F-14 Tomcat
Williams, 1987I picked up a F-14 that has been sitting for a while because the sound doesn’t work, it is extremely faint. After doing some research, I think my sound board is hooked up wrong. Can someone confirm for me that the sound board should connected to the driver board at 1J15 instead of 1J16 where the previous owner had it connected.
The connectors appear to be in the correct spots but your sound board is different than my sound board. There are a few variations of that sound board and maybe that one doesn't work with f14. I cannot comment on their interchangeability. That board looks like it's from a pinbot. There is a small pot on that board, does that help at all?
The presence of connector j115 on the mpu suggests that the mpu is from a system 11 and not an 11a. Maybe a previous owner got board swap happy on the sound board?
I think you are right about the MPU, looks like an early System 11 (nothing) Board. I read this from Pinwiki:
“System 11 (nothing) MPU
This picture shows the early System 11 MPU. There is a later revision available which has an additional jumper W16 located between the 7 segment diagnostic display and the relay. The pictured early PCB has a trace routing error to the sound ribbon cable connector. If you use it with a later system 11A sound card you will get no sound because the sound card doesn't get reset properly. If you wonder why your High Speed doesn't beep when turning it on this one is also the culprit.”
Can anyone confirm what version MPU this is?
The guy I got it from said it needed sound board work. It came with 2 sound boards, I’m assuming one is from F-14 and the other looks like it came from a Millionaire.
The sound board installed looks like a millionaire (according to pin wiki). What does the other sound board look like?
I did order a new pot for the cabinet, it doesn’t seem to change volume at all, just crackle. The pot on the sound board does make the hum softer or louder but you still can’t hear sounds or music. The only sound I can pick up is the very faint sound of the jet taking off and that is with my ear directly to the speaker.
Quoted from tonyhoff1:If the pot is bad you can take both wires together and it will volume it to max.
Guessing I could I jumper them???
Quoted from gutz:It looks like you have 2 of the same sound boards. Here is what a f14 sound board looks like.
Dang, I figured at least one of the boards was right.
Well I put the wires from the pot together and no change. Guess I need to start looking for the correct sound board.
Looks like I need a D-11298-554 sound board. I have 2 untested D-11298-555 sound boards I’d trade for one working 554 
Quoted from Staythirsty:Looks like I need a D-11298-554 sound board. I have 2 untested D-11298-555 sound boards I’d trade for one working 554
Or D11581-554, pin wiki says The first 5000 were 11298. The d11581 board it self has different variations (554 is the game number for f14). When I had sound issues with f14 I tried to swap other system 11 sounds boards but taxi, earthshaker, whirlwind, and Dr dude were different 11581 board layouts. Elvira was the exact same sound board as f14. Good luck!
I think I have a extra early f14 board but I am stuck at work for 2 more hours. I can check for you later.
Quoted from Staythirsty:Please let me know.
Sorry my board will not work in F-14. 
On another note, you have a system B CPU installed, make sure that the jumpers are correct for a system 11A.
Quoted from Staythirsty:I have 2 untested D-11298-555 sound boards
I think that one of these boards will work if there isn't anything wrong with them or the CPU.
If you want to you can send them to me and I can test them in my game to make sure the sound boards function correctly.
Just be careful when you pick up a 554, I believe there are 2 different versions. I currently have the incorrect one in my Cyclone, so a few sounds are missing. I'll shoot some pics in a bit so you know what to look for. There's also a partial list on pinside somewhere that tells which version works with which machine.
Quoted from GRUMPY:If you want to you can send them to me and I can test them in my game to make sure the sound boards function correctly.
I might have to take you up on that.
Quoted from jaytrem:Just be careful when you pick up a 554, I believe there are 2 different versions. I currently have the incorrect one in my Cyclone, so a few sounds are missing. I'll shoot some pics in a bit so you know what to look for. There's also a partial list on pinside somewhere that tells which version works with which machine.
Thanks for the info!
Okay, a little update on this. I bought a refurbished F-14 sound board and installed it. There was no change. After messing around I was able to get the music only to work with IJ16 unplugged. The only thing I can think of would be a problem with the MPU (Revision A?). Any ideas?
"the sound doesn’t work, it is extremely faint." On your original post you mentioned that the sound didn't work and it was extremely faint. So did the sound work and it was faint or did it not work at all?
When you purchased the refurbished sound board, did you get a new ribbon cable with it? If not, may want to try a new one.
Did you run the sound test? Which sounds could you hear?
This article mentions the MPU pre-amp's if the speech is missing. http://www.pinballrevolution.com/threads/10-williams-f-14-tomcat-no-speech.2803/
The only sound I could ever hear was the jet taking off and I had to have my ear right next to the speakers. After confirming that the speakers do work (with the sound board unplugged from the mpu) I’ll try a new cable and if that doesn’t do the trick I’ll send out the MPU. Thanks!
Okay I’m back on this and could use a little help. My MPU is back and tested perfect. I bought a refurbished sound board from K’s Arcade.
I hooked everything back up and still nothing. One thing I did notice is that the music plays when IJ16 is disconnected.
Any ideas?
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Parma, OH