After cleaning the player unit and fitting a new spring kit, the unit either steps up but won't reset, or resets but won't step up, depending on how far the return spring is wound.
Player unit steps up or resets, but not both, after new springs: refit the originals
Cause: The new springs were weaker than the originals. This unit's large contact disc has many spring-loaded wipers, so it needs the stronger factory springs to move.
Checks
- Take off the contact disc and check that the unit turns freely on its own.
- Swap the old springs back one at a time to find which ones matter.
Fix
- Refit the original springs (with a thin film of grease on the axle); adjust the wiper tension if it's excessive.
EM games have line voltage in the cabinet; unplug the game before working on stepper units.
Systems
Games
Related tips
- Rollover advance unit won't go back to 1 on reset: weak return spring
- Player 1 'up' lights stay off during play: clean the coin unit contacts
- Player unit sticks: clean off old lubricant, don't add more
- Game will not work: stepper unit binding
- Game keeps cycling the reset and starts in Game Over: dirty P5A switch and shorted wires
- Ball count drops by one as the first ball is served: stuck 10-point playfield switch
- Gottlieb player unit
- Gottlieb relay return springs
Source: Pinball Repair help group!! (Facebook group)