Video - Troubleshooting a Gottlieb System 80/A/B target with the Lisy80

A target that no longer responds is one of the most common faults on Gottlieb System 80, 80A and 80B pinball machines. Good news: with the Lisy80 board and its built-in diagnostic web server, locating the fault takes just a few minutes. The video below shows the procedure under real conditions.

Why does a target stop working on a Gottlieb System 80?

In the vast majority of cases, the problem comes from one of these points:

\n
• \nDirty or misaligned switch contacts: the blades no longer make proper contact when the ball hits the target.
\n
• \nFaulty target diode: each switch in the matrix has a diode; if it is open or short-circuited, the target is no longer detected (or actually triggers another one).
\n
• \nCut wire or poor contact: a tired solder joint, a loose lug or a damaged harness.
\n
• \nFault in the switch matrix: an entire row or column can go down if a component fails.
\n

Diagnosing the target with the Lisy80

The Lisy80 includes a web server: from a phone or a computer, you access a tool to test the switches in real time. Activate the target by hand and watch whether it is detected on screen:

\n
• The target does not appear: the fault is upstream (switch, diode, wiring).
\n
• \nAnother target activates in its place: this is typically a dead diode.
\n
• The entire row or column is silent: look for the fault common to that group.
\n

Repairing the target

Once the area is identified: clean and realign the switch contacts, check the diode (conducting in one direction only), redo any suspect solder joints and verify the continuity of the wire all the way to the connector. Retest via the Lisy80: the target should reappear instantly.

👉 Discover the Lisy80 diagnostic board or browse all our boards for Gottlieb System 80.

A stubborn target? Describe the symptoms in a comment under the video and we will help you.