I did something crazy today. I picked up a very not working Star Wars Trilogy off marketplace today. I have no idea what I am doing. Trying to decide if I have what it takes to do this.

The guy I bought it from said someone tried to fix the boards, but it didn't work.

The bad:
1. Power driver board is toast
2. CPU/Sound board is toast
3. Questionable wiring hacks
4. Xwing blasters broken
5. Various playfield broken plastics (targets, pops)
6. Wear and nicks on cabinet.
7. mylar wear in center tie fighter area
8. Broken coin door key

The good:
1. I found two boxes of bulbs in the back of the cabinet

My plan:
0. Decide if I am up for this, or flip it to someone who knows what they are doing
1. Buy new driver and CPU boards
2. Buy replacement plastics, rubber and Xwing
3. Tear down and clean
4. Figure out wiring hacks and some crazy soldering jobs I noticed
5. Pray

I think it would be fun to get this thing working, I just fear I would be in over my head on figuring out problems other than simple part swaps.

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I've priced out the replacement parts right at $900. Not sure how many bulbs or sizes of coil sleeves to price those out yet, not to mention the other surprises I'll find when I tear it down.

RottenDog MPU, RottenDog Driver Board, Manual, Balls, Leg Levelers, Coin Door Lock, Flipper Rebuild kit, Decal Set, Rubber Set, Drop Targets, Shooter Spring, new target, Bumper Skirts.

I figure I'll need another $60 or so for cleaners, polish, paint and glues.

I'm nervous about the Xwing assembly. It looks really hacked.

I'm also debating on replacement stern rails with covers for the button wear.

Still deciding if I'm up to this.

Cheers!

Thanks for the post! I have no idea if I am up for this, but if I have help I can struggle through. Thanks for offering!

Did you buy an LED kit? Where did you find Vader's Tie?

I just noticed the light reflectors are missing. Did those have bulbs running to them?

I do appreciate the help and I know I'll be asking lost of questions.

Did a little work over the weekend pulling some plastics off. The blaster carriage assembly was broken and the lug is smoked. $50 I didn’t plan on spending. I don’t have a welder to fix the original.

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Thanks! Where do the force stickers go? I don’t see those on mine.

1. Bought some parts. I did nab a replacement xwing and tie fighter off eBay too.
2. Pulled all the things off the play field, probably didn’t take enough pictures.
3. Cleaned ramps. I’m pretty happy with it, but not happy I drilled off rivets. It was gross underneath so didn’t have a choice. I don’t have a press or replacement cap rivets. :/
4. I’m officially over budget so LEDs and new lollipop side rails are out.
5. I’m missing 4 posts back by the pops, I’m not sure what type they are without reference.

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Worked on the top mechanisms today.

1. Cleaned the xwing mech, need to figure out how to rivet in the reed switch and wiring for new coil I bought. Didn’t trust the other one.
2. Cleaned tie mech.
3. Cleaned turbo laser mech. Noticed I have a broken led so have to figure out how to replace that.
4. Started on trough and have the broken welds on the scoop.
5. Cleaned the cabinet. (Forgot pic)

Now I’m working my way down the play field from below fixing, cleaning and shopping mechs as I go. Then on to cleaning top side.

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Thanks! I appreciate the weld offer. Not sure I’m down your way too often, but I’ll keep it in mind.

Thorough is exactly it. Starting bottom to top just taking everything off, cleaning and making it right. I feel I’m just out of the gate and so much more to do. One mech at a time!

. Got to figure out a good way to press these rivets.

Added in material on the turbo laser so it would secure and not rest on the tubes. Rebuilt flippers and did some light cleaning. I thought the bottom light board was black plastic. Hah!

Outside of cleaning... Still have to:

1. find the turbo laser replacement LED
2. Find the press rivets

Good times!

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Lots of under mechanical cleaning and polishing. Replaced slingshot switches too. Lots to do but getting there.

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Did some more work over the weekend.

Finished cleaning underside and checked all lights. Wish I had money for LEDs, but maybe the next tear down.

Finished cleaning and resto for all under mechs except for pops. Waiting on some parts for that.

Finished play field paint and clear coat touch ups. Decided no to pull Mylar. Way too scared to pull up insert decals.

I did have my first “that didn’t go according to plan” when glueing some plastics. I melted the other side on two pieces with excess glue. Sucks, but is what it is.

Still to do:
1. Finish play field restore. Missing some posts and some damaged parts need replacing.
2. Weld upper trough scoop.
3. Replace turbo laser LEDs
4. Re-wire Xwing mech
5. Finish pop bumpers.
6. Figure out how it all went back together.

Big thanks to martimagico for all the help with pictures!

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Cleaned the cabinet inside and out (with a bad beer spill over coin mechs), oiled and de-orderized inside, mounted new RD boards. I put in new black leg bolts and feet. I’ll paint the legs sometime in the future, they were good enough for now. I’ll need new glass at some point too.

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Got some parts in today so I could work on the pops. Put some plastics back on the Play field. Got my scoop welded. Got the missing play field post hardware as well. So 1&2 on list done.

Forgot to order the connectors and posts for the 5 spots, so those might have to wait.

I wonder if anyone at 4 play amusements is still around to see this beat beast live again.

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Everything is now done underside.

All put back together! Gave it a power on test and all the lights and flippers are firing about every second. I got to figure out what is wrong. At least it didn’t catch on fire!

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Looks like F21 blew on startup.

This is exactly what is happening to me.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lotr-l204-blinking-and-power

https://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/starwars-trilogy-blinking-not-working.34832/

CN2 was the culprit. Reseated and bam I'm working!

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I made the mistake of adding an LED to the play field to see what it looked like and it looked so much better. So I took a hit to the budget and got all LEDs. Looks amazing, but doubt I’ll see that money back.

Update:
1. Chased down and fixed some random switches not working.
2. Complete comet LED swap
3. Xwing toy installed
4. Added in the 5 spot lights
5. Waxed about 10 times to help smooth out
Mylar issues
6. Added in red trough light for right hole.

What’s left:
1. DMD has some burn on bottom right. Praying to see one cheap for sale that someone is dropping from a colordmd swap.
2. Getting stuck balls by turbo laser so I tossed in some cardboard quick. Need a permanent solution. Thinking a darth action fig.
3. Going to touch up some nicks on cabinet.
4. I really want to add in a Slave 1, but again money I’d never see back. It would look cool tho!

It plays fun (imho) and I actually like it. Some shots are downright tough so might adjust a few things to help.

Cheers!
(Sorry for the glass on pic)

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