Space Riders
Atari, 1978I have found a great looking Space Riders at an excellent price. the pin powers up, lights come on, coils check, and it makes sounds - don't know if it is the right sounds - but it will not start a game. I have never worked on an Atari so don't really know what I am getting in to or what to look for on the PCBs. I am guessing most board component parts are available? The schematics are available on the internet pinball database.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Yes and no. Each time it turns on and off it does something a little different. The displays come on - all look good except for the third which has the last two digits out. Ball in play lights 00 and credits does not light. All bonus feature lights come on most of the time when turned on, off and then back on.
I remember there being something in the Superman manual about the displays (or something) that you had to do to get them to show up correctly but that's a different board set then yours but it could still work the same as far as that goes. Have you replaced the battery?
John
I don't have the machine yet, still contemplating buying it. I have never restored an Atari and there isn't much information out there on them and no after market boards, etc. My concern is I will not be able to get it going.
Unless you relish a challenge I would pass on an Atari. It's too much of a one-off to get parts and support on.
If you decide for it anyway start with the basics, reflow pins, replace capacitors, look for battery damge, and go from there.
Quoted from BigAl56:Unless you relish a challenge I would pass on an Atari. It's too much of a one-off to get parts and support on.
If you decide for it anyway start with the basics, reflow pins, replace capacitors, look for battery damge, and go from there.
Nice thing about Atari Gen 1 is that there are no batteries to worry about.
I should be starting my Atari Space Riders rehab shortly. At minimum there's a transistor on the Aux PCB to replace, my board should arrive today, and will need to be inspected.
What's the price you're being offered? At worst you can part it out, someone on the forum offered me the main PCB, working, for $150 + shipping.
If the backglass is in nice shape, a low enough price would be covered by a nice condition backglass, the art is cool if you want to keep it, too.
I just bought a Middle Earth and it would not start a game. This never happens to me but it WAS just a fuse. Not sure if owner will let you do some quick continuity tests on the fuse board ... also, PM me if you are walking away from it because at right price I might pay finders fee if I land it. We are close to each other so only reason I ask. Good luck, they are quirky but beautiful machines!
Quoted from StratDoc:I have found a great looking Space Riders at an excellent price.
If it's at or close to $500- just go get it. The info is out there to diagnose it. Treat it like a Gottlieb...ground mods and re-flow and re-cap boards, then see what it does.
-Mike
Quoted from Grizlyrig:If it's at or close to $500- just go get it. The info is out there to diagnose it. Treat it like a Gottlieb...ground mods and re-flow and re-cap boards, then see what it does.
-Mike
Considering a working one should be $700, I'd say sub $300 is where excellent price is
Thank you for the good advice. This is what I love about pinside!
Asking $600 but is literally in pristine condition. The BG is perfect - no flaking, chips, cracking, etc. The playfield shows almost no wear. Cabinet is a little banged up but that doesn't bother me.
I may take the plunge. An Atari would be a nice addition to the other early SS pins in the collection.
Quoted from StratDoc:Thank you for the good advice. This is what I love about pinside!
Asking $600 but is literally in pristine condition. The BG is perfect - no flaking, chips, cracking, etc. The playfield shows almost no wear. Cabinet is a little banged up but that doesn't bother me.
I may take the plunge. An Atari would be a nice addition to the other early SS pins in the collection.
600??? Dollars????????? Whoa, slow down a bit. 
Personally I wouldn't give over $100 to mess with it, plus time and repair cost....., shopping it out....yada yada yada. And that's assuming you or a board repair guy gets it working, plus it's not that great of a game anyways. I don't think a shopped one is even worth that much, but that's just me. I'd totally pass if I were you, $100 max. 
John
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Chattanooga, TN