Twilight Zone clock magnet not grabbing the ball
The clock magnet (under the mini playfield) on my Twilight Zone has stopped working. During the Clock Millions mode, the ball just rolls right past where the magnet should grab it. The mini playfield itself works fine — the diverter kicks the ball up there and the clock target registers hits — but the magnet under the playfield never engages.
I ran the solenoid test from the service menu and I can hear a faint click from the relay area when the magnet test fires, but I don't feel any magnetic pull when I hold a ball bearing over the magnet location. The magnet used to work perfectly about six months ago.
I'm fairly comfortable with basic pinball repair but I haven't dealt with magnets before. Is this likely the magnet coil itself, or a driver issue?
yemons·3/21/2026★ 1 Answer
The fact that you hear the relay click during the test but get no magnetic pull strongly suggests the magnet coil itself has failed. The clock magnet in TZ is a high-power electromagnet that runs through a dedicated relay on the interconnect board — if the relay is clicking, the driver side is likely fine. The magnet coils in these machines do burn out over time, especially if the game has seen heavy use.
To confirm, put your multimeter across the magnet coil leads and check for continuity. An open reading confirms a dead coil. The replacement magnet assembly for TZ can be found at Marco Specialties — search for the Twilight Zone magnet coil. When you install the new one, make sure the mounting is secure and the gap between the magnet and the underside of the mini playfield is correct. You can also find the assembly and related parts at Pinball Life.
Before installing the new magnet, also check the wiring harness from the magnet to the interconnect board for any burnt or broken connections. Inspect the relay contacts on the interconnect board — if they're pitted from years of arcing, replace the relay too. After installation, test with the magnet diagnostic and verify the ball is being caught cleanly. If the catch position is off, you may need to shim the magnet or adjust its placement slightly. These magnets draw significant current, so make sure all connections are solid to prevent heat buildup.
yemons·3/21/2026