(Topic ID: 185653)

Bally X's & O's Won't turn on (First SS game)

By JReedie

7 years ago


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  • 19 posts
  • 4 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 7 years ago by JReedie
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    #1 7 years ago

    I have a X and O machine that when I turn it on the GI lights come on but nothing else, not even the displays. When it starts up a bumper fires briefly and then nothing happens.
    I've checked all fuses on the bottom of the machine and all seem fine.

    I've resorted EM games before but this is my first SS machine so have no clue where to start looking for faults, so any help would be greatly appreciated

    James

    #2 7 years ago

    On the MPU there should be an led that turns on or flashes, how many flashes will help you figure out what's wrong.

    #4 7 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    On the MPU there should be an led that turns on or flashes, how many flashes will help you figure out what's wrong.

    Dumbest question ever but which one is the MPU?

    There's 2 LEDs in the back and both stay on the whole time from what I've seen

    #5 7 years ago

    http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Beginner%27s_Notes

    Download the manual from the link I provided above, it should help considerably.

    pasted_image (resized).pngpasted_image (resized).png

    #7 7 years ago

    I had a similar issue on a same gen game. The HV fuse was out.
    The OP mentioned fuses on the bottom of the machine but not the back box.

    He didn't even know where the MPU was, I was trying to ease him into this.

    #8 7 years ago

    I've checked the manual and it says to replace MPU Module A4, I'm presuming this is a particular component and not the whole board I hope!

    I'm very new to SS machines as I've always stuck to Electro-mechanical ones but wanted to learn how the newer games work so sorry if my questions are a bit stupid but this is all new territory to me.

    #9 7 years ago
    Quoted from JReedie:

    I've checked the manual and it says to replace MPU Module A4, I'm presuming this is a particular component and not the whole board I hope!
    I'm very new to SS machines as I've always stuck to Electro-mechanical ones but wanted to learn how the newer games work so sorry if my questions are a bit stupid but this is all new territory to me.

    That's Bally trying to get money out of you. A4 is the whole board. Now adays you'll want to look into fixing or at least diagnosing the problem first. To confirm, the LED on the MPU just stays on, no flashing?

    #10 7 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    That's Bally trying to get money out of you. A4 is the whole board. Now adays you'll want to look into fixing or at least diagnosing the problem first. To confirm, the LED on the MPU just stays on, no flashing?

    Just double checked and the LED comes on and stays on, the LED on the cheap-Squeak sound board flashes 4 times and stays on. I can't find any fuses in the backbox.

    Any ideas anyone?

    #11 7 years ago

    Is there any acid damage on the board. Usually there's a battery attached near the bottom of it. Staying on with no flashes is the worst problem. First, I'd check your voltages. There should be test points near the edges of the MPU. Ground is TP4 in the upper right, 5V is TP5 bottom right, 12V at TP2 in the bottom left. If they're all okay, you're going to have to get dirty. See http://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bally/Stern#LED_locked_on

    #12 7 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    Is there any acid damage on the board. Usually there's a battery attached near the bottom of it. Staying on with no flashes is the worst problem. First, I'd check your voltages. There should be test points near the edges of the MPU. Ground is TP4 in the upper right, 5V is TP5 bottom right, 12V at TP2 in the bottom left. If they're all okay, you're going to have to get dirty. See http://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bally/Stern#LED_locked_on

    It looks as if there is some acid damage but it doesn't look as bad as what I've seen in some images before. I've attached pictures, somebody has moved the batteries off of the board, albeit very badly done

    IMAG0159 (resized).jpgIMAG0159 (resized).jpg

    IMAG0161 (resized).jpgIMAG0161 (resized).jpg

    #13 7 years ago

    Looks like someone tried to clean it up, though they haven't done a great job. If you don't feel like doing some board work it might be best to just replace it. Two good ones are https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-bally-35-stern-mpu-200-repro-boards and the alltek MPUs. Most repair people won't work on acid damaged boards.... On the other hand, can't hurt to try fixing it first. Give the guides on pinwiki a good read and see what you can do!

    #14 7 years ago

    Do yourself a favor and buy the Alltek board for $200 and be done with the problem. Then, sell the non-working board on Pinside or eBay for $25 to help offset the price of the new board.

    #15 7 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    Looks like someone tried to clean it up, though they haven't done a great job. If you don't feel like doing some board work it might be best to just replace it. Two good ones are https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/new-bally-35-stern-mpu-200-repro-boards and the alltek MPUs. Most repair people won't work on acid damaged boards.... On the other hand, can't hurt to try fixing it first. Give the guides on pinwiki a good read and see what you can do!

    I've taken the board out and given it a clean up, the problem now varies. Sometimes I get no light at all, other times I get 3 flashes. The feature lights on the machine also randomly flicker for a few seconds and then go out. Any ideas anyone?

    #16 7 years ago

    First, my apologies for the misdirection yesterday, I did not look at the manual close enough to see the fuses being inside the cabinet, I've only worked on machines where they are in the back box.

    Second, did you remove the components suspected of being damaged by the alkaline damge prior to cleaning and then replace them with new ones? If not, then your problems will just persist and cause a myriad of issues much like what you are describing.

    The threads on here should give you an idea of what components should be replaced. If your are not adept and board level work, do what BallyPinWiz suggested and just replace it.

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/terrybs-guide-to-repairing-alkaline-battery-damage

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/terrybs-guide-to-repairing-battery-damage

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stripping-battery-corrosion-with-a-strong-acid#post-3553726

    Just crack on and you will get it up an running!

    #17 7 years ago

    To he honest I think the easiest route is going to be buying the Alltec board as I'm not too confident with board repairs, I find the old EM relays, switches and steppers far easier!

    I've contacted the seller to try and get some money returned as the description of the machine was "works fine, just needs a service" I'm more than happy to fix the game up but I personally dont think a game with a totally screwed MPU just needs a service.

    #18 7 years ago

    Try swapping U10 and U11, see if anything changes. If it's booting partially sometimes, that means at least some of your problems are really simple

    #19 7 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    Try swapping U10 and U11, see if anything changes. If it's booting partially sometimes, that means at least some of your problems are really simple

    I just tried that and sadly it didn't work I bought an Alltek board so I'm seriously hoping that foxes the problems as it was just under £200

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