Rebuilding that Future Spa's hacked PCB and wiring harness and having it work on the first try. That was my first circuit board repair.

Now if I could only get the chimes unit to stop blowing the 1/4A fuse on my Stars.

I was almost finished rebuilding a Gottlieb Class of 1812 pin, when I dropped the playfield support rod and it hit the three cabinet relays, yes the power was on, the pinball shut down and clouds of smoke were coming out the backbox, it was dead!!!

I don't have a high level of electronic knowledge. But I do like a challenge and I'm willing to learn, so this was the begining of a long search to find out how severe the damage was and what I'd blown up. Eventually I had to source and replace a number of chips, some even came from the U.S. and with a LOT of trial and error I finally got her working again.

The feeling you get once you've fixed a busted part is incredible, especially when your learning as you go, a massive high of self worth and achievement.

Let the good times roll.

I remember pulling my hair out one winter night in frustration
in why I couldn't get this game to light up - 1971 'Now'
went back to the repair guides, books, notes,
- then I just happen to poke at one of the fuses with a screw driver and wouldnt you know the game lit for a brief second.
just an old fuse holder not making good contact

"GORGAR SAY GOOD JOB"

When the chimes of Bally-Eight ball sounded the start signal "Dididi, Dadada, doudoudou, dou" after a big work - machine haven't work for ages

Next step : be fluent on EM .Have to improve ...

I'm taking my second repaired machine out into the wild Friday, and that's the coolest thing in working on pins for me.

Replacing the rectifier board in my Bally Skateball, and fixing the multiple wiring hacks that were going to the old one. I flipped the power switch when I was done, and the machine came to life for the first time since I had it. It was my first major repair and although it was VERY tedious crimping all those damn wires, and digging through the schematic for hours, it was worth it in the end when it all worked out.

After owning HS2 for almost 2 years, and finally getting around to fixing the becon that has never worked. It had a connector completely missing. So I ordered the connectors, and got everything I needed to do my first crimp connector. Got it all put together, plugged it in....nothing. Hmm.
I then pulled out the schematic and backed tracked every wire that is in the circuit. Found a connector missing! I thought this has to be it...It took me awhile but finally found the connector hiding behind a bunch of wires. Pluged it in......and I finally have a working becon.

I think my happiest working on pins is when I was able to help a guy on RGP trace out the logic path on his Firepower to find a bad 7408 chip that was causing pop bumper issues. That special solenoid section can be pretty confusing.

Next step on my "I hope this works" list is getting a new translight printed for Black Knight, and then (Hopefully) adding a knocker to it.

-Hans