Question from Carey: Hi. I recently acquired a claw machine. Brought it home, cleaned it, plugged it in an it worked after messing with the coin input for a bit. I had to fiddle with the bars on the claw apparatus for a little while because it didn’t always go back and forth correctly as it would get stuck. I’d just tap it and it would continue on it’s path. The other day my four year old and a neighbor were playing it and now the machine doesn’t function.

Hopefully you can guide me in fixing this as I’m not sure where to go. I think the machine is from the 80’s. It is a simple two-button machine. Put a quarter in and the left light is supposed to light up. Pressing this makes the crane unit go backwards. Once this button is released the right button, which directs the crane to go to the right, lights up and after releasing the crane/claw goes down.

Well now when I put a quarter it, the quarter drops through the apparatus (I think you call this a mech and it is cream colored) and the quarter continues down it’s normal path but the backward (left button) doesn’t light up. I found a little switch on the rear portion of the cream colored (mech) and when I press and hold the left light comes on. I can press it and the crane goes backward. Upon release the right button lights up and I can press and the the crane goes to the right as I hold the toggle down on the mech. However the claw doesn’t descend like it is supposed to once I release the right button. Once I let go of the toggle on the rear of the mech the crane motors pull the crane back to the left and forward to the start/end position. By the way, there was only one coin mech when I got the machine.

I’m not sure what can be causing this. Hopefully you can guide me.
Is there something on the coin mech?
The board?
The little motors on the crane?

I’m wanting to restore at least the moving parts and not so much concerned about the physical appearance. Maybe I need to replace all three things mentioned. I’m attaching a couple of pictures to hopefully aide in figuring this out. Thanks in advance.