(Topic ID: 28788)

Worst hack/repair you ever saw.

By mcclad

11 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 4,635 posts
  • 731 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 6 days ago by jibmums
  • Topic is favorited by 312 Pinsiders

You

Linked Games

No games have been linked to this topic.

    Topic Gallery

    View topic image gallery

    100_3463 (resized).JPG
    IMG_20240321_181347 (resized).jpg
    IMG_20240321_180554 (resized).jpg
    68714440943__356B9A98-CA54-4C2A-A85D-8E5C24E9F1AA (resized).jpeg
    68714440123__30A6C9F0-7A87-4D13-882F-CC6C530664AA (resized).jpeg
    362393458_1478280539605169_7357000172916421133_n (resized).jpg
    20240316_180228[1] (resized).jpg
    IMG_0602 (resized).jpeg
    IMG_0603 (resized).jpeg
    20240307_145101 (resized).jpg
    20240303_172813 (resized).jpg
    20240219_201720 (resized).jpg
    20170518_080740.jpeg
    20240226_162953 (resized).jpg
    received_922481939573164 (resized).jpeg
    IMG_2329 (resized).JPG

    There are 4,635 posts in this topic. You are on page 55 of 93.
    #2701 3 years ago
    Quoted from Robotworkshop:

    Have boards in from two different people. The blue board is an early Stern driver. Looks like a TIP went up in smoke. Instead of fixing it apparently it was easier to hack traces to move to a different unused transistor...

    I've seen this a few times: Honestly, when the TIP blows up that bad, all the traces in that area (including the board substrate!) are blown, so repair is quite challenging. Moving the wiring to an unused TIP (for the game in question) is not totally terrible, and just makes that board unusable in other games. Not defending the hack, BTW. I had a Night Rider that had actually changed the harness to match a hacked SDB and only_ the hacked board would work in the game. Drove me (initially) nuts when I put in a nice shiny-clean SDB and one solenoid didn't work!

    #2702 3 years ago
    Quoted from Dr_Dude:

    I've seen this a few times: Honestly, when the TIP blows up that bad, all the traces in that area (including the board substrate!) are blown, so repair is quite challenging. Moving the wiring to an unused TIP (for the game in question) is not totally terrible, and just makes that board unusable in other games. Not defending the hack, BTW. I had a Night Rider that had actually changed the harness to match a hacked SDB and only_ the hacked board would work in the game. Drove me (initially) nuts when I put in a nice shiny-clean SDB and one solenoid didn't work!

    Maybe some day if I get REALLY bored, I'll fix this one. But in the meantime, early Williams drivers haven't gotten quite scarce enough.

    Richard

    burnt_driver[1].jpgburnt_driver[1].jpg
    #2703 3 years ago

    Glad they labelled that one.

    (And yes, I know if it was stored with only the edge showing that would actually be helpful)

    #2704 3 years ago

    Just got this WPC95 board to fix a weird hack/fix..
    The capacitors both have a resistor on each of their wires.
    So instead of just 2 capacitors, this hack/fix involves 4 capacitors of the wrong size, and 4 resistors
    Also because of the way they are placed, they are very very loose and move a lot..

    WhatsApp Image 2020-07-19 at 11.25.10 (1) (resized).jpegWhatsApp Image 2020-07-19 at 11.25.10 (1) (resized).jpegWhatsApp Image 2020-07-19 at 11.25.10 (resized).jpegWhatsApp Image 2020-07-19 at 11.25.10 (resized).jpeg

    #2705 3 years ago
    Quoted from RobDutch:

    Just got this WPC95 board to fix a weird hack/fix..
    The capacitors both have a resistor on each of their wires.
    So instead of just 2 capacitors, this hack/fix involves 4 capacitors of the wrong size, and 4 resistors
    Also because of the way they are placed, they are very very loose and move a lot..
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    But, do they calculate out to the correct capacitance?

    #2706 3 years ago
    Quoted from yaksplat:

    But, do they calculate out to the correct capacitance?

    Capacitance yes, voltage no..
    Soldering is also really bad so this is being taken out.

    #2707 3 years ago
    Quoted from RobDutch:

    Capacitance yes, voltage no..
    Soldering is also really bad so this is being taken out.

    Maybe they wanted a cap with more ESR so they added it externally?? I guess their motto was if we can't do it right we do it anyway.

    #2708 3 years ago
    Quoted from Robotworkshop:

    Maybe they wanted a cap with more ESR so they added it externally?? I guess their motto was if we can't do it right we do it anyway.

    My guess would be that the game broke down on location and they did not have the right parts. Instead of ordering/buying them somewhere, they decided to do this hack/repair because the game had to work again on the same day

    #2709 3 years ago

    Someone did not have capacitors of high enough voltage, and replaced with two series connected caps, and inserted resistors to equalize voltages between the two caps. Not bad.

    #2710 3 years ago
    Quoted from Tuukka:

    Someone did not have capacitors of high enough voltage, and replaced with two series connected caps, and inserted resistors to equalize voltages between the two caps. Not bad.

    Right on the money.

    1 week later
    10
    #2711 3 years ago

    Checking in again with another beauty!
    This was dangeling inside the machine so there is a huge chance it shorted something..
    No wonder the board does not work anymore

    20200729_204403 (resized).jpg20200729_204403 (resized).jpg

    #2712 3 years ago
    Quoted from RobDutch:

    Checking in again with another beauty!
    This was dangeling inside the machine so there is a huge chance it shorted something..
    No wonder the board does not work anymore
    [quoted image]

    Yikes, and no insulation anymore!

    16
    #2713 3 years ago
    Quoted from RobDutch:

    Checking in again with another beauty!
    This was dangeling inside the machine so there is a huge chance it shorted something..
    No wonder the board does not work anymore
    [quoted image]

    The REAL tilt bob.

    #2714 3 years ago
    Quoted from chad:

    Yikes, and no insulation anymore!

    Indeed, taking this weird fix (?) out and putting a brand new PSU5 (with a more stable voltage then the original LM323K) in!

    Quoted from Jahkub:

    The REAL tilt bob.

    Tilt the game, break the boards
    As if the hobby is not expensive enough already hahaha

    13
    #2715 3 years ago

    Here's a mess I cleaned up this week

    20200727_170312 (resized).jpg20200727_170312 (resized).jpg20200727_170411 (resized).jpg20200727_170411 (resized).jpg20200727_173411 (resized).jpg20200727_173411 (resized).jpg
    30
    #2716 3 years ago

    Haha. I'm not plugging this one in.
    Damn!

    15961258676296037996465292040412 (resized).jpg15961258676296037996465292040412 (resized).jpg
    #2717 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jjsmooth:

    Haha. I'm not plugging this one in.
    Damn!
    [quoted image]

    fine (resized).jpgfine (resized).jpg
    #2718 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jjsmooth:

    Haha. I'm not plugging this one in.
    Damn!
    [quoted image]

    You should be good hasn’t blown any fuses yet.

    #2719 3 years ago
    Quoted from RobDutch:

    Checking in again with another beauty!
    This was dangeling inside the machine so there is a huge chance it shorted something..
    No wonder the board does not work anymore
    [quoted image]

    Looks like someone has been out of LM323's and cleverly created an adjustable 5V regulator from an LM317.

    Besides accidental shorting, it is really amazing if it ever worked without a heat sink and not go to thermal shutdown. The original LM323 is rated for 3A, and LM317 for 1.5A, which is just barely enough and even then with ample heat sinking. But of course that depends on how much the unregulated voltage is over 5 volts.

    #2720 3 years ago
    Quoted from amxfc3s:

    Here's a mess I cleaned up this week
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    Anyone else notice how the Motorola logo on the diode looks just like the Williams logo upside down?

    #2721 3 years ago
    Quoted from Crash:

    Anyone else notice how the Motorola logo on the diode looks just like the Williams logo upside down?

    PhijPZB.gifPhijPZB.gif
    #2722 3 years ago
    Quoted from Tuukka:

    Looks like someone has been out of LM323's and cleverly created an adjustable 5V regulator from an LM317.

    Besides accidental shorting, it is really amazing if it ever worked without a heat sink and not go to thermal shutdown. The original LM323 is rated for 3A, and LM317 for 1.5A, which is just barely enough and even then with ample heat sinking. But of course that depends on how much the unregulated voltage is over 5 volts.

    Clever idea sure, but if you are doing a hack (?) like this: make sure you don't short everything
    I'm putting one of these in: https://www.flipperwinkel.nl/winkel/contents/nl/p7155.html
    It should be a more stable version of the LM323

    #2723 3 years ago

    Yep, the same thing is available for North American buyers here: https://www.ezsbc.com/index.php/psu5.html

    After being completely out of originals and receiving enough counterfeit LM323s "old stock" from China I'm ready to start using the PSU5 in my repairs. Jameco still has originals but they're more expensive than the modern replacement. I like to keep my hardware as original as possible but I think the ship has sailed. It's a superior product.

    #2724 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jjsmooth:

    Haha. I'm not plugging this one in.
    Damn!
    [quoted image]

    dude you gotta. I HAVE to see it

    #2725 3 years ago
    Quoted from Robotworkshop:

    The other is a Stern lamp driver board. Someone drilled several hole and added jumpers to move then around. This one came out of a Meteor. Not sure what they were thinking on that one.

    I think that was a factory mod. My Meteor had the same thing.

    Pf1010005 (resized).JPGPf1010005 (resized).JPGPf1010023 (resized).JPGPf1010023 (resized).JPGPf1010003b (resized).jpgPf1010003b (resized).jpg
    #2726 3 years ago
    Quoted from oldschoolbob:

    I think that was a factory mod. My Meteor had the same thing.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    I think you're right. Just an early board that I hadn't seen before. I just cleaned up the board and left that since it was working.

    16
    #2727 3 years ago

    Need a rubber? How about some electrical tape instead?

    4364056C-9075-45B5-AF92-A82254ADE28E (resized).jpeg4364056C-9075-45B5-AF92-A82254ADE28E (resized).jpeg
    13
    #2728 3 years ago

    Not a crazy “hack” but, I had a chuckle when I reached inside the coin door and couldn’t get the lever to release the lockdown bar. Haha

    E7197B33-DF18-471A-9A13-DDDF317AE9B3.jpegE7197B33-DF18-471A-9A13-DDDF317AE9B3.jpeg
    #2729 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jakers:

    Not a crazy “hack” but, I had a chuckle when I reached inside the coin door and couldn’t get the lever to release the lockdown bar. Haha

    Why would you need this? I've never had a machine with a loose lockdown bar....is that common problem?

    #2730 3 years ago

    This is a non-working Stern Flight 2000 I brought home 3 years ago. I'm finally getting it unfolded. The right flipper mechanism is the correct Stern flipper assembly.

    The left flipper assembly is a Williams set up with that huge flipper coil. It looks like the 50 volt coils on my Data East Robocop ( DE copied from Williams liberally ).

    It will be item #1 from the job jar.

    IMG_4150 (resized).JPGIMG_4150 (resized).JPG
    #2731 3 years ago
    Quoted from cottonm4:

    This is a non-working Stern Flight 2000 I brought home 3 years ago. I'm finally getting it unfolded. The right flipper mechanism is the correct Stern flipper assembly.
    The left flipper assembly is a Williams set up with that huge flipper coil. It looks like the 50 volt coils on my Data East Robocop ( DE copied from Williams liberally ).
    It will be item #1 from the job jar.
    [quoted image]

    And the bottom left slingshot assembly... You got Data East /Atari /Wico style mix.

    13
    #2732 3 years ago

    Was binary language invented before numbers?

    IMG_20200803_181516 (resized).jpgIMG_20200803_181516 (resized).jpg
    #2733 3 years ago

    Have you tried drawing numbers on the connectors?

    #2734 3 years ago
    Quoted from Tuukka:

    Have you tried drawing numbers on the connectors?

    Brand new sharpie. Dont rub too hard

    I use a ptouch now

    #2735 3 years ago

    I stopped coloring or labeling WPC games years ago. Is there anything you can screw up on a WPC game? I know some of the older games were not as well thought out (because I've blown stuff up), but I don't think I've ever cooked anything on a modern game from plugging in wrong and I've pulled dozens of boards.

    #2736 3 years ago
    Quoted from Shredso:

    I stopped coloring or labeling WPC games years ago. Is there anything you can screw up on a WPC game? I know some of the older games were not as well thought out (because I've blown stuff up), but I don't think I've ever cooked anything on a modern game from plugging in wrong and I've pulled dozens of boards.

    watch out-it seems you can mix up some connectors on the WPC89-PDB causing one of the big capacitors to get overvoltage..don´t remember which connectors it was but there clearly is a possibility to damage things due to wrong placed connectors!

    #2737 3 years ago
    Quoted from harig:

    watch out-it seems you can mix up some connectors on the WPC89-PDB causing one of the big capacitors to get overvoltage..don´t remember which connectors it was but there clearly is a possibility to damage things due to wrong placed connectors!

    But you must be a massive tool to do so, as all the cables have fixed length and probably after all these years are pretty much bent into the correct shape/position.

    (I also once made a mistake on my DE Turtles back in the day, and that also felt really dumb afterwards, as you could clearly see I crossed the boards with two cables)

    11
    #2738 3 years ago
    Quoted from JethroP:

    Need a rubber? How about some electrical tape instead?
    [quoted image]

    Reminds me of this 1947 United Mexico I just finished... no rubbers, no problem, use a few elastic ponytail ties.

    IMG_4883 (resized).JPGIMG_4883 (resized).JPGIMG_4885 (resized).JPGIMG_4885 (resized).JPG
    #2739 3 years ago
    Quoted from lanfeust:

    Was binary language invented before numbers?
    [quoted image]

    Maybe some sort of Morse Code message?

    #2740 3 years ago
    Quoted from mbwalker:

    Maybe some sort of Morse Code message?

    MBWLKR DE VA3CSG N CW THERE RST 191 <BT> CMPLT MYSTERY QSD <BT> MBWLKR DE VA3CSG <KN>

    #2741 3 years ago
    Quoted from semicolin:

    MBWLKR DE VA3CSG N CW THERE RST 191 <BT> CMPLT MYSTERY QSD <BT> MBWLKR DE VA3CSG <KN>

    OK, as a ham radio operator (not active), but an RF electrical engineer...that's going to take awhile to decipher!

    #2742 3 years ago
    Quoted from mbwalker:

    OK, as a ham radio operator (not active), but an RF electrical engineer...that's going to take awhile to decipher!

    I'm a non-active EXTRA class and I haven't figured it out.

    #2743 3 years ago
    Quoted from JethroP:

    I'm a non-active EXTRA class and I haven't figured it out.

    I think that's even harder than the Houdini Morse Code message hidden in the Start button blinking!

    Apologies to all for the slight thread derail.

    kb9taf

    #2744 3 years ago
    Quoted from mbwalker:

    Apologies to all for the slight thread derail.

    MBWLKR AKA KB9TAF DE WW6U <BT> HI OM <BT> I GOT IT <BT> KB9TAF DE WW6U <BT> 73

    #2745 3 years ago
    Quoted from JethroP:

    MBWLKR AKA KB9TAF DE WW6U <BT> HI OM <BT> I GOT IT <BT> KB9TAF DE WW6U <BT> 73

    I sorted it out.

    Good one Semicolin .-.. --- .-..

    Back to the worst hacks

    #2746 3 years ago

    it's antenna tuning season; pinball is the winter sport

    #2747 3 years ago
    Quoted from mbwalker:

    OK, as a ham radio operator (not active), but an RF electrical engineer...that's going to take awhile to decipher!

    I'm going to pretend that my keying isn't defective and blame my Canadian accent instead

    #2748 3 years ago

    73 YOU ALL HAMS DE OH3MVV

    #2749 3 years ago

    Breaker breaker 1-9?

    #2750 3 years ago

    Wow this got a little off topic but I guess I will join in too, I'm a general class but haven't been active in several years.

    73 KB3LYL
    Jeff

    There are 4,635 posts in this topic. You are on page 55 of 93.

    Reply

    Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

    Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

    Donate to Pinside

    Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!


    This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/worst-hackrepair-you-ever-saw/page/55?hl=ajfclark and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.

    Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.