Hello everyone.
It is 1991 and it is the summer, I go to the arcades looking for something fun... Street fighter II had been the go to game for the last year or so and could not find anything... Terminator II had just come out and boom, with the limited money I had I said, well let's give a try and the rest is history. Terminator II got me into pinball at 11 years old.

Fast forward 30 years I got myself a T2 for my 40th birthday, I got this game 2 weeks ago exactly...
It is in great shape but I would like it to be better and electronically sound! I found some little flaws from previous owners or onsite techs (looks like the machine has not been on site for the last 4-5 years or more) regardless it is in very good shape.

If you are still here, thank you for you help. Without further due this is what I need guidance with:

1- In the board below, the white connector seems to not be making contact properly (I examined the board and the solder is not cracked)
Thing I will need here:
White connector. is this a molex connector or does the punch down type have a different name? Can this be replaced with the non punch down type?
Cables green and white (do not know what gauge) Are these cables a common size, I would like to get the right colours to preserve the factory look. Where do I buy the cable?
Heat shrink tubbing for said gauge

IMG_5352 (resized).jpeg

2- In the photo below, this connector has had a cable cut off and patched with the wrong gauge cable (brown)

What is the best way to fix this? The cable harness is quite long I think I can pull some from the bottom, it is quite a task to do that and wondering if it worth just properly soldering a properly color coded extension and recrimp with a new connector.
What approach should I use?

IMG_5394 (resized).jpeg

3- In the next photo below the connector seems to be different than the rest, different type of connector and also incorrect size (one pin has not been connected - even though it has not cable going to it but that is ok, it is all about consistency. I would like to make it proper.

Same as in the previous point, one cable has been patched with the incorrect color coded cable.
also the crimping is incorrectly done and the insulation is pulled down.

Is this connector type better than the push down type from the factory?

IMG_5397 (resized).jpeg

I have been watching videos on how to crimp and already looked at few POST here by GEP and looking at purchasing his crimper. I am a sucker for tools that set me up for success!
I am confident I can do the crimping, I worked in IT for years making connectors for networks so this is somewhat similar.

The part that worries me is how to work around the cables that have been patched and now being short I have either pull the harness up which means disassembling the hose or maybe I am better off just soldering an extension...?

I am in Canada and do not have a lot of good electronic stores around here. I sent an email to one store nearby yesterday and my email has been ignored..

so I think I am going to stick with what is recommended here, I looked at Marco but dont have good tools there. I am interested in getting myself a good kit of crimp and molex, connector and cables, so I am ready to tackle all of this.
I have also some soldering experience and I am good at it.

Looking forward to hearing your responses and recommendations!

I am glad you mentioned it, I saw one of his posts yesterday and I sent him a message here, I am wondering if he checks those...

perfect, I am going to order those tools

I have questions for you, please. I am also in Ottawa btw!
So 18 and 22 gauge is all I need for pinball? is that crimp rated for all gauges? I see it says AWG 10-20 does that make sense?

Also, can I replace all this push down type connectors with the other type molex?

What size connectors do I need for pinball? I know the spacing is .156 but is there any other detail I need to know?
I am thinking that the connector for 18 gauge and 22 are different? I am talking when making the connection with the crimper...

I am trying to reduce the amount of error I will be introducing in my orders.

You are also mentioned paint and a drill, you are saying to wind the cable and paint at the same time? did I get that right? good idea! maybe I will do that next time, I think I will get the wire already made first from the other link you sent....

Good advice, agreed on borrowing from the slack of wire not ideal unless it is done right...it will be too labour intensive, I am leaning towards splicing and extending the wires if anything.
I think I will buy the wire, make the connectors with about 6" of wire and then do some surgery and solder these to the original wires, cover with shrink tubing.... That is a better plan I think.

great idea, where do you buy the paint pens?

Gpe I sent you a message. Can you give me a hand with the connectors I need?

That is exactly what I want to do.

Could someone give me some pointers confirm what size connectors I need?

I have been checking the forum and I know I need both 18g and 22g wire.

But are all molex connectors the same size for either wire (.156) or do I need smaller too (.100)

I just want to make sure I am ordering everything I need on the first go, I hate placing an order to learn the next day I forgot a 5 dollar item that is vital to complete my work.

I am also looking at getting wire from
Amazon and hookup wire pricing varies.
What does copper thinned mean?

I dont want cheap wire in my game, I’ll be spending a lot of energy and time rebuilding connectors last thing I want is to do it with cheap components.

Any tips from your experiences are welcome.

Any tips to distinguish .100 connectors from .156

I am going to contadt GPE with a list of things I need but I dont know what is what...

Oh this is not good news. So you are saying that I can get connectors and might not connect properly to the pins...

That isnt great news for sure.

My boards, both driver and cpu are rottendog

Yeah getting those for sure.
I have also found another problematic connector today.
Damm I hate when people do hack jobs, I happy that none of these are permanent.

I will contact GPE in the US tomorrowand get the connectors there, been reading good reviews and he has all the good connectors for pinball, to hopefully avoid incompatibility.

it is the incorrect size connector... somebody did that repair in a hurry with a smaller/shorter connector, that one has to go for many reasons including that one.