From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

Folks I am working on a minor issue with my Genie. Upon startup there are 4 lamps that lock on and then after 30 seconds or so they go off. These 4 lights do not light during game play but the functions all work. ie Specials light does not light but when you achieve lighting it it will reward the credit. So there is no problems with the functions of the game. The 4 lamps that lock on at startup are 4X BONUS, 5X BONUS, SPECIALS and BONUS COLLECT in top right hole. I know the lamp lights are sent in 4's from the MPU to the SDB. I strongly feel this problem is with the card edge fingers on the MPU J5 as I had prior lighting issues that was corrected by reflowing solder on the semi corroded fingers. So before I move to the possibility of this being a problem with one of the two 7402 chips on the MPU, I would like to try reflowing the proper card edge connector finger. Rather than do them all again and risk heat damage, I am here to see if anyone can tell me which connector or wire color those 4 lamps travel through A1-J5.
Thanks,
Todd
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From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

Todd,
Have you replaced the crimp on connectors inside the connector housings? Almost every game of that era needs this done, especially Gottliebs. Over time, the connectors become corroded and/or lose their tension. If you replace all of them in the game, I know it tedious, then it’s easier to fix issues since you know everything has a good connection.
Genie was my first game and I still have it after 14 years. I rebuilt the connectors right after I got it and have had very little issues since.
Jason
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From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

On Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:16:28 AM UTC-4, Ricjas wrote:

Todd,

Have you replaced the crimp on connectors inside the connector housings? Almost every game of that era needs this done, especially Gottliebs. Over time, the connectors become corroded and/or lose their tension. If you replace all of them in the game, I know it tedious, then it’s easier to fix issues since you know everything has a good connection.

Genie was my first game and I still have it after 14 years. I rebuilt the connectors right after I got it and have had very little issues since.

Jason

Hi Jason, Thank you for your idea. Actually that is the first thing I did. The problem is clearly the signal being lost through A1-J5 so I bought a new MPU-SDB connector and this did not fix the issue. I have narrowed it down to the semi-corroded edge connector fingers on A1-J5 as I tested both 7404 chips on the MPU as fine. Since I am not getting any info on which exact trace,or finger on A1-J5 carries that set of four lamps, I am just going to clean them all with a fiberglass pen (which im waiting for to be delivered) and then flow solder on all the trace fingers. I was hoping not to have to do them all as the problem is clearly only with one finger trace and any time you apply heat to traces you risk doing damage.
Thanks,
Todd
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From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

On Monday, April 27, 2020 at 11:21:07 AM UTC-4, tcvid...@yahoo.ca wrote:

On Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:16:28 AM UTC-4, Ricjas wrote:

Todd,

Have you replaced the crimp on connectors inside the connector housings? Almost every game of that era needs this done, especially Gottliebs. Over time, the connectors become corroded and/or lose their tension. If you replace all of them in the game, I know it tedious, then it’s easier to fix issues since you know everything has a good connection.

Genie was my first game and I still have it after 14 years. I rebuilt the connectors right after I got it and have had very little issues since.

Jason

Hi Jason, Thank you for your idea. Actually that is the first thing I did. The problem is clearly the signal being lost through A1-J5 so I bought a new MPU-SDB connector and this did not fix the issue. I have narrowed it down to the semi-corroded edge connector fingers on A1-J5 as I tested both 7404 chips on the MPU as fine. Since I am not getting any info on which exact trace,or finger on A1-J5 carries that set of four lamps, I am just going to clean them all with a fiberglass pen (which im waiting for to be delivered) and then flow solder on all the trace fingers. I was hoping not to have to do them all as the problem is clearly only with one finger trace and any time you apply heat to traces you risk doing damage.
Thanks,
Todd

There is nothing worse than posts with no follow up. So here is mine. This issue was repaired by first neutralizing the corroded A1-J5 edge connector fingers. Then I took a fiberglass pen to them and finished up by flowing solder on all the fingers. This completely fixed the issue.
Todd
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