(Topic ID: 133116)

Help to prep for a Genie repair

By NJGecko

8 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 15 posts
  • 7 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 7 years ago by ForceFlow
  • No one calls this topic a favorite

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#1 8 years ago

I had a call from a friend of a friend that, oddly enough, have a Genie in their house. It hasn't worked in some time. The only info they told me is that it's showing "tilt" when turned on.

I know no history on the game and no other details. They aren't super local to me, so I want to be as prepared as possible before going out to the machine. I've never worked on a system 1, so unsure of the common things to prep for.

Any suggestions?

#2 8 years ago

And yes, I am reading through the pinwiki page

#3 8 years ago

Nice...
Possible simple issues, ball roll tilt or plumb bob stuck.
After that, alkaline corrosion on MPU or failed MPU circuitry. I'd take a NiWumpf MPU with me.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/chibler/Pinball/index.htm
http://www.PinWiki.com - The new place for pinball repair info

#4 8 years ago

Isn't tilt one of the em style relays on a system 1? It could be bound up or seized.

#5 8 years ago

Yeah, I figured basics like the tilt may actually be stuck....

Debating if I should take a new board with me or not. Since it's a friend, they actually are willing to just let me take the whole game back with me to service. I'm thinking that may be the best thing if it's not a quick fix. Take it, clean it up, do the ground mods. They said it hasn't worked in a few years.

#6 8 years ago
Quoted from NJGecko:

They said it hasn't worked in a few years.

It's amazing how many things fall into disrepair after a few years.
Bringing it back might be the best answer to really do a quality job on it...but Damn...that's a big arse game... :-0
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/chibler/Pinball/index.htm
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

#7 8 years ago
Quoted from ChrisHibler:

It's amazing how many things fall into disrepair after a few years.
Bringing it back might be the best answer to really do a quality job on it...but Damn...that's a big arse game...
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/chibler/Pinball/index.htm
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

#8 8 years ago

Yeah, but it's not any bigger than a bally/williams is it?

It's in someone's weekend house, it's been there unused...you know?

11 months later
#9 7 years ago

OK, so resurrecting this thread since I actually made it out there today.
Machine indeed powered on and was stuck on tilt. I was pretty proud of myself when I popped open the PF and the tilt relay switches were stuck closed. Adjusted them, and the game coined up. Played a game, just about everything worked.
Then I noticed that after a drain, I'd have to coin up and hit start again. The ball in play never got off of #1. So the machine would play a single ball per game.

I thought possibly the outhole switch might be bad, but even jumping it didn't cause the machine to advance to ball 2. But on the ball #1, game played, scored, pops worked, etc.

Checked the boards, they were untouched originals. Data Sentry battery. At first glance, very very mild damage. I pulled the board to inspect it, put it back, and the game refused to even coin up.

I took it home with me since I didn't have the time on site today, but I'm going to pull it off and see the damage.

I'm thinking new CPU, new interconnect cable, ground mods, and re-capping the power supply?

#10 7 years ago

Repinning the connectors is also a major item to address.

For the power supply, there's a section on refurbishing, which includes a few more parts than just the caps.

For all the edge connectors, clean them off with a pink rubber eraser, then try powering up again. Sometimes they have just enough gunk on them to prevent things from working. You might even get lucky with the MPU just by doing that.

#11 7 years ago

Yes I had a similar issue with my genie... And it was just the pin for the out hole switch... I repinned the connector and kept on playing

#12 7 years ago

I'm going to pull the boards into the workbench today and see. I did hit the edge connectors on the CPU with the fiberglass pen while I was there.

I guess the smart thing is to return on-site with edge connectors and prepared to repin once I assess the CPU and swap the battery on it.
The power supply I need to take a good look at. $15 worth of caps on a power supply vs a brand new one for $75....but let me see the CPU state first.

#13 7 years ago

Although I own one,I can't tell you anymore than pinwiki. I put a new power supply in mine for piece of mind and reliability.
Mike

#14 7 years ago
Quoted from NJGecko:

$15 worth of caps on a power supply vs a brand new one for $75....but let me see the CPU state first.

I would also recommend a new power supply. I tried to resurrect a hacked up power supply to use in my Solar ride and it did not go well. The power supplies can be dangerous to work on. Be extra cautious!

#15 7 years ago
Quoted from NJGecko:

The power supply I need to take a good look at. $15 worth of caps on a power supply vs a brand new one for $75...

It's also a good idea to upgrade the rectifier diodes since the original ones were a little underrated.

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