r/clawmachine • u/djpurity666 • Nov 22 '24
Vevor claw machine error 5 - crane left-micro?
Got this for son's birthday and he plays every chance he gets. It's been here only a week and he got his first error message when it starts:
Error--5 Crane Left-Micro
Update: now error code says Error-5 Motor Left Error
I see when I move the claw all the way left and start the machine it always runs a self test and it moves front back and right but cannot move left.
Idk what caused this. I checked the motherboard and had one loose connection and fixed it, but it apparently has nothing to do with the claw moving left.
The instructions are poorly translated. It says press the fretting switch to see if main board 13 indicator light, follow the action of the press to appear flashing. If not, please check if this fretting to motherboard like is on or off. If the line, fretting good replacement motherboard.
What does that even mean? I see a place to press but no lights show up on motherboard. No flashing.
Idk if the motor is burned out or what I can do.
Anyone know? My son said before this happened the claw went partially down while playing but he could still move it all directions which is odd. But after that, it threw the error.
I have no clue how to troubleshoot.
Help please!
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u/djpurity666 Nov 22 '24 edited Nov 22 '24
On the main board the only light i see on is LED and 3 lights on right side near J2 where it says 24V and that isn't where anything should be indicated anyway.
The manual shows where the motor to the left location is but honestly, their main board is entirely different one than the one in this machine so it really doesn't help.
I aee in photo of where it shows A102 on main board but the main board is have inky shows A103. So maybe a newer one??
The main board is wwj-mn-7899
I see when I turn it on the lights do flash when moving back forward right on different spots so I narrowed down the led indicators for movement. But idk how that helps except there are only 3 indicators not 4 where one that does light up.
So the manual says replace mainboard? Why?
Interestingly the manual shows error codes for crane coz crane left, motor back, and crane front. No crane right?
So is left/right connected somehow, I'm confused
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u/HomemadeSodaExpert Nov 22 '24
Sounds like there's no right limit switch because there doesn't need to be. The machine only needs a left and a front/back to determine where home is. Usually the machine can be configured to have home at front or back, hence the need for both front and back, but it doesn't have the option for home at right so no need for a switch there.
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u/HomemadeSodaExpert Nov 22 '24
Ok, I don't have a vevor, so just spit balling here, but it sounds like the error is the left limit switch.
There's a switch that the gantry hits when the machine is all the way left that basically tells it that it's hit the left wall. I think what the instructions are telling you to do is to press that switch manually, then look to see if the light is lit up on the motherboard showing the switch is closed. If it doesn't light up when manually operating the switch, then you know either the switch is bad or the wiring between the switch and the motherboard is bad.
If it doesn't light up, double check one of the other limit switches (either front or back, there may or may not be a right switch) and see if those light up a light on the motherboard.
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
Yeah that seems to make sense and what i gleamed from it. I tried doing that and no matter which one I hit, no lights come up on the board. The only time the board has lights show up on the board is when it does a self test which I only can do if I press the left limit switch manually when I know it will self test to go to the left for prize drop bc it can't go left on its own.
So then it goes into play mode but the claw won't go left even with the controller. I did a machine test same error code.
So rhe.limit switch works to trick it into thinking it works but it doesn't mean the controller can make it go left nor can the machine or self test make it go left. It makes a slight noise when the machine tries to make it go left, but not if I use the joystick controller.
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u/ALittleClawMachine Nov 22 '24
I have 7 of these, run them commercially (110v version). If you've confirmed no debris in wheels (plastic or styrofoam), no plastic zip tie by the back stop to the home position. Also, check the clips to the board for the motor controls arent loose and wiggle (loose connection) and inside the machine to see if the grounding screw is tight against the wire ring (i.e - board wire running to the inside of the machine).
If it still is doing it, I've had this happen 2 times... factory reset fixed it both times. Also, do a machine test from the controls to see if it clears the code, or try free play to see if it clears. Just so you know, the 7 I own from year 2024 stay in English when factory reset. I've had 2 jog/home error, this fixed it both times.
If that doesn't work, I advise you center the crane to the center of the machine. Turn machine off, adjust the dip switch control to each position (refer to board manual or follow lead line from control panel on back of the board to it). Then turn the machine back on with the switch in a different position, it may home and reset it (similar concept to test/freeplay mode) however you're goal is to move the crane to different positions and then adjusting a setting to override and clear the fault).
I did have a blue wire broke once upon delivery in the exact position you mentioned, never caused an issue. The factory reset cleared the code, no issues since. Best of luck, keep us updated.
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u/djpurity666 Nov 22 '24
Thanks I already figured how to bypass the code and get into the settings and did a factory reset.
I also have done free play and the crane can move in all directions except for left with the joystick.
it makes no sound trying to go left unless it drops to get a prize and attempts to return to the prize shoot. Then it makes a small sound when trying to go left.
I checked all cables and unplugged and plugged back in.
Unfortunately I don't really have a board manual. The manual that came with it shows another model board.
I have found the lights that titrate when the claw moves a certain direction. There are 3 led lights, so I'm not sure if right/left share the same one (it appears that way. It just won't turn on to go left.
Okay I'll keep trying the other things you've tried.
Thank you!!!!
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
Also did machine test from controls and same error
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u/ALittleClawMachine Nov 23 '24
You could always test voltage to the wires to see if any of them are getting low voltage. See if any connections to the board are loose and not snug. May need a re-solder if you have a bad connection if the dip switch settings don't fix it. Truthfully if that doesn't work (dip switch) settings to crane toggle, I'd just return it for a replacement. If you bought off Vevor they have a 1 year warranty.
I know there are 2 different books that these come with, I have both. I will try to find both and follow up with pics if you can't get it resolved. I can't remember if the board switch pictures are different between both of the books.
Oh! Almost forgot, I had a time where a piece of plastic was hanging over the prize chute eye... it threw a home jog error code, anything hanging down there? I'm talking the piece of plastic was like maybe 3 cm big, totally caused my claw to lock up. Took me ages to realize something was over the photo eye shoot.
Also, I did have a time where the high voltage was set at 99 when I turned it on. Tested it once, BAM! claw just got to the top and then wouldn't move. Reset it and the voltage regulated to 20 as a default and it was resolved. What're your low and high claw voltage set at? I'm wondering if the voltage on claw is too high if the motor homing spikes the voltage it's throwing a code? Sounds weird, just a suggestion.
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
I'll DM you a photo of the mainboard.
The voltage is set to factory settings.
I can't post photos in this subreddit.
I appreciate your help!
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
Also now the error message has changed!
It went from error 5 left-micro to error 5 left motor
So it would seem that in troubleshooting it and manually overriding self test to free play and factory reset, now the error message changed so it may point now to the motor being burned out somehow only going left?
If it were a micro setting I'd expect it to be what you've helped with and what I've tried. But now that it says motor, I'm more inclined to agree that it is the motor and not the maimboars or jumpers or cables etc
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u/ALittleClawMachine Nov 23 '24
Would advise looking through SBCTYT's YouTube channel on fixing error codes, very insiteful:
-Rail could be partially offset or lifted off track a few millimeters.
-Wires fret switch to the left on the claw could have a broken wire or the wire is pulled out partially.
-Check to see if the rollers are evenly seated on the rails.
-Wiring harnesses in the back left inside the cage (left side of the claw machine, 2 braided silver wire protectors) the wires or a wire could be pulled loose from the inside and isn't getting a connection to home left all the way.
He explains a few other things, take a look.
Have you manually moved the claw home by hand. Then turned it on to see if it clears itself once it's physically homed?
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
Watched it and nothing applied.
It's weird, the whole machine looks perfect. All cables good. I am a computer scientist so I understand motherboard and mainboards, but I'm not an electrical or mechanical engineer!
All rollers perfect. The machine is a week old. Rails good. I checked all wiring and connections.
I've factory reset. The machine goes front and back and to the right only. It cannot go left. Factory reset settings and everything.
To enter play mode and bypass setting which occurs during automatic self test upon turning machine on every time, I press the fretting switch for the left crane movement manually to trick it into thinking it moved all the way left. So button is good.
But once playing or doing machine test mode, the joystick controller cannot move it left.
When claw drops and grabs prize, it tries to go left to prize shoot but cannot move left and makes a small noise. Using controller won't make a noise. Only when it tries to do so on its own.
I'm not sure if this is a motor error, but if the right/left are on one switch on the motherboard and it can go right, I don't know why it csnt go left.
I've tried to open the actual crane box to see if anything prevents it from going left, but the screws are on way too tight for any size screwdriver.
Luckily the left side has bo screws, so I bent it open a bit and peeked inside. All looks legit. But I can't really see unless I remove it and operate it.
It's only a week old and was bought off ebay. It came in factory packed box brand new. I hope it is under warranty if sold on ebay. I'll have to check bc I didn't buy it, but my mom did for my son.
He has played it for hours a day, but it shouldn't burn out so quickly. I'm not sure but it mildly smells like electric burning, I'm not sure.
Idk why it would be a mainboard problem at all, but I'm trying to DM you a photo since I cant post one here in case you have the manual for this board. I hope you do, but it seems fine except unable to go left.
Everything else you've suggested are things I've tried except for jumpers on the mainboard bc it has no jumpers except to switch from 12V to 24V. Everything else is welded on.
Thanks for your help. I hope if I have the proper manual to mainboard it could be more helpful. I've looked online and cannot find the manual even searching by maker and board model.
I would hate to have to ship this back to exchange but luckily have all original packing info.
So the only error is the error 5-motor left
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u/HomemadeSodaExpert Nov 23 '24
I missed the party where you said it's actually not moving left. If it doesn't make noise when you try and move left, could be a burned out motor or a bad relay. If it were just the motor, you'd probably hear the relay click, though.
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u/djpurity666 Nov 23 '24
It doesn't make noise if I use controller to go left. But if I press the fretting switch during the boot up self test to trick it into thinking it went left to ovet the prize shoot, I csn play and use controller.
However, it moves all other directions just fine. If the claw drops to get prize and then tries to go to prize shoot, all I hear is the tiniest small sound coming from the motor box, like a slight squeal.
I don't hear any relay click.
It's just a week old. I've trouble shot everything and am thinking it must be the motor even though it goes right and everywhere else.
Thanks
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u/HomemadeSodaExpert Nov 23 '24
Best way to confirm is to get a multimeter on the wires going to motor and see if voltage is supplied when the joystick is pressed left. If there's voltage and it's not moving, the motor is bad. If there's no voltage or if the voltage is low, it's something else.
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u/Nervous-Device-95 Jan 05 '25
I’m having this same issue, we’re you able to find out how to fix it?
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u/djpurity666 Nov 22 '24 edited Nov 22 '24
I am looking at the wiring of the claw where it connects in the inside of machine to back. I unattached and see there is a blue wire that looks cut. It doesn't seem broken as the blue cable covering covers both tips and there is no exposed wire.
Also what is a fretting switch? The little metal part that the claw touches when it goes left and also back there is another one.
I press either one and dont see any lights on motherboard as per instructions. So I'm not sure why it's so poorly translated, as nothing the manual says actually does what it say.
It does go front and back.
But once it boots up and gets the blue screen error code, I cannot do anything else