(Topic ID: 286877)
Linked Games
Monte Carlo
Gottlieb, 1987
Topic Gallery
Windsor, ON
My Monte Carlo is having issues. When I press the start button everything works as it should… except the flippers pop bumpers and kickers. Also the topper isn’t working… any suggestions?
Quoted from pinballboy:My Monte Carlo is having issues. When I press the start button everything works as it should… except the flippers pop bumpers and kickers. Also the topper isn’t working… any suggestions?
Check voltages first. Di you have a solid 5V at the MPU? If not it may be time to go over the power board. I typically install a precision trim pot and reflow teh connector pins.
You can try reseating the cable connections too.
It would help to know if this is a new game doing this or one that was working fine and just started doing this.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:Check voltages first. Di you have a solid 5V at the MPU? If not it may be time to go over the power board. I typically install a precision trim pot and reflow teh connector pins.
You can try reseating the cable connections too.
It would help to know if this is a new game doing this or one that was working fine and just started doing this.
it was working then i stated a game and it just wasnt
Macomb, MI
Quoted from pinballboy:it was working then i stated a game and it just wasnt
Something quick and easy: did you check the fuses??
On Manual pag.17 you will find the list and location of the fuses.
If everything is ok, I will follow Robotworkshop suggestions
Quoted from A1k71:Something quick and easy: did you check the fuses??
On Manual pag.17 you will find the list and location of the fuses.
If everything is ok, I will follow Robotworkshop suggestions
I already checked the fuses… I also noticed my topper isn’t working so if there are any suggestions for that to.
Quoted from pinballboy:it was working then i stated a game and it just wasnt
I think every game on pinside was working fine until it wasn't... Really need a dew more specifics. Have you had it for a while and was everything playing well for you up to this point? Simple yes or no is fine.
Do you have the manual for the game? If not you can order one from pbresource.com Having the manual will help.
If it stopped working then you need to start by checking power. There are some excellent troubleshooting tips on the Gottlieb System 80 section of pinwiki.com
The original potentiometer on the power board does fail. If it does the 5V could be missing, low, etc and it will cause all sorts of issues. Best to measure and see. Also the pins on the connector where it is soldered to the board can crack and need to be resoldered.
Can you post a picture of the MPU board? Does it still have an on board battery? Are there signs of battery corrosion? If there was it may have gotten into the connector pins too.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:I think every game on pinside was working fine until it wasn't... Really need a dew more specifics. Have you had it for a while and was everything playing well for you up to this point? Simple yes or no is fine.
Do you have the manual for the game? If not you can order one from pbresource.com Having the manual will help.
If it stopped working then you need to start by checking power. There are some excellent troubleshooting tips on the Gottlieb System 80 section of pinwiki.com
The original potentiometer on the power board does fail. If it does the 5V could be missing, low, etc and it will cause all sorts of issues. Best to measure and see. Also the pins on the connector where it is soldered to the board can crack and need to be resoldered.
Can you post a picture of the MPU board? Does it still have an on board battery? Are there signs of battery corrosion? If there was it may have gotten into the connector pins too.
the game was working when igot it 3 days ago, i fixed the topper already and ordered a manual, will do ground mods then.
1 week later
1 week later
Quoted from A1k71:New Monte Carlo owner here.
Brought it home yesterday and everything was working fine.
Today, instead, when I add credit it goes on test mode; to add a credit I need to start a game, then add the credit (game Tilt, but add the credit).
Is there a way to set it to free mode?? Also switch 65 closed.
Any ideas or suggestions?? i adding some picture to better show my system
Thank you in advance!!!
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
I have a monte carlo as well and was able to enable free play by following the guide below. I used a little jumper wire I bought on Amazon. Nice thing is, it can easily be removed and required no soldering.
https://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Gottlieb_System_80#Free_Play_for_System_80B_Games
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0852KRNPP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
I can send you a picture if you want.
1 week later
Quoted from A1k71:Decided to add some under cabinets lights to my Monte Carlo, what do you think?
[quoted image][quoted image]
Looks great! Might have to do that to my Monte Carlo, can you get playfield pics, I might want to change some things on mine.
1 year later
Quoted from Crispy77:The alternate translites look so much better on MC.
Any sources for those or is this a roll your own and have it printed by someone like https://gameongrafix.com/ ?
Quoted from jjga:Any sources for those or is this a roll your own and have it printed by someone like https://gameongrafix.com/ ?
I found one source.
Quoted from jjga:I may actually like the original more than the alternates.
The translites are part of the total cheeze package which make so many of the 80B's awesome 
I've gotten more than a few 80B's with the alternate translite rolled up inside the cab and I just leave it there hehe.
5 months later
*** update - answering my own question, adding for others. I need part number 21219 - sponge rubber washer (6). It appears the red felt in my machine may not be original?
https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Gottlieb_System_80
https://www.pbresource.com/pfplayfSS.htm shows out of stock right now. Will update if I get the part or decide to use a work around noted in the wiki page.
*** update - found the part at marcospec.com
Hi,
I'm new to the site and have very little knowledge on pinball machines. After years of infrequent use my Monte Carlo needs a little TLC. The first thing I want to tackle is the cover for the roulette wheel on the play field. It's hard to tell from the picture but it sits a millimeter or two below the playing surface and frequently launches the ball between the glass and a target or whatever. Play has to stop so the ball can be rescued. It appears the felt between the cover and the wheel has compressed over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to correct this problem? Years ago I tried installing new felt but my ability to cut circles in felt fell short.
Quoted from TheSilence:*** update - answering my own question, adding for others. I need part number 21219 - sponge rubber washer (6). It appears the red felt in my machine may not be original?
https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Gottlieb_System_80
https://www.pbresource.com/pfplayfSS.htm shows out of stock right now. Will update if I get the part or decide to use a work around noted in the wiki page.
Hi,
I'm new to the site and have very little knowledge on pinball machines. After years of infrequent use my Monte Carlo needs a little TLC. The first thing I want to tackle is the cover for the roulette wheel on the play field. It's hard to tell from the picture but it sits a millimeter or two below the playing surface and frequently launches the ball between the glass and a target or whatever. Play has to stop so the ball can be rescued. It appears the felt between the cover and the wheel has compressed over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to correct this problem? Years ago I tried installing new felt but my ability to cut circles in felt fell short.
thanks!
[quoted image]
On my machine there is no felt or rubber ring, rather the plexiglass is set off the playfield wood with rubber washers that are only under the screws. This seems to work ok. I suspect something like a 'cut your own automotive gasket' material would also be fine if you could get one at the right thickness and cut it properly.
1 week later
This doesn't make sense to me, hopefully someone knows why. The empty light socket towards to the top right of the picture is getting 18v DC (that's right eighteen) if I touch my multi-meter positive cable to the power (violet yellow yellow) wire on the light socket and negative to the braided negative. If move the multi-meter positive cable to touch inside, where the bottom of the bulb would touch, it reads 4v. The wiring schematic says I should see 6v. The lights to the left of the empty socket read 4v. The kicker of this is the empty socket will not light up. I've tried new and existing bulbs that light up elsewhere on the play field but no luck. It simply won't light up. Any help is appreciated.
IMG_20240408_204658554_HDR (resized).jpgI read through the thread a couple times and can't find the answer.
What size is the ball in the roulette? I've got a white marble of sorts in the game at the moment.
Quoted from TheSilence:*** update - answering my own question, adding for others. I need part number 21219 - sponge rubber washer (6). It appears the red felt in my machine may not be original?
https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Gottlieb_System_80
https://www.pbresource.com/pfplayfSS.htm shows out of stock right now. Will update if I get the part or decide to use a work around noted in the wiki page.
*** update - found the part at marcospec.com
Hi,
I'm new to the site and have very little knowledge on pinball machines. After years of infrequent use my Monte Carlo needs a little TLC. The first thing I want to tackle is the cover for the roulette wheel on the play field. It's hard to tell from the picture but it sits a millimeter or two below the playing surface and frequently launches the ball between the glass and a target or whatever. Play has to stop so the ball can be rescued. It appears the felt between the cover and the wheel has compressed over the years. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to correct this problem? Years ago I tried installing new felt but my ability to cut circles in felt fell short.
thanks!
[quoted image]
So if I'm understanding correctly the rubber washers go between the clear cover and the playfield?
ACDNate The roulette ball measures ~ 3/4" / 19mm wide. Included a pic of mine next to a normal pinball.
On the washers, that's how I did it. Pics below. They have a sticky back, just peel and place them over each hole. Place the cover on the sponges, insert the bolts and tighten until the cover is 1/4" above the play field. Then in a clockwise pattern using several passes, slowly adjust each nut until it's level with the play field.
IMG_20240413_222330064 (resized).jpgIMG_20240413_222342303_HDR (resized).jpgIMG_20240413_222621019 (resized).jpgQuoted from TheSilence:ACDNate The roulette ball measures ~ 3/4" / 19mm wide. Included a pic of mine next to a normal pinball.
On the washers, that's how I did it. Pics below. They have a sticky back, just peel and place them over each hole. Place the cover on the sponges, insert the bolts and tighten until the cover is 1/4" above the play field. Then in a clockwise pattern using several passes, slowly adjust each nut until it's level with the play field.
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Thank you! You saved me ordering a bunch of different size balls to figure it out.
It seems like the wonky ball I have would explain why the roulette sequence seems to go on forever. Guess the game just keeps clicking a while and then guesses since a metal ball isn't contacting.
Quoted from ACDNate:Thank you! You saved me ordering a bunch of different size balls to figure it out.
It seems like the wonky ball I have would explain why the roulette sequence seems to go on forever. Guess the game just keeps clicking a while and then guesses since a metal ball isn't contacting.
The metal ball does not complete the circuit of the switches. There are insulated switches below the ball. More than likely you will need to take apart the entire wheel and clean (fiberglsss eraser works well) and adjust all the contact points.
Quoted from Lithium:The metal ball does not complete the circuit of the switches. There are insulated switches below the ball. More than likely you will need to take apart the entire wheel and clean (fiberglsss eraser works well) and adjust all the contact points.
Good to know. I'll take a closet look when I get back to the machine.
3 weeks later
Hi all. New Monte Carlo owner. It's in overall very very nice shape, many parts cleaned and shiny, plays great. I don't even mind the 10M shot.
Issues:
1. The AL1-AL5 lights behind the 10M are very very dim. Replaced with Comet Quasars, still super dim. What do I investigate for this?
2. The topper lights are ALL very dim. Replaced with known bright LEDs, and they only illuminate dimly. What do I investigate for this?
(All other lights and groups are brightly lit and work as expected)
3. Left ramp always airballs and smacks the glass. Anyone made any sort of mod/cover (a la Stranger Things) for that ramp?
Yes, I did print out a schematic. I have very basic electricians knowledge. Full set of tools. Thanks!!
PXL_20240504_031004304.NIGHT (resized).jpgPXL_20240504_031011210.NIGHT (resized).jpgPXL_20240504_031043000.NIGHT (resized).jpgPXL_20240504_044029099.NIGHT (resized).jpgQuoted from TheGreyhoundWA:Hi all. New Monte Carlo owner. It's in overall very very nice shape, many parts cleaned and shiny, plays great. I don't even mind the 10M shot.
Issues:
1. The AL1-AL5 lights behind the 10M are very very dim. Replaced with Comet Quasars, still super dim. What do I investigate for this?
2. The topper lights are ALL very dim. Replaced with known bright LEDs, and they only illuminate dimly. What do I investigate for this?
(All other lights and groups are brightly lit and work as expected)
3. Left ramp always airballs and smacks the glass. Anyone made any sort of mod/cover (a la Stranger Things) for that ramp?
Yes, I did print out a schematic. I have very basic electricians knowledge. Full set of tools. Thanks!!
The 10M and Topper chase lights are controlled by Gottlieb's standard chaser boards under the playfield. They should be mounted on the wood extension bracket that is just forward of the flippers. These chaser boards receive power when their respective relay is activated. You'll want to check voltages along their power path for starters. I'd say it's less likely that the board has bad resistors and/or transistors.
Not sure about the airballs, maybe the pitch of your game is too low, or someone put stronger flipper coils in the game (which I wouldn't recommend).
Quoted from Lithium:The 10M and Topper chase lights are controlled by Gottlieb's standard chaser boards under the playfield. They should be mounted on the wood extension bracket that is just forward of the flippers. These chaser boards receive power when their respective relay is activated. You'll want to check voltages along their power path for starters. I'd say it's less likely that the board has bad resistors and/or transistors.
Not sure about the airballs, maybe the pitch of your game is too low, or someone put stronger flipper coils in the game (which I wouldn't recommend).
I have it set at 6.0 as the upper boundary of the manual suggests. What's everyone else running? It feels pretty good and the right ramp is doable with a clean shot. The left one just sails into the glass. Flippers feel appropriate and not overly strong, nor weak. I did give them a tiny shot of PB dry lubricant as the left one would stick a bit once warm. Solved that.
As far as checking power, I should just examine the voltage delivered to the chaser board and then work backwards until finding a component that is dropping the voltage? Sorry, please explain like I am an electricians apprentice 
Quoted from Lithium:The 10M and Topper chase lights are controlled by Gottlieb's standard chaser boards under the playfield. They should be mounted on the wood extension bracket that is just forward of the flippers. These chaser boards receive power when their respective relay is activated. You'll want to check voltages along their power path for starters. I'd say it's less likely that the board has bad resistors and/or transistors.
Not sure about the airballs, maybe the pitch of your game is too low, or someone put stronger flipper coils in the game (which I wouldn't recommend).
Well I do get a steady 5.1V to the 2 aux lighting/chaser boards themselves, checking from pin 2 to 4 at the connector...that should tell me the power input to ground, right?
So the boards are getting good power. I'm not sure what to check from there.
Moving forward on Monte Carlo Refresh. Pulled the board out of the backbox and replaced all the board mounting posts. Most were broken and barely holding on.
Started tearing down the playfield today and find myself with some questions.
1. I pulled the roulette wheel cover before pulling the wheel. I have machine screws that were in the holes but most weren't grabbing anything. Looking at the holes I don't have any t nuts in the wood. Should the playfield have t-nuts to secure the cover to?
1a. What screws are supposed to be in the cover?
2. I have a switched ball gate that mounts on two small posts at the exit of the right ramp. When pulling the screws i found them only grabbing the posts. Pulling the posts i see some threaded studs coming out of the playfield but I suspect they were cut by the looks of them. Should those be a straight screw through posts into the playfield?
3. Replacing bulbs. Have comet LEDs on hand. Do I need to use non-ghosting on inserts or GI sockets? Have read mixed info on this.
4. Anyone making reproduction plastics? Have all but have one with a cracked corner. Anyone have any spares they would part with?
5. Don't see many toppers show up anymore. Anyone build their own? Manual doesn't have much detail on the topper.
On a related note, eff these flipper mechs . Pulling bats from the playfield as they are getting replaced. They don't make the bolts easy to get to compared to others I've worked on before.
20240513_173201 (resized).jpgFB_IMG_1715733257575 (resized).jpg
1 week later
OK so ive sorted the other issues. Playfield almost back together aside from roulette wheel. I was checking the wire form and ramps with a ball and noticed my game has a post in the right outline that isn't right. With this post the gate can't open enough to return the ball to the shooter lane. What is actually supposed to be here?
20240524_131229 (resized).jpgQuoted from ACDNate:OK so ive sorted the other issues. Playfield almost back together aside from roulette wheel. I was checking the wire form and ramps with a ball and noticed my game has a post in the right outline that isn't right. With this post the gate can't open enough to return the ball to the shooter lane. What is actually supposed to be here?
[quoted image]
Figured this out, no rubber on the mini post.
Quoted from TheGreyhoundWA:Anyone with other ideas on why the topper and 10M lights would be dim? Where to test?
I'll take a peek at the schematic when I get to the shop tomorrow. Wanna say those are driven by a relay under the playfield. If the relay switch isn't making good contact maybe?
Quoted from ACDNate:I'll take a peek at the schematic when I get to the shop tomorrow. Wanna say those are driven by a relay under the playfield. If the relay switch isn't making good contact maybe?
I started a troubleshooting thread in the early solid state tech section...
Basically coming off the rectifier I have good 6.7v but by time it gets to the relay it's down to 3.3v.
I'm having a heck of a time following the wire from rectifier all the way to the relay to see where it's losing voltage. 3.3v would explain the dim lights obviously, but why...
Quoted from TheGreyhoundWA:I started a troubleshooting thread in the early solid state tech section...
Basically coming off the rectifier I have good 6.7v but by time it gets to the relay it's down to 3.3v.
I'm having a heck of a time following the wire from rectifier all the way to the relay to see where it's losing voltage. 3.3v would explain the dim lights obviously, but why...
Tracking wires in these games is difficult. Thought I had a switch matrix issue. Nope a bad wire patch buried in the bundle ♂️
Not in front of schematics but have you contemplated a temporary jumper bypassing the existing wire? If they work you could say with a reasonable level of certainty that something is wrong with the wire.
Quoted from ACDNate:Tracking wires in these games is difficult. Thought I had a switch matrix issue. Nope a bad wire patch buried in the bundle ♂️
Not in front of schematics but have you contemplated a temporary jumper bypassing the existing wire? If they work you could say with a reasonable level of certainty that something is wrong with the wire.
Making some progress in the tech thread. Can continue over there 
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