You most likely shorted your switch matrix. Do you have the original Gottlieb MPU board or a new repro?

Just finished a ton of repairs on my newly acquired Genesis. While installing LED’s it occurred to me that I hadn’t considered the reveal bulbs. Has anyone replaced them with LED flashers? Thoughts? Photos?

LED flashers are never the answer. Haha. Just clean up or replace the incandescent bulbs.

It's real easy to overdo it with LED flashers. Mine had them when I picked it up, and the reveal flashers look pretty good, I believe they are comet 8SMD flashers.

But man, the ones under the ramps were BRIGHT. I had to buy new ones a couple times to find something that wasn't blinding. When it comes to LED flashers I'd always recommend buying the ones advertised as the least bright.

-Hans

I changed a couple to diferent colors just to give it a different effect, also a couple purple ones in the backbox.

Are you sure the switch is not closed making the coil fire to kick the ball out?

Question for you guys. I just picked up a genesis. Can you make it up the left ramp from cradling the ball in the right flipper? I feel like mine might be getting a tad bit weak, but checked it out and everything seems to look alright.

Rebuild your flippers for sure. Should zip around the ramp from a trap.

Gotta get the pitch just right, but yes, should be possible.

Mine was steep as hell. Longer legs in the back shorter in the front and long leg levelers all the way out.

Kinda wondered if the rear post on mine might have been changed too. It's really steep. Wont quite make it, without a rolling start down the flipper. Right ramp from left flipper catch no problem at all!

If you didn’t rebuild the flippers right when you got the game or know they were rebuilt not too long ago, I’d definitely rebuild both of them.

Think I'll just do that! I noticed the rebuild kits dont come with the coils. No need to replace them?
I noticed also on the flipper in question, the end of the rod that goes through the coil and out of the end of the bracket doesnt have the little plastic tip on it that looks like it's supposed to keep it centered in the coil.
Flipper with the red coil is the weak one.

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That plastic tip isn’t needed.

Coils don’t need replaced. They work.

I think I figured out the issue. On the good flipper, the eos starts engages about 3/16 of an inch before the end of the travel on the rod. On the weak flipper it's much much earlier, maybe engaging 1/3 of the way into the stroke. There is almost a 1/4 inch difference in spacers between the switches. Sorry for the bad terminology, I've only owned it for 2 weeks and it's my first machine!

Good check. That could be your issue for sure.

Also, the original bushings are much better then the repros IMO. If you do a rebuild, I wouldn't replace them unless one was cracked or broken.

That helped for sure, it will now make it up the ramp! Still not as strong as the other one. I think your right about the bushings, the strong one looks original, the weak one looks like a repro..

Both bushings look original to me. Keep in mind there are 4 on this type of flipper mech, one on the top and bottom for each. If one flipper is weaker than the other, make sure the EOS and cabinet switches are nice and clean. Also, check for smooth operation. This type of flipper requires precise adjustment of the crank on the shaft in between the bushings. If it is misaligned slightly it will bind and sap strength. It doesn't take much for the flipper to get a little weak.

I had another button switch so I did replace it. I took the spring loose and it operates nice and freely but has alot of play in it compared to the other, but I believe that's just because of the missing tip piece. The eos switch does have some discoloration. Maybe just clean it up with a pencil eraser and some alcohol?

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It has helped me by cleaning and adjusting the flipper button switches so they have good tension on them, i have 2 Genesis and can make all ramps pretty good, both machines have had full rebuilds on flipper mechs also. Make sure the bats are adjusted right also, they point down slightly compared to williams or newer sterns, I also put a .010 shim under the bat before tightening the set screws so the bats dont bind.

New art for a great game! Final edits below.

Wow, great work!

I could put this in mine if it were more family friendly

I like the doctor, can’t wait to see the final/alternates!!

Thanks, yes it will also be available nipple free.

Here's how they finished in 3 styles; Family friendly, Bally/Williams, and Full Frontal!
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I love it ! Way to go, where can I buy one?

This stupid right flipper... I still cant make it up the left ramp from the right flipper from craddleing the ball. I replaced the eos switch, the flipper button switch, bushings, sleeve, plunger, coil stop, aligned and adjusted over and over. Havent replaced the coil, but it is different from the right one and looks a little smaller diameter and newer. I know it's just a bunch of wire, but can they get weak somehow? Or do they make them in different strengths? Not really sure what to do now. I notice the weak flipper also has a bit higher pitched noise to its action when compared to the left flipper which has more of a thud to it. Red coil is the weak one in the pictures.

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Looking for a NOS original or perfect original translite. PM if you have one available. Thx

A-20095 is the correct coil, the left ramp is more difficult to make due to the angle and placement of the ramp. That being said the stock coils should be able to make the ramp from a cradle on a good clean shot. You may try to replace the coil to see if it helps but it looks like your other coil is the incorrect one. You may also check that you don't have the game setup too steep as that will make the ramp more difficult to make also.

You have a screw missing on the coil stop in the upper picture. I had to adjust the flipper bats multiple times to get it just right you might have to clean the shafts with a file or reverse them to get it to stop biting down the bats in the same (bad) position. Keep playing it and adjusting eventually it will get where it needs to be. You should be able to make the left ramp from a cradle but I normally just shoot drop targets and the vari target from the right flipper. I found that its easier to backhand the left ramp from the left flipper since I always seem to get ball drains from using the left flipper to shoot the drops.

This is mine in LED

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Does anyone know if the alt translights are still available? I just picked up a Genesis and not sure yet what I am doing with it. I don't usually care for Gottliebs of this era, but this one looks like it might be fun. I will be looking for another translight if I do end up keeping it.

Having some issues with Genesis reveal. Noticed that the 67 bulbs stay lit during reveal and Don’t chase/flash like they’re supposed to. Also noticed that the 4 ohm wirewound resistor gets so hot, it melts the solder and disconnects itself from the resistor board. I’ve only had this machine a short time and when I got it, it was riddled with issues. Based upon observation, the lead on the resistor has disconnected before as I can see it’s been resoldered... on the resistor itself. I don’t get the reveal that often so I’m sure this was an issue when I got the machine. Stumped on this one and it sure where to start... resistor tests ok @ 4ohms. Any help appreciated.

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My Genesis project has a very faded translite that washes out terribly when lit up. I decided to go with the actual theme for the playfield artwork...

I did not to the Wal-Mart $20 paper print but had a local professional print shop do this up on material that is designed to be backlit. Both pictures are in the same game with the same fluorescent tube. The red in Metropolis is more "red" to the naked eye than it looks in this picture. I had 2 printed if anyone is interested, DM if so. Cheers. Genesis #metropolis Tomass

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I am looking for the one that says Genesis on it. I don't understand the Metropolis connection, but it looks nice. I see ome on ebay now for 95 + shipping. I may go that route if I keep this one.

Genesis appears to be Gottlieb’s appropriation of the creative work from the 1927 film Metropolis. Using the title “Genesis” apparently circumvented the need to secure the necessary licensing. I say “appears” because this is just my opinion but the concept does seem to borrow heavily from the film. Oddly enough, the copyright from the film fell into the public domain where it resided from 1954 until 1996 when the rights to the work were restored to the F. W. Murnau Foundation. The copyright expires in 2022 in the U.S. and 2047 in Germany. I wonder if the Gottlieb people just didn’t bother to look it up at the time of production and assumed there was a copyright in place (I guess there was no internet access over at Gottlieb in 1986!). If the copyright does permanently expire soon it would be a sweet title and theme. I for one prefer the Metropolis title and artwork to the seriously crappy translite that Gottlieb produced.

Is anyone making plastics for this game yet?
Thanks

I'm not aware of any reproductions being done for Genesis right now. Mine are in pretty good shape but there's a couple pieces that have small pieces chipped off. I'd love a new set.

Thanks. My newly acquired Genesis is in excellent shape with no playfield wear, but I have at least 3 cracked plastics. I may get repro ramps from freeplay40, mine are now repaired. I epoxied with plastic forms and then pulled them away once it was hard. Looks like a piece of scotch tape on there.

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We can make the clear ones for sure. We have them on ours. I am planning to try making my own water slide decals, but haven’t yet. We actually have two genesis machines at our house right now.

Upkickpinball.weebly.com

Or try our UpKick store on pinside

I've been working on a 3D printed robot replacement that looks more like the one from Metropolis. Would this be of interest to any owners out there?

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Yes quite possibly

My time in this club was short lived. FWIW, I never cared for Gottliebs, but this game was pretty fun and opened my mind to considering other sys 80 GTBs. This game also made it possible to pick up this youth Can Am for the kids, which will get more use from them than pinball.

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Just joined the club!

New NOS translite on the way, new clear ramps from Freeplay40 soon. Used my Arts & Crafts skill to recreate the underplayfield lab.

Will do a full teardown once the ramps arrive. Excited!

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Trying to troubleshoot why the veri target is scoring 40k but not spotting a body part or scoring life force when applicable. Is there a switch past the 40k for spotting those values? Game is at the club and I dont have a manual to reference. I cleaned the vari target rivets up but no joy. The swiper lands on the rivets except for the last single one that it continues past a good bit, so either it's not supposed to stop on that one or some kind of stop is missing. Next time I'm down there I'll take the target out and do some more investigating. Is there a place to order either the connectors for the switches on these boards, or a .156 IDC terminal that can be found? Can someone help me out with a photo of the manual that shows the switch numbers and or switch matrix?

I just got to work but I can take pics and post them in the morning if noone has yet. I did post a few pics from my manual on my restoration post but not sure if that would have any info you need.

Welcome to the club! Pick up the Cliffy protectors before you install your new ramps. Don't want to break the new ones. They are made from thicker plastic and are more durable but I added them just to make sure. I'm getting ready to LED ours out here soon.

Where did you get the NOS translight?

Also when you order new ramps don't forget to buy the new decals for the ramp as well.