Sankyo Pochi machine not dropping balls

[indianaterri]

This is a weird problem and I MAY have figured it out. But hoping for some advice.

Got a semi automatic Pochi that the shooter works, makes a noise, but I can't get the balls to drop.

When I open it up it looks like all the mechanisms are working.

Here's a video of the front

https://youtu.be/fhFSLw8Pjco

And the rear

https://youtu.be/DZVyNBAmzHc

Looks like the ball dropper dongle and lever are not meeting. I see a nut I can move the metal up (looks like a bent paper clip) or replace it with a longer lever.

Anyone have this issue before?

[Moparformances]

loosen the nut and raise the push wire a little bit.. see if that does it for ya.. looks to be off by 1/16 to 1/8 or so..

[Moparformances]

of course you have balls in the top hopper.. if the back top hopper does not have enough balls it will block balls from entering the shooter..

[indianaterri]

of course you have balls in the top hopper.. if the back top hopper does not have enough balls it will block balls from entering the shooter..

Thank you! Looks like I got the ball dropping problem worked out. It was the ball stopper that was out of place. The hopper mechanism is a bit tight and needed some wiggling. It's sloinging balls well now.

But now, there's a new problem. Now no lights or sound for the center dog portion. It worked before I travelled home so something is out of place (and it lit up last night.)

Could be I have too many balls jammed? But can't seem to get the balls out of the space they fell to...where did they go?

And the fuse looks OK. What to try next?

If it's not one thing it's another.

[Moparformances]

Could be I have too many balls jammed? But can't seem to get the balls out of the space they fell to...where did they go?

And the fuse looks OK. What to try next?

If it's not one thing it's another.

first thing i do with a machine is clear all the balls from the machine.. every last one of them.. role it over and around makeing sure there all out.. then and only then start testing.. if the balls are stuck adding more never solves the problem..

[indianaterri]

But then again, just because a fuse looks OK, doesn't mean it is OK. And when I take the fuse out, it makes no change in the workings. So I think I'll invest in some fuses and see if that works. The sticker says 3.5, and it's a small fuse, about an inch. Sound right? Are there any other fuses to watch for?

[indianaterri]

Yep. I see them, about 8 balls in the far left chamber above the shooter...then when I sit it upright, they go back in hiding.

[Moparformances]

But then again, just because a fuse looks OK, doesn't mean it is OK. And when I take the fuse out, it makes no change in the workings. So I think I'll invest in some fuses and see if that works. The sticker says 3.5, and it's a small fuse, about an inch. Sound right? Are there any other fuses to watch for?

getting an inexpensive multi meter can help you diagnose even little things like continuity of a fuse or bulb..

[indianaterri]

Got a ball jam and not sure how to loosen them up. They may fall out when I get power back to the dog mechanism.

Here are pictures of the rear, upside down machine.

One close up and one further away.. Am I missing a pin to allow the balls to fall?

thumbnail_IMG_20200818_123057.jpg thumbnail_IMG_20200818_123100.jpg

Any ideas?

[indianaterri]

What has me scratching my head is, it seemed to work when I picked it up, just the ball drop thingy, which I fixed. Butwhen I brought it home, I thought it was still working. (Maybe not) but after working on the front door and shooter, the center no longer lights up or works, no jackpots in the bottom three pockets either. What could have come loose? Is there something I could look at first? Nothing seems obvious.

[MrGneiss]

It sounds like something probably came loose..It's probably time to start checking all the wires and unplugging and reseating all connectors!!

[indianaterri]

My, this is daunting and scary. ALthough, I can't make it too much worse can I? I actually have two of the same machine so I have them side by side and am looking back and forth, like a miniature tennis match.

I think I'll close out this thread and start a new one....new problem, new thread...