" Does this switch require a diode?"
YES!
All Bally pinball playfields and cabinets switches have diodes.

It does... But it is not on the switch... The diode is off boarded

Would you happen to have a picture that shows me what I need to be looking for?
I've noticed that the other switches of this type (trough, coin door) do not have a diode. If they all require diodes, where would those be located?
Pardon my ignorance! I still have much to learn about repair.

I'm traveling Greg... So limited abilities.... But if to trace the wires back you get to a small board on the bottom of the playfield... Small ... With a diode on it....

I found the diode soldered between two sets of wires, grounded to the playfield. I clipped one end and checked it with a multimeter. It registered .5, so I think that it is good. What should I check next? Just so you know, all of the boards in this machine are all new Alltek boards and a Rottendog TR board, if that makes any difference. The last time that I actually played a game on this machine, about 6 years ago, I remember having a problem with the trough spitting out two balls at once. That's where I left it, until now.

My second xenon did the same double firing of the out hole kicker. I desoldered one wire from the micro switch at the trough and the problem went away. I know that switch is there for a reason but my game worked fine wo it. Multi ball was working as it should.

Hey what’s the upper saucer supposed to do?
1. Kick out into the pops
2. Kick out and go in between the pops and roll down the playfield uninterrupted

Answer:
#1 Kick off to the side of the top center "thumper bumper..."

Ok that’s how mine is set up but I saw a video of one today where it was set up to sneak by the pops and I was starting to question my adjustment.

There's a page in the Xenon manual that illustrates the correct trajectories of the two kickout holes.

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Perfect!
I honestly should’ve checked there first.

Diagnosis made after finding some time to get back to it. Failing to boot due to a toasty J3 connector on the solenoid driver.

Connector replaced… amped that she is back up and running! Finished reassembly, polishing and installed new coil in the trough kickout.

Just need to play with two of the displays that are a little wonky. Then finish some bulbs in the BB and under the playfield, install the new CPR plastics and polish the coin door. At least for now…

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Looking to be joining the club this week! Xenon has been at the top of my wish list for years. Looking forward to diving into restoring it.

Please tell me you got this beauty!

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Somebody with creative skills, should make "T"shirts with that image.

I actually print shirts for my second job and I’m so tempted

I also became a member of the club recently. Saw a stupid good deal that almost looked like a scam or spam post. It wasn’t. Sat in a lady’s home for the last 25 years until I scooped it up. Game plays 100%, has some playfield wear between the flippers and up by the pops ( I wonder if I can find the artist above to commission a touch up job ). Photos were from when I moved it off the truck into my shop before even wiping it down. Clear Titan bands and comet leds arrived for it today. The deals are still out there

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I’m in for one, along with Mata Hari please!

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Nice snag jail bones! $300. Welcome to the club.

You too Tom. Well almost. Post pics once you have it.

I think....

Congrats that is an amazing find these days.

Thanks guys, I’m pretty stoked on it too! I’ll be sure to post more photos when I get it all cleaned up. Very tempted to hardtop it. The pin gods have definitely been on my side, a few months prior to this, I found a Williams Millionaire on FN marketplace that also sat in a woman’s home for over 25 years and picked it up for free. Displays were gassed, but the game worked flawless and I put an xpin led in it. Still don’t know how I pulled that one off because she said people were offering her 1K-1.5k and still just gave it away to me because she wanted someone to enjoy it. It was good to be reminded that kind people still exist.

A free Millionaire and then a Xenon for 300 bucks? Fortune is smiling on you.

That playfield looks pretty damn nice to me. I would not put a hardtop over that. If anything, find somebody to touch up the two areas that need it and clearcoat it.

Congrats on the fantastic grab and welcome to the club.

Got mine pretty much done. CPR plastics look great.

Felt great to play some games on this thing after buying it as a complete basket case, ripped apart in boxes two years ago. Luckily almost all of the parts were at least there.

Just waiting for the coin door plates from Matt.

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I'm going to add traveling Bally/Stern Tech to my business cards

Finally got my new laptop and my fonts loaded!

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Haha. Nice. I was just busting chops, but whenever you can get them done would be great. I think this is the eighth or ninth time I bought a Xenon, so I think it’s time to bolt this one to the floor.

MRM 4: who is the budding artist who did the recreations of Xenon and Mata Hari. I think a 2 year old could do just as well. Thanks for sharing.

Consider pulling off the swing-out frame that holds the backglasses and hitting it with a couple coats of satin black. I did that to my Xenon and Space Invaders and it's subtle but makes a big difference visually. Those edges always get beat up and it's a fairly easy project.

Haha I have no clue but I love the element of “it’s good enough” in his work.

I'm looking at that score....I don't believe I ever knew it has 7 digits...I've never got above 600k lol

Thanks! Your machine looks damn good dude! What are you printing those coin slot cards on? I’d be interested in some if you plan to make more!

Thanks for the suggestion. I may do that for now.

My original plan was to redo the cabinet completely and clearcoat it, but it’s not horrible so I decided to get the game up and running and play it. The cab is actually pretty presentable, and I have nice chrome legs I’m going to throw on it.

I may end up redoing the cab at some point. My problem is if I start taking it apart, my OCD will make me fiberglass patch the corners and do everything right. Once I bust out the sander, I won’t be able to stop.

Pretty much same here. My cab was nice enough that it just needed a little red and blue touchup in several spots, but the backbox frame was an eyesore. A few dented corners and scrapes along the edges showing wood all over. Took it off, which also gave me the chance to soak the ubiquitously rusty hinges in Evaporust and hit them with the buffer, added Kwikwood to the frame where needed, and then a couple coats of Rustoleum satin Canyon Black. So much better now.

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Very nice. Your pics are making it tempting just to make that better for now.

Problem for me is once I dove into the automotive paint and clear and did my Halloween and Safari, now I want every cabinet to be like that. Especially games that are keepers.

And Xenon would probably look stellar like a sheet of glass.

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I sure did!!!! LOL it’s even more breathtaking in person!!

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I’ve actually considered it!! LoL

I mean..almost...the history...um...one of a kind...yeah. I say leave it lol. It's certainly a talking point. Kinda like that jesus painting. There's a silver lining here somewhere, made out of rust...or something.
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Those last two pictures (as if you were slowly zooming in to focus on that artistic masterpiece) had me laughing my ass off.

Game looks like it’s in great shape though. Coin door looks great.

Yes!!! That’s awesome man, that’s a great restoration candidate!

Tossed some comet leds and clear Titan bands on my xenon last night, messing around with some lighting schemes. Loving how it’s looking so far and how the Titan bands get a cool glow effect. I do want to covert the left hand side lights to GI and may add a spot light or two to open up the center of the playfield as well as adding some trough lighting. Colsond3 are you making any more of those coin door cards? If so I’d be interested!

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Anyone making a replacement ball deflector for the upper left hand side?

mrm_4 made them, not me. I was just trying to poach a set.

And for people throwing a ton of blue or ice blue in this game, I’d tread lightly. I mean if you love that, have at it. But in my opinion it really drowns out the naturally colorful artwork.

I would stick with cool white or sunlight. I do have a few blue accents in mine, with two 5 SMD towers in regular blue.

I very much agree, and I usually hate how games look blown out with color leds, but I really wanted to make this one look super spaced out. It does wash a bit of the the color, but I think a couple spotlights will help with that, while keeping the overall look I have, and I really dig the glow it gives the clear bands. I took inspiration from a friends stranger things machine with the UV kit when I decided to try this on xenon, and ordered a bunch of comet warm whites I can pop in if I don’t like it. I also plan on using some 6v led strip lighting in some areas. I really do appreciate the honest criticism and opinion. I also need an led bar for in back of the tube, and possibly will toss a white one there which may give some light up that way. If mrm_4 can’t get us a set, maybe he can give us the file? I work in a print shop for my second job, and while I don’t usually print things like that, I certainly could. My boss is also a pinhead with a handful of machines and would likely be into the idea. If that happens, I’d be happy to make an extra set and toss it in the mail to you, postage on me.

Definitely. It was more observation than criticism. Xenon just has so much fine awesome detail on the playfield that so much of it gets lost with color LEDs.

I agree if you add some LED strips and spots that would help tremendously, especially with the center of the PF.

I used all clear posts on mine (except for the signature red post in the upper left and a few red translucents) and the blue LED on the left at the tube kickout. Makes that whole corner and posts glow.

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Add 3D red/blue glasses to your game play.

I added two homemade spots recently to the slings on both my Fathom and Centaur, and it really highlights some of the most beautiful artwork on games of this era. Ran it down the kicker hole to some GI using alligator clips for easy removal. Might add some Comet matrix dimmers down the road. I used shrink wrap tubing to keep it all snug and unassuming. I wasn’t sure I would, but I’m kinda liking it.

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Those look great! Last night I re wired the left side flashers to GI and did the same with one of the 2 bulbs in the shooter lane. Tonight I’ll do the trough lighting.

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So the Xenon I just brought home this week doesn't play the background sounds during play. Everything else is there as far as switch hits, pop bumpers and all the speech (male and female). But now background music.

Before I start diving in, is this a setting with the game? or is there something wrong?

Also... game has an Altek cpu board if that helps.

It may be the coin door setting. It explains it in the manual. Keep pressing red self diagnostic button until the match score display shows 18? If I remember correctly. Might be 17. Anyway, press the start button until you see 03 in the display for maximum sounds. The Alltek will keep this setting. If you recently changed the mpu, it goes back to default.

Another thing to check is the volume pot on the sounds plus board. They are notorious for failing from age, dirt and/or oxidation. Give it a few turns and see if you get anything.