Debugging Xenon

Playfield swap done, lower and back cabinet refinished as well as playfield perimeter wood, all sockets replaced, mods installed ( blue leg lights, plasma bumper tops, all leds, under cab lights, new speakers, new ultimate solenoid driver board, lighted blue posts, light bar has blue LED’s now, lighted flippers and flipper buttons). I polished the ramps but honestly they could use about 10 hours on them or just get them rechromed. Also added an led light strip at top of playfield under the plastics the full length to brighten things up.
I bought a new apron but I am waiting for printshop to finish a translucent graphic to have a lighted plastic apron like you may have already seen here (hey bill, I’m working on it as fast as I can... lol )

Already had Alltek lamp board and mpu. Installed the new SDB just to be sure there were no data issues prior to begin with sound card issues.

No solenoid issues as between the dishwater and replacing all bushings they seem 100 percent

I still need to repin all connectors and replace the connector housings that pinch the wires like a scotch lock.

The debugging issues I am up against so far:

Low hum from speakers that seems to match the score display rotation when in attract mode.

Sounds play but there is one odd sound at times that I would describe as the same as using your tongue to make a fast clicking sound. Caps and pots on sound boards I have replaced just this morning.

I do realize the sound issues may disappear once I repin everything.

This machine came with switch no 28 wired to use the other most connectors of the three. But I have seen here other machines with the two left most connectors used. This is a major issue I need to fix as one way the switch is N.O. and the other the switch is N.C. Can someone who has debugged the 2 ball issue or no ball loading help clarify this???

The same question I think also pertains to switch no 27 tube switch, this machine came with outermost connectors used.

Switch adjusting tools arrived yesterday so I still need to go through each one and test for proper gapping.

There may be other issues I find as I go along... otherwise things are really shaping up.

Need to add I did replace the sound board ROMs when doing the pots and caps. And they all test ok using the test switch

Not sure how to post video on this forum... Is it the same as just click “attach images”.

Now I am not sure but not knowing what to call the sound that I beleive is an “escalating” background. I think since i dont get the two happening together but rather one or the other.

Let me go try making a video.

This shows some of the sound and ball feed issues

Btw do you recall which tabs to solder to for that micro switch under the apron. That i mentioned in the post. Two outermost or two left most? I am currently the two outmost as it came that way but I’ve seen pics using the two left most.

Switch number 1 and 2 are adjusted properly. As I stated above, no 28 I have a big question about.

Otherwise to answer your question, I am assuming that Xenon will only load 1 ball at a time into the shooter lane. And also assuming that a 2nd ball for multiball only loaded to the shooter lane while another is already in play, ie, ;locked in a side or top saucer. Is this correct? Problem I am having is I only had this for 2 days before I tore it all down for the restoration, so not a lot of familiarity with how its supposed to function.

Thanks, Ive already done that with the meter. Just for grins I moved the one wire, made no difference. Next move is to have meter connected while playing to see how wire form shape affects the switch action.

This issue was there from day one.

The clicking sound issue was not there prior to playfield swap. But not all sounds worked prior either. I did have more than a few wires come off in the dishwasher from lights and switches. Also I see someone previously ran a large purple wire on the left underside from what I think was the ac positive circuit upper location to ac positive lower location effectuvky typing two circuits together. I am thinking there may be a light trigger wire going to a switch and or vice versa. Used my before photos to get tit back to what is was before tear down but if it wasn’t right to be gin with or I missed one...

I found the clicking sound is consistent when ever any of the 4 lower lane switches is activated. So I know where to start looking. Essentially the switch matrix may not be worked properly or wired properly

What I need if anyone has it is their underside photos showing clear wire colors /stripes so I have a known good reference point to compare to ???

Anyone???

Age of many of these wires are faded and stripes are faded making color identification a bit challenging.

Been doing alarms and remote start installs 30 plus years so figuring out wiring abortions is not a new thing for me. If it was I couldn’t do this. I am convinced the wiring on this is not as it should be in either the before or after condition

Found a few playfield underside pics here but need to find some that are clear enough for accurate assembly comparison.

Guess I am lucky I know where to begin looking...

I do need to find which voice sound rom is triggered by the 4 lower lane roll over switches to be sure it isn’t a rom chip, even though they all pass the audible test when using the test switch on the card. Hopefully I dont have socket issues besides.

Well that was a quick fix. Some how I had one of the 2 yellow wires on the side saucer switch broken off. Soldered that sucker back on and then removed the white and orange to no 28 microswitch and no more double ball issue but get this this: I am hearing sounds I never heard before! Next step I had Charlene (the resident pinball wizard and fiancé) put it through its paces. When she was all done and no issues found she said, “ I cant believe you took this all apart and actually got it all back together, working and looking like a brand new machine.”

I still have more things to to do before I call it finished, but man what a relief! I was thinking worst case stuff like, new mpu, replacing chip sockets, New chips. I went and ordered a logic probe today in case it got to that level.

And all I really want to do is have fun and play pinball.

Thanks for everyone’s help!