Quoted from Atari_Daze:Update on next project pin, eta tomorrow (Friday)
Looking forward to the new thread!
(Topic ID: 188084)
Linked Games
Silverball Mania
Bally, 1980
Topic Gallery
Houston, TX
Quoted from Colsond3:Came across this. I may buy one preemptively.
I had seen that one too, I was about to order a Repop apron from PPS as I'm tired of F***ing with the original one.... perhaps I should wait pm that. 
The new project should be in pretty good mechanical and electrical shape, I will most likely make a new cab and back box, here is a little teaser of some of the back box issues. Can they be easily repaired, YES, but why just repair particle board when a nice new plywood cab / bb can be manufactured!
Stay tuned for a new thread later today.
As far as this SBM, instead of trying to replace all the connector header plugs with readily available units from AMP or Molex "C-Grid" series, I've resigned to use the originals but just repin them. Only one plug had slight carbon scoring, but it should be OK once re-pinned. It was for the displays anyway and they are clearly working just fine.
So please be thinking what you think a fair market price would be for this thing, I'm going to turn to you all for guidance on what to possibly ask for this once I get the plugs re-pinned next week.
I've got to find a way over to put some plays on the SBM! ....making new cabinets? Since your offering 
Oh wait, that's just for your next project. 
Quoted from Captive_Ball:I've got to find a way over to put some plays on the SBM! ....making new cabinets? Since your offering Oh wait, that's just for your next project.
New cab is likely needed for next project.
Yes, invite for ball time on SBM still open!
Quoted from Captive_Ball:I've got to find a way over to put some plays on the SBM! ....making new cabinets? Since your offering Oh wait, that's just for your next project.
Jim's good peeps....get over there and play that thing! (before it gets shipped or picked up by someone) 
Quoted from Colsond3:Jim's good peeps....get over there and play that thing! (before it gets shipped or picked up by someone)
It has been scheduled! 
And the new project is...
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-bally-atlantis-that-i-discovered#post-4209985
Quoted from Captive_Ball:It has been scheduled!
You will not be disappointed. I saw it tonight and it is in fantastic shape! Some small electrical gremlins to defeat, but overall it is a great restoration.
Marcus
Was able to put eyes/hands on this machine in person this weekend. It looks great while managing to kick your ass at the same time. Colson or whoever buys this will have a machine that looks great and will last the long haul. I am truly impressed by the detail that has gone into this restoration. 
Thanks for the invitation....and looking forward to the Atlantis restore thread as well.
Quoted from Captive_Ball:I am truly impressed by the detail that has gone into this restoration.
Thanks so much CB, it was great fun even if you kicked my arse on my own games. 
Your welcome to come by again anytime!
So The long awaited Molex KK series contacts arrived. I've re-pinned almost all the bb plugs, however the lighting woes remain. So, when all else fails, break out the schematics... 
Hmmm, I see a pattern here.
Luckily when I source components I get more than I need so tonight I'll drop in a new 4514 chip and see what happens.
I'll double check the socket, pins and my soldering too. Maybe upon inserting the IC into the socket a pin got bent, it's been known to happen!
Be back later.
Old solid-state games are just quirky. Nothing you can really do about it. I have had and worked on games that were bulletproofed, and they still have issues within a couple months. That's one reason I go with reproduction boards whenever I can. Or at least if the game is worth it.
That playfield looks so killer. Every time I look at it I am in awe.
Check that you're getting activity on pin 23 of that 4514, via pin 6 of J4. If it's always stuck high, none of the lamps from U2 will ever get selected.
I agree with you @colson3, i currently have a lighting board from @brarakandl in it, I either bent an ic pin or the chip is bad.I'm thinking it's just a pin.
I'll find out tonight after work.
"There's your problem" I says
Talk about "fat fingering" I was a little too forceful on that 4514! Oops
Well fixed that but shorted out 3 scr's during my previous trouble shooting.
That's ok, I keep a surplus.
It's almost done!
Who is the guy in the reflection of the silver ball?
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Who is the guy in the reflection of the silver ball?
Those are self portraits of the artist. Kevin O'Connor. One on each side of the backglass
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Who is the guy in the reflection of the silver ball?
Quoted from Hop-Pac:Those are self portraits of the artist. Kevin O'Connor.
I figured that was it. Very cool!
Quoted from Hop-Pac:Been following this thread. Great work I'm hoping to get a SBM soon
Thanks. I'll be glad to have this finished and for sale. Bally Atlantis is waiting on me to give it some love next.
In the mean time, it's been fun playing it before the tear down.
So, funny story... While troubleshooting the last two lamps that were having lighting issues, the issues SEEMED to follow the boards. I took out the new board and put in the OE unit, um, the same lights would not function. Thinking that would be a strange coincidence, I ohm'd out the wires, nope, not a short and there was continuity between the plug and the sockets. WTF is going on. So I pulled the original board again to examine the solder joints and low and behold, there were cracked solder joints and one SCR that was bad! I re-flowed all the header pins (I had done the other boards just not the LDUand replaced the faulty SCR, re-installed the board and voila, ALL LAMPS FIRE! Now once my new 4514 chips arrive in a few days I should be able to correct the issues with the new LED capable board. I thought I had extras, alas I did not. I needed some parts for Atlantis so digi-key and Marco to the rescue.
Such a different game when all the lights work!
Welp, I'm at a complete loss... the original lamp board, with the one new SCR and reflowed headers works great, aside from the typical flicker when using LEDs.
However with the new LDU, I'm still having issues with the L and V in the center SILVERBALL. Q36 for the L keeps failing (it flickers and eventually fails) and the V lamp flickers as if I'm using the old board... its SCR tests just fine.
I've replaced the 4514 chips associated with each of these lamps and ohm'd out every resistor on the board, non of them measured out of tolerance.
What in the help could be causing these two lamps to malfunction and cause Q36 to keep failing.
I've checked for shorts and found none, used incandescent bulbs in the two sockets in question - of course they work perfect with the original LDU, seems obvious the issue is with the new LDU but I'm stumped.
There is only one cap on the entire board and I am guessing if it has issues, more than two lamps would be affected?
Any thoughts / suggestions other than just stick with the orignal LDU, put in all incandescent boards and sell it in that config?
I'll try to get videos posted later if possible, I know they would likely help illustrate my quandary.
considering you highlighted the zero decoder output in two of the 4514 chips is the solution just a stiffer resistor? Are they more likely to flicker/ not light in lamp test vs game play or attract mode? If so try a lower ohm resistor.
A buffered MPU u14 (4049B) causes the zero position of every 4514 decoder to flicker too when using LEDs. Make sure you are using 4049UB on the MPU u14 too
Quoted from barakandl:flicker/ not light in lamp test vs game play or attract mode?
Thanks for such quick response Andrew!
They have issues during all, attract, lamp test and game play.
Quoted from barakandl:considering you highlighted the zero decoder output in two of the 4514 chips is the solution just a stiffer resistor?
Curious why the other two 0 outputs would not illustrate the same issues...
Oops missed your follow up, A buffered MPU u14 (4049B) causes the zero position of every 4514 decoder to flicker too when using LEDs. Make sure you are using 4049UB on the MPU u14 too
I will double check tonight, the MPU will have what was originally supplied, it's the OE!
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Curious why the other two 0 outputs would not illustrate the same issues...
a brighter LED using more current. Small differences in the current limiting resistor inside the LED lamp. It is further down on the wiring loom so the resistance / voltage drop is more ? Every SCR and every LED is not going to have identical characteristics. Rotating lamp driver board to lamp driver board I sometimes notice different positions are more likely to flicker than others.
Try adding another resistor across the problem spot. Like 470 ohm.... you could even just hold it across the lamp socket to test without soldering. If its a 555 socket you can stuff a resistor into the holder with the lamp too. Done that in a pinch.
Quoted from Atari_Daze:And here's the latest chart topper, from the request line...
I have one of those silver mirrored bg too, it's beautiful.
Quoted from barakandl:A buffered MPU u14 (4049B) causes the zero position of every 4514 decoder to flicker too when using LEDs. Make sure you are using 4049UB on the MPU u14 too
Yes, it was actually a 4049UB. I also tried adding resistors to the two sockets in question, up to 600 Ohm, no change.
Well here she is folks, aside from the new apron (eta feb. 21) and a new power switch (damn thing broke just this weekend) this game is done - 100% working!!
Lighting issues resolved with siegecraft daughter boards.
Wow, such a different game when all lamps work as they should, do I have to sell it?
YES says the wife!
Anywho, video soon and it shall be officially listed for sale when apron and power switch are fixed. To the pinsiders who expressed an interest in this one, don't worry, I'll be in touch.
If they don't come through, after the Sorcerer dumpster fire listing and debacle today (Feb 20, 2018) I may have picked up a new selling technique! 
Thanks for watching!
Forget about the wife and keep this superb machine (unless you need desperately the money).
You will regret it as soon as it goes out of your home and you will look at your wife with a lingering resentment that will never go away.
Trust me.
Yves
Quoted from Arcane:Forget about the wife and keep this superb machine (unless you need desperately the money).
You will regret it as soon as it goes out of your home and you will look at your wife with a lingering resentment that will never go away.
Trust me.
Yves
Game looks freakin fantastic. Excellent job on the resto.
Now where are my damn car keys…
Banner mail day for Silverball Mania today, the new toggle switch arrived along with the PPS SBM apron! OMG why did I try to paint the old one?
Can't wait to get home from work to install the apron and take some glamor shots!
I'm feeling a little I'll, might have to leave work early.
Well, here she is folks, new apron, power switch and it's DONE.
Shot some vid with glass off which I hope to post tomorrow.
Thanks for sticking around during the past 9 months and if not already following, I've got a Bally Atlantis restore thread started now.
Won't be nearly as exciting as this Silverball Mania but should still be fun!
KEEP ON FLIPPIN'
1 week later
Quoted from vid1900:Yes, those 2 pins are supposed to be there
Hi, for the two pins below the outane, where can I find replacements for those? A friend had an overlay put on and they are not there anymore.
Thanks,
Karen
Quoted from membername:for the two pins below the outane, where can I find replacements for those?
I may have a suggestion on this tonight when I get home from work, I'll PM you.
Sana'a
Quoted from membername:Hi, for the two pins below the outane, where can I find replacements for those? A friend had an overlay put on and they are not there anymore.
Thanks,
Karen
They are just finishing nails with the head snipped off.
Get stainless, they won't rust.
Quoted from membername:Hi, for the two pins below the outane, where can I find replacements for those? A friend had an overlay put on and they are not there anymore.
If you don't have finishing nails, I miked my pins last night and you can use this piano wire cut to length.
3 weeks later
2 months later
Quoted from barakandl:A buffered MPU u14 (4049B) causes the zero position of every 4514 decoder to flicker too when using LEDs. Make sure you are using 4049UB on the MPU u14 too
Great tip barakandl thanks, I just was working on a repro Bally MPU made by "Two bits" & about 8 feature lamps were flickering badly, the rest were ok, The board had a 4049B installed from the factory in U14, I swapped it out with a new 4049B, same, then tried a 4049UB after reading this post, fixed it, great!
I have incandescent globes not LEDs, so the 4049B affects them too.
I would never have guessed as the Bally manuals state U14 as a 4049B & most boards have the Bally part number not the actual part number, but I did find one of my old mpu's that had a factory 4049UB number & not the bally number.
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