When I restored my SBM, all switches / lamps got new diodes and/or caps.
Obviously lamps don't get caps.

Are you saying the cap legs were cut deliberately? Is there a reason why someone would do that?

More then likely yes, when the caps fail they usually fail closed so the switch reads as closed all the time. One of the first things you should do when you get a new to you game fired up is go into test mode and see what switches are reading or not reading. then if its reading closed all the time, cut one leg off the cap and see if it clears. If it doesn't, no harm no foul. If it does, replace the cap. Most people don't replace them since the game is working, they call it good.

Hot damn that seemed to be the issue. Actually found the capacitor laying on the bottom of the inside of the cabinet. Tested it and it was working so just soldered it back in. I think we're good! Thanks everyone for the pointers.

I get my silverball mania tomorrow.

Just have 3 bad lamp sockets to fix tomorrow.
Got a bunch of stuff fixed that wasnt working.
Almost there.

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Just wondering Ane there any "musts" for silverball mania?

Eg. LEDs, plastic protectors, etc.

I'm thinking about swapping all the red posts out with clear. And put retro LEDs in the G.I. already. And have titan clear rubbers coming.

Anyone have pics of things they have done?

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/polishing-up-a-silverball-mania

Swapped red posts with blue. Added matrix to trough and some matrix on middle sides by spinners when I had mine.

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Depending on how rough your horseshoe looks getting a new one from Vid that really shines if he has any left is a good plan... beyond that, make sure you have to the correct posts in the middle of the horseshoe, game originally shipped with skinny posts making that shot too easy. Other than I'd leave the thing bog standard... early 80 Bally's don't need any bling imo

Also check the caps on your standup targets and especially the rollovers in horseshoe. Mine were clipped and when I replaced them the game registered all hits consistently.

All caps were replaced by the previous owner, everything works 100% now.
It only had 4 bad lamp sockets, and 3 dead scrs on the lamp driver board.
It was an easy fix.

I just want to see what others have done to dress up this already beautiful game.

I think I might put star post lights and clear or blue posts in the horseshoe.

I have clear titans coming.

Put clear and blue posts in. Titans should be here soon. Just enjoying playing it now.

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Got titans in today.

Would anyone recommend not installing resistors to the cpu controlled lamp sockets.
So they will support LEDs.

Or do you think just buying this for $46 U.S + $45 shipping to Canada would be easier.

https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/MB-07-010

$120 CDN, for the boards, or $10 and about an hour's time the resistor method.

If I do add resistors. I will put a sticker in the head to let any future owner know what's up.

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^this

I used these exact boards on my SBM, definitely recommend!
You may want to check directly with Hans, his shipping might be less than Marco.

http://www.siegecraft.us/presta/index.php?id_product=44&controller=product&id_lang=1

Thanks for the link. I'll check on shipping, and I'll think about it. I have the time to do it myself. But I was thinking if I end up getting another bally or stern it would be good to have.

Just joined the club! It's a really clean machine. The owner didn't know anything about pins and had never opened it up. There's a little planking, but not bad. That's the good.
The bad is very minimal. The up kicker and kick down coils were disconnected. I tested the coils and resistance is good. So, I hooked them up. The up kicker locked on power up. So, I tested the Q12 transistor and it was bad. I replaced Q12 transistor and now the coil doesn't lock on when I power up. But when I go to the solenoid test, it fires and locks on. All other coils test fine.
So, where should I go on the solenoid driver board now? Replacing Q12 was easy enough but I don't know where to go from there.
Any advice is solicited. Cheers!
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Update: I tested the resistors on the driver board and they appear to be okay. When testing the coils I noticed that one leg of the diode was loose. So, I replaced the diode and it's working now!!!

I spent some more time on it today. I had some phantom switches around the tilt area. Replaced the tilt cap and noticed the roll ball tilt was disconnected. I connected it and found that the 1N4148 diode was bad. Replaced that and it works great now! Repaired one bad display and it's up and running!!! I'm so luck that all the boards are good and everything is working great.
Now on to the restoration phase.
Cheers!

Can anyone explain the settings so the word "SILVERBALL" on the backglass is spelled out?

On my game the "S" is always lit, no matter what the playfield lamps are lit.

Thanks.

Robert

Page 4A of the manual says:

SBM_Backbox_Silverball.jpg

Well, maybe i'm not OCD enough to be able to make the correct settings.

During play only the S and the last L light on the backglass...regardless of how many times I hit the switches with my finger. The S is always on and the last L is on sometimes and off others.

When I cycle the switch under the playfield, all of the backglass lights will illuminate 1 by 1, with each push.

Using an Alltek MPU.

Switch settings: 1-6=off, 7-8=on, 9-14=off, 15-16=on, 17-20=off, 21-24=on, 25-27=off, 28=on, 29=off, 30=on, 31=off, 32=on

Robert

Are these lamps flashing or stuck on during game mode? Do they flash in lamp test mode?
You spell one letter of SILVERBALL on the back glass each time you achieve a "Silverball Mania Special". To test it, keep hitting the horseshoe switches until you've made that achievement.

OK...thanks for the info.

The lights illuminate as you say. Has anyone ever lit all of those lamps, starting with them all off? That would be a hell of a game and score!

Robert

Yes, back in the day when SBM came out, and most likely still had the skinny posts in the horseshoe. Go to the arcade when it opened, put 25¢ in, shoot the horseshoe over, and over, and over, etc. Usually on ball one you'd have at least either an extra ball or a credit, press to add a player, buddy plays too. Run the meter all the way up to 40. Sell credits for $5.00 (1/2 price!) to waiting players. Play other games. Repeat about 2 hours later. Great way to spend an entire day in the arcade for a quarter.

I'm sure they had the settings on VERY liberal, you were spotting the backglass letters a lot.

There's a rom that blocks the horseshoe from spotting letters in a progressive manner or blocks it entirely. Changes the entire game. Also I think it's settable to not light the kicker..... that's reserved for the upper middle lane.

I wish when they designed it that the left spinner went SOMEWHERE. Double back up to the playfield top like so many games had, but it's fun. I never shoot the left spinner.

If you move the cabinet correctly when the ball is coming out of the kicker you can get it to go through the horseshoe, lighting it again (this is with a semi liberal tilt, obviously)

anybody know a source for playfield mylar cut for silverball mania?

I am about to get started on my Silverball playfield. It's in okay shape except for the right outlane. Is there any source for a decal or partial overlay for this? I don't want to do a full overlay, just this bad section is all that is unacceptable.

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Not that I know of, just one for the center of the playfield is available.

First post here. Just bought my first machine from malkneil - #Silverball Mania. Love it. The insert lights recently went out except for an occasional flicker. Any ideas? I've unplugged connectors to the lamp board and reconnected, wiggled wires, and still basically no insert lights. The manual says to replace the lamp board which I am hoping I don't have to if there is a simple fix. If I do have to go that route though, where would I find one?

Yup! SBM was my money maker at the arcade all day long. Did exactly the same thing. Rack up a shit load of credits, sell to guy waiting then when my money ram low would go back and do it again. At 13 years old 5 bucks went a long way back then.

Likely needs repinning and reflowing of the board / connectors.

Suggest you start here:
http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/index.htm

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bally/Stern_Electronics_Repair_Guides (site is having some problems but come back to it later)

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=silverball+mania&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick#2156

Congratulations on the Silverball Mania purchase and welcome to the club! Atari_Daze has pointed you in the right direction on diagnosis and repair, but to your other question:

If you need a replacement original board they are very findable, but Alltek makes a replacement lamp board for about $120. I recently swapped my original out for this as it solves LED flicker issues quite well.

There are lots of resources on this site, and many amazing and helpful people who are willing to share their tips and tricks.

TDK-WPG Thanks for the resource. I think I will go that route.

New to the club, looking for a working Silverball mania.
I am in Central Va.
thx

CPR has SBM playfields in stock again!!

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/eight-new-playfield-runs-posted-at-cpr

https://classicplayfields.com/shop/pinball-playfields/silverball/#playfield

Can anyone upload a good photo of the wiring for the flippers under the playfield? We’re restoring a Silverball but the game didn’t come with the flipper mechs at all, so we’re trying to wire it properly.

Right now we have power to the coils, but they won’t fire when we press the flippers buttons. Everything else works though.

If no one does by morning, I can when I get to work.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HgVxWbyMWJRMewFu7

Pic you're looking for should be in here.

This is awesome! Just what I was looking for. Really appreciate the help.

hey question for you owners, I have a repair job coming in and the dude wants me to LED his game too.

I typically always use comet non-ghosting bulbs. Is that sufficient on this system or will I need to get a board as well? Thx

I put Siegecraft boards in mine with much satisfaction.

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And in case you don't know what Atari_Daze is referring to, check out Vid's guide.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/classic-ballystern-led-adapter-kit-review

Hello, update. Got the game in my hands, going thru it and getting things to work again 1 by 1.

Major issue at the moment is no insert lights at all. I'm getting goofy voltage at TP1 on the rectifier board. The fuse associated with is good, and all the BRs on the board tested within spec.

Due to low cost and shit design I went ahead and ordered a drop-in replacement for this rectifier board. Anyone have any theories I could explore before it arrives that may result in inserts lighting up?

thx.

Found this in my game and scanned it in case there is no record of it. I know some people love these and I appreciate a good curiosity.

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I am about to list a silverball mania project.
Feel free to PM if interested.

Currently available from CPR here:

https://classicplayfields.com/shop/pinball-backglasses/silverball-mania-2/

They are awesome!

In the club picked this up last Thursday for 200 bucks all switches working need new posts by horse shoe found the missing wire form in the cab

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Looking for SBM in MD, Va, DC in good condition.

This is second 200 dollar purchase got a
Buck Rogers about 4 years ago better condition then this only work I did to it was add leds

I have a new mirrored remake with just a couple tiny tiny flaws that I would sell but I won't ship, pu only cause it's glass.