(Topic ID: 218368)

Bally Playboy: Mystifying Switch Problem

By DANGERTERROR

5 years ago



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    #1 5 years ago

    I have a mystifying Switch problem on a Bally Playboy and I’m probably overlooking something simple.

    Problem: Bottom pop, right outline, arrow rollover switches all work for a few seconds occasionally on startup, then die. These all share a common wire, brown/yellow, and pin.

    Some tests and fixes I’ve tried:

    Replaced MPU with Rottendog board

    Confirmed continuity to each Switch from brown/yellow connector pin when plugged in.

    Replaced all three Switch diodes.

    Clipped off capacitors just to see if they were causing the issue.

    Check to make sure no parts were touching these switches.

    Some questions:

    I don’t see another Switch with this wire but this diagram says “credit button” is on the same column. No idea what that is. There are no credit buttons on Ballys. This brn ylw wire doesn’t go to the coin door.

    http://www.pinitech.com/switch_database.php?name=Bally_Playboy

    Am I reading this wrong? I usually only tech later games with actual, documented Switch matrices with wire coloring info and such. This era of game doesn’t seem to have that...

    #2 5 years ago

    Based on the manual I now think the credit button is the start button... did the diode on that for good measure. No fix.

    I noticed that sometimes the rollover switch sticks closed, scoring infinitely, despite it clearly being open.

    #3 5 years ago
    Quoted from DANGERTERROR:

    I noticed that sometimes the rollover switch sticks closed, scoring infinitely, despite it clearly being open.

    Leaf blade switch ? If so, anything shorting across the fiberboard spacers ? Easy to disconnect the wires and see if it keeps scoring or not.

    LTG : )

    #4 5 years ago

    On the credit button check the fish paper for a worn spot that causes a short. This is a common problem. Wrap some electrical tape on the limiter bar on the switch stack to prevent electrical contact.

    For the switch that you note scores without closure, I would examine the left switch lugs for shorting. If you see no visual indication of a short, then disconnect the brown/yellow wire and test play.

    #5 5 years ago

    All great things to try. Thanks!

    #6 5 years ago

    You can try pulling the cabinet connector from the MPU after you start a game. That will eliminate the credit button from the list if thats causing the issue.
    It could be something as simple as a loose pin on the MPU.

    3 months later
    #7 5 years ago

    So this turned out to be the coin door credit button switch. I added insulating tape to a couple of surfaces in the switch stack and that solved the problems in the switch column around the playfield.

    #8 5 years ago
    Quoted from DANGERTERROR:

    So this turned out to be the coin door credit button switch. I added insulating tape to a couple of surfaces in the switch stack and that solved the problems in the switch column around the playfield.

    Not surprising. It is the most common issue on these early Bally solid state machines. I always use extra insulation on the coin door and on the credit button.

    Yves

    #9 5 years ago

    You can get a new fishpaper insulator for your switches, on your next order from PBR for .30 cents.

    http://pbresource.com/pfswitch.htm#common

    #10 5 years ago

    Yes, on all Bally machines "credit button" is actually the game start button. It was a bad choice of word transition from EM to SS documentation.

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