Diagnosing switch matrix/tilt problems in Bally Flash Gordon Pinball - PinballHelp.com

I was running into a weird problem where hitting a certain target caused the game to tilt. In this video I explain what was happening, and how to fix it, as well as some general info on troubleshooting switch issues. 00003

[@pinballKing012]

I have a Flash Gordon pinball to, had an issue recently when I touched the ball in the shooting lane it would tilt or fire a sling or a pop bumper coil, I must be shorting it to ground when I touch it,, interesting problem. Grate video...

[@ed150arcade2]

Great tip man! Jealous of your Flash Gordon. One of my grails!

[@garrymiller8031]

Xtra Ball should not light up until drop targets down hit.target for Xtra Ball.burnt out bulb on red target. Switch sounds on board from chime to original.

[@tonerotonero1375]

Spotting the culprit diode that may cause the problem is rather complicated. I read something on the web about that and the methodology to narrow down the search. It was very weird because the signal could reach different rows or lines on the matrix. For the sake of knowledge, I need to find it back. Interesting problem indeed but chances of having the coin door switches activated during game play are rather low don't you agree?

[@waynegram8907]

Pinball Help, can you make a youtube video that explains more in depth the theory and steps of troubleshooting switch matrix circuits like how to test each row and column using an ohm meter, voltage meter, or using an LED, how to test the diodes in the switch matrix circuit or what else to test to narrow down the problem if its not just a simple stuck closed switch what would you do next step by step procedure?

[@patzik1910]

I have had the same problem on a williams comet, the problem is a bad diode. You can find the switch if you take the switch matrix and make a square of the switches concerned. You know 3 of them, the coin 2, the top single drop target and the tilt. These will be 3 of the corners and so you can find the 4th one in the switch matrix. One of these 4 will have a bad or missing diode. I wanted to help and looked in the service manual of the flash gordon machine, but the switch matrix in it is not complete so this would need some further investigating. If my reading of the schematic is good it would be the slam tilt switch which has a diode (cr12). You said you already checked the diodes on the other 3 switches so maybe you can check the diode on this on?

[@patzik1910]

I looked again, and I think I misread it, the 4th switch to look at is switch 15 upper right side target