Blackout
Williams, 1980Quoted from pinballjj:if either of you can get me a scan of the area of the two astronauts on the playfield, and one from the flippers up to the top of the slingshots i will be eternally grateful
Once I get my plastics situation figured out I plan on moving forward with a hardtop purchase. Might be a month or two but I'd be happy to scan those areas for you when I have it.
Hey guys, life has been busy. Hopefully I can get some playfield pics and scan that plastic tonight.
Quoted from KnockerPTSD:For the guys out there who have done full tear downs, have any of you swapped the star posts for clear or blue?
Sorry, didn't notice this until today. When I shopped my last Blackout, I went completely with blue(posts, pop caps, display, etc). I think it looked fantastic.
Quoted from A_Bord:Once I get my plastics situation figured out I plan on moving forward with a hardtop purchase. Might be a month or two but I'd be happy to scan those areas for you when I have it.
thanks that would be great, i think clytor might be able to do .
no hurry from me clytor and no worries if you can not do. either way i will drink a good beer in your name
They are super reliable which is nice change. I have them on my Blackout and my Firepower conversion.
Quoted from Zigzagzag:Operator hack ?
I would say yes, mine as well update them to wpc style.
-Mike
Quoted from Zigzagzag:Would anyone happen to know why my Blackout has older style flipper mechanisms ?
Operator hack ? It seems the extra screws indicate someone has done a retro "upgrade" at some time.
[quoted image]
Common on overseas pins to get retrofitted with Gottlieb mechs for some reason. Cheaper, available or more durable? Take your pick.
Quoted from Zigzagzag:Cool, will do.
Which flipper coils are standard on this game ?
Post#140 from Vid1900 will get you what you want.
-Mike
Quoted from Grizlyrig:Post#140 from Vid1900 will get you what you want.
-Mike
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vids-guide-to-upgradingrebuilding-flippers/page/3#post-773606
Yes, that seems to correspond with this : https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/blackout-two-different-flipper-coils - SFL 19-400/30-750
I just picked up a Blackout last night so I'm happy to join the group. My first old game. I'm not sure how active this thread still is but I hope I can learn some tips on working on one of these old Williams machines. A lot to learn. Time to start catching up on the 800 posts.
First task is getting the cigarette smell out. It does bring back some nostalgia of 80's bars though.
Quoted from SteelNation:I just picked up a Blackout last night so I'm happy to join the group. My first old game. I'm not sure how active this thread still is but I hope I can learn some tips on working on one of these old Williams machines. A lot to learn. Time to start catching up on the 800 posts.
First task is getting the cigarette smell out. It does bring back some nostalgia of 80's bars though.
Ozone generator in the cabinet can help. I’ve heard it can damage rubber rings so do it before replacing all the rings. The cheap awesome cleaner from dollar tree works well to get ride of tar and smoke smell from the outside.
Hi All I just joined the Blackout club, this will be a long restoration it's probably not worth it but....
I'm looking for a head I think most williams 3-7 will work but not sure and also looking for a playfield it can be trashed I plan on using a hard top.
The lower cabinet is ok except for the bottom panel so i will replace that. It sat in a building for the past 10 plus years and the roof started leaking. the side of the playfield is rotted through and most of the top. the bottom of the playfield is 90% useable. The backglass is pretty decent and the boards don't look too bad.
bo1 (resized).jpegbo10 (resized).jpegbo11 (resized).jpegbo12 (resized).jpegbo13 (resized).jpegbo14 (resized).jpegbo18 (resized).jpegbo2 (resized).jpegbo3 (resized).jpegbo4 (resized).jpegbo5 (resized).jpegbo6 (resized).jpegbo7 (resized).jpegbo9 (resized).jpegQuoted from wildwillys:Hi All I just joined the Blackout club, this will be a long restoration it's probably not worth it but....
I'm looking for a head I think most williams 3-7 will work but not sure and also looking for a playfield it can be trashed I plan on using a hard top.
The lower cabinet is ok except for the bottom panel so i will replace that. It sat in a building for the past 10 plus years and the roof started leaking. the side of the playfield is rotted through and most of the top. the bottom of the playfield is 90% useable. The backglass is pretty decent and the boards don't look too bad.
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I saw that post on Facebook about this game. While some of that looks bad the boards look good and will clean up well. Once properly refreshed those should be solid. I've done a bunch of those sets. Will need new DIP sockets, electrolytic caps, new 40pin interconnect and normal clean up but you'll have good boards.
Blackout is a great game and worth saving.
Too bad you aren't closer. I think I still have a spare Blackout playfield as a spare (in case I wanted to do a hard top) and I have a Gorgar head I was going to use as a test fixture. I could probably just take out the internals and use something else for the wood part if needed.
See if anyone closer comes through but if not i'll see what I have.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I saw that post on Facebook about this game. While some of that looks bad the boards look good and will clean up well. Once properly refreshed those should be solid. I've done a bunch of those sets. Will need new DIP sockets, electrolytic caps, new 40pin interconnect and normal clean up but you'll have good boards.
Blackout is a great game and worth saving.
Too bad you aren't closer. I think I still have a spare Blackout playfield as a spare (in case I wanted to do a hard top) and I have a Gorgar head I was going to use as a test fixture. I could probably just take out the internals and use something else for the wood part if needed.
See if anyone closer comes through but if not i'll see what I have.
Touch base with @sataneatscheese, he has a wall hanger Blackout playfield.
Quoted from gdonovan:Touch base with sataneatscheese, he has a wall hanger Blackout playfield.
Thanks I just sent him a message
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I saw that post on Facebook about this game. While some of that looks bad the boards look good and will clean up well. Once properly refreshed those should be solid. I've done a bunch of those sets. Will need new DIP sockets, electrolytic caps, new 40pin interconnect and normal clean up but you'll have good boards.
Blackout is a great game and worth saving.
Too bad you aren't closer. I think I still have a spare Blackout playfield as a spare (in case I wanted to do a hard top) and I have a Gorgar head I was going to use as a test fixture. I could probably just take out the internals and use something else for the wood part if needed.
See if anyone closer comes through but if not i'll see what I have.
Thanks hopefully something closer pops up you are about 8 hours away from me
Thanks, Jeff
Quoted from gdonovan:Touch base with sataneatscheese, he has a wall hanger Blackout playfield.
Thank you so much Mike I really appreciate the help with the playfield, it will be perfect for a hardtop
Now to find a head
Jeff
bo playfield (resized).jpegQuoted from wildwillys:Thank you so much Mike I really appreciate the help with the playfield, it will be perfect for a hardtop
Now to find a head
Jeff[quoted image]
Glad I could point you in Mike's direction.
Gary
Quoted from gdonovan:Glad I could point you in Mike's direction.
Gary
Yes a huge Thank you also for pointing me in the right direction, Mike is only 45 minutes away from me and great to meet more local pin people.
I guess I can say that I am part of the club to. Picked this beaut up about 3 months ago from going to the probably to the trash. Wife told me I was crazy for getting it. I told her it was a classic.....
The cabinet sides are in fair shape. Bottom is falling out along with water damage on coin door front. The head is a total failure...been munched on by termites and water damage. The playfield looks like it has been sitting in the sun for some time. Probably can take an overlay. Electronics are fair...Backglass is flaking and probably can be restored....might end up having to find a repro one
Gonna be a good one to restore......
20220302_143330 (resized).jpg20220302_143332 (resized).jpg20220303_181617 (resized).jpg20220303_182055 (resized).jpg20220303_183207 (resized).jpg20220303_183226 (resized).jpg20220303_230840 (resized).jpg20220304_215959 (resized).jpgQuoted from Duramadmax:I guess I can say that I am part of the club to. Picked this beaut up about 3 months ago from going to the probably to the trash. Wife told me I was crazy for getting it. I told her it was a classic.....
The cabinet sides are in fair shape. Bottom is falling out along with water damage on coin door front. The head is a total failure...been munched on by termites and water damage. The playfield looks like it has been sitting in the sun for some time. Probably can take an overlay. Electronics are fair...Backglass is flaking and probably can be restored....might end up having to find a repro one
Gonna be a good one to restore......
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I'm looking for a set of the wood playfield rails for my Blackout if anyone has a used set or I remember a while ago someone was making new ones for a bunch of different machines but can't remember who.
Thanks, Jeff
Quoted from wildwillys:I'm looking for a set of the wood playfield rails for my Blackout if anyone has a used set or I remember a while ago someone was making new ones for a bunch of different machines but can't remember who.
Thanks, Jeff
Quoted from wildwillys:I'm looking for a set of the wood playfield rails for my Blackout if anyone has a used set or I remember a while ago someone was making new ones for a bunch of different machines but can't remember who.
Thanks, Jeff
Easy to make if you have a friend with table saw.
Robert, I’d be interested in the gogar head if your looking to part with it. My blackout head is rough!
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I saw that post on Facebook about this game. While some of that looks bad the boards look good and will clean up well. Once properly refreshed those should be solid. I've done a bunch of those sets. Will need new DIP sockets, electrolytic caps, new 40pin interconnect and normal clean up but you'll have good boards.
Blackout is a great game and worth saving.
Too bad you aren't closer. I think I still have a spare Blackout playfield as a spare (in case I wanted to do a hard top) and I have a Gorgar head I was going to use as a test fixture. I could probably just take out the internals and use something else for the wood part if needed.
See if anyone closer comes through but if not i'll see what I have.
Tangential post:
I've recently installed oldschoolbob 's drop target sensors and have them working nicely. They drop, reset, score and make the sounds they should. However, I noted something that I thought was anomalous to my machine.
When a non-lit drop target drops, it scores what it should (2000) and make the score sound. However, when a lit drop target drops, it scores correctly (5000), but makes a 'red noise'-like sound before making the scoring sound. It does this for the red and orange sets.
Now, I thought there was something peculiar about my machine that I thought I'd have to trace, but watching some Blackout videos on youtube, they do the exact same thing. I'll attach a video below - skip to 9:00 (I've tried to link to that time) and listen for the sound when the right-hand lit orange drop target drops. That low-frequency 'hiss'.
Does everyone else's make the same sound? If not, how should it sound? (In which case, how would I go about fixing it?)
Thanks!!
Quoted from SteelNation:I just picked up a Blackout last night so I'm happy to join the group. My first old game. I'm not sure how active this thread still is but I hope I can learn some tips on working on one of these old Williams machines. A lot to learn. Time to start catching up on the 800 posts.
First task is getting the cigarette smell out. It does bring back some nostalgia of 80's bars though.
Congratulations, it’s a great game yuh
Quoted from Rampton:Tangential post:
I've recently installed oldschoolbob 's drop target sensors and have them working nicely. They drop, reset, score and make the sounds they should. However, I noted something that I thought was anomalous to my machine.
When a non-lit drop target drops, it scores what it should (2000) and make the score sound. However, when a lit drop target drops, it scores correctly (5000), but makes a 'red noise'-like sound before making the scoring sound. It does this for the red and orange sets.
Now, I thought there was something peculiar about my machine that I thought I'd have to trace, but watching some Blackout videos on youtube, they do the exact same thing. I'll attach a video below - skip to 9:00 (I've tried to link to that time) and listen for the sound when the right-hand lit orange drop target drops. That low-frequency 'hiss'.
Does everyone else's make the same sound? If not, how should it sound? (In which case, how would I go about fixing it?)
Thanks!!
Mine makes the same noise as yours ...
wildwillys Taylor has made me rails for a bunch of my games and they top notch. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if he is doing any rails right now. That said, I may be able to put together my old set. I have a bunch of those old blonde wrapped rails from a few games so it might take me a moment to sort out which ones actually go to Blackout. If I can track them all down, you can have them and just pay shipping.
Quoted from Hench4Life:Robert, I’d be interested in the gogar head if your looking to part with it. My blackout head is rough!
I was going to use it to build a test fixture but could probably come up with something else. This one isn't rough and would probably be better on a game.
Quoted from wildwillys:I'm looking for a set of the wood playfield rails for my Blackout if anyone has a used set or I remember a while ago someone was making new ones for a bunch of different machines but can't remember who.
Thanks, Jeff
https://www.pinballlife.com/black-vinyl-wrapped-wood-rail-for-playfield-edges-1-18-x-12.html
Choose your length, comes with black vinyl featuring embossed woodgrain pre-wrapped. I have a saw (plus paint and/or vinyl) but my time is worth more than paying for this (plus my paint/vinyl wouldn't preserve the nice woodgrain look). Bought one for a Gorgar: looks fantastic, perfect OEM fit, and the original screws went right in with no fuss (use a pilot bit first for best results of course).
I could trade you for the existing blackout head as it would be fine for a fixture. The light baffle is pretty bad, and there is bowing on the top board that I couldn’t straighten out.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I was going to use it to build a test fixture but could probably come up with something else. This one isn't rough and would probably be better on a game.
Quoted from goingincirclez:https://www.pinballlife.com/black-vinyl-wrapped-wood-rail-for-playfield-edges-1-18-x-12.html
Choose your length, comes with black vinyl featuring embossed woodgrain pre-wrapped. I have a saw (plus paint and/or vinyl) but my time is worth more than paying for this (plus my paint/vinyl wouldn't preserve the nice woodgrain look). Bought one for a Gorgar: looks fantastic, perfect OEM fit, and the original screws went right in with no fuss (use a pilot bit first for best results of course).
Thanks, I just ordered rails
Quoted from swillie:Mine makes the same noise as yours ...
Thanks for the confirmation. That's quite an out of place sound considering it seems to be a feature and not a glitch.
I'm starting to work through the issues I have with this machine and taking them one at a time. I need some help with this one. I'm still learning about the boards so this one may be over my head.
The player 1 & 2 displays are missing the bottom left segment and the player 3 & 4 displays are missing the bottom segment.
Player 1 Score Display (resized).jpg
Player 3 Score Display (resized).jpg
After looking at the schematics, I narrowed this down that it might be the resistors controlling those specific segments.
Master Display Schematic (resized).jpeg
On the Master Display board, those resistors looked a little toasty so I replaced them and one other that looked bad. When I turned on the game I got white smoke from the two bad segment resistors and they are burnt again. The other one I replaced is fine.
Original board photo:Original Master Display (resized).jpeg
Repaired Board:Repaired Master Display (resized).jpeg
After start up: Fried Capacitor 1 (resized).jpeg
Fried Capacitor 3 (resized).jpeg
I assume now that there is something 'upstream' causing this. Where should I check from here? Possibly one of the chips on the board?
Thanks for the help.
Quoted from SteelNation:I'm starting to work through the issues I have with this machine and taking them one at a time. I need some help with this one. I'm still learning about the boards so this one may be over my head.
The player 1 & 2 displays are missing the bottom left segment and the player 3 & 4 displays are missing the bottom segment.
[quoted image]
[quoted image]
After looking at the schematics, I narrowed this down that it might be the capacitors controlling those specific segments.
[quoted image]
On the Master Display board, those capacitors looked a little toasty so I replaced them and one other that looked bad. When I turned on the game I got white smoke from the two bad segment capacitors and they are burnt again. The other one I replaced is fine.
Original board photo:[quoted image]
Repaired Board:[quoted image]
After start up: [quoted image]
[quoted image]
I assume now that there is something 'upstream' causing this. Where should I check from here? Possibly one of the chips on the board?
Thanks for the help.
Looks like someone installed some 1/4 watt resistors instead of 1/2 watt. If the larger ones burn up you may have bad glass.
Quoted from SteelNation:I'm starting to work through the issues I have with this machine and taking them one at a time.
Unrelated, but it looks like you've got some wire greening (green slime leaching out of the wire) you'll have to deal with at some point - likely the same issue at the other end of these wires.
Thanks guys. I guess my thinking was good but my execution failed. I will put the 1/2 W resistors in Monday and see what happens.
I did not know about the green slime. I’ll check the other end tomorrow. After some quick googling, it looks like the best fix is to re-wire it. Is that the only option?
Quoted from SteelNation:After some quick googling, it looks like the best fix is to re-wire it.
I normally solder a short piece of matching (or as close to) color wire, heat-shrink the joint and recrimp the new end wire.
If you simply recrimp the original wire the problem will eventually come back.
You'll need to clean the slime out of the connector housing and the surface where the connector makes contact.
Check out this ad: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/112329
Out of the master displays listed, nearly half have the same resistor burn-out issue. Mine did too, so I replaced it. I'm guessing there's a common problem upstream, as noted, causing this? Is this common for all System 6 or just Blackout?
Quoted from Rampton:Check out this ad: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/112329
Out of the master displays listed, nearly half have the same resistor burn-out issue. Mine did too, so I replaced it. I'm guessing there's a common problem upstream, as noted, causing this? Is this common for all System 6 or just Blackout?
I’ve seen it on system 3-6 when the glass goes bad on a slave display.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I’ve seen it on system 3-6 when the glass goes bad on a slave display.
As in there's a crack/leak or something? I don't know what's meant. Sorry.
Quoted from Rampton:As in there's a crack/leak or something? I don't know what's meant. Sorry.
If it is cracked or leaked then nothing display and they are toast. Some seemed to work but would drag down other displays and burn up resistors on the Master display. Some displays seem to draw more current as they age and just can't be used reliably.
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Richmond, VA
Stavanger