggled and back to full service

 

[Ashbo]

Lucky you found that . Not a machine I was aware of beforehand but seeing this thread makes me want one.. There's alot to be said for the simplicity of the older titles and this looks great, love the artwork

Very simple, but had non-pinball guests over last week and it was played over and over and over. Super competitive and easy to make improvements over time. Very hard to play consistently though. You would think the ramp was easy.....not for me. Miss it and you risk sdtm or the outlines.

Cracking machine. I have to say, best I've ever had for gameplay.

 

[Mozie]

Funny thing when I had friends over they always gravitated towards by gorgar too when I had it.. Simple to understand, hard to master.. Sadly gone now ill have to try pick up another classic