another hurtin' Pac board

Cartouche

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I thought I'd ask before shipping this off for repair just in case it's an easy fix.

I bought a PacMan machine from another klov'er that came with 2 boards:
1. Pac board w/Ms. Pac daughterboard and speed-up chip
2. Pac board w/Spaeth's 6pac

#1 works great (photo 1)

#2 I get the vertical lines in photo 2 and the coin counter kept registering credits until I pushed one of board add-ons, (maybe coincidence?)

I switched around the kits and...

I get garbage with the 6pac in the working board (photo 3)

I get vertical lines with MsPac daughterboard in 2nd board. (photo 4)

Maybe this sounds confusing, I hope this makes more sense.
Board 1 + MsPac = works
Board 2 + 6pac = vertical lines

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Marc

Board 1 + 6Pac = garbage
Board 2 + Mspac = vertical lines
 

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Last edited:
In addition -

both boards give me a good ~5vdc reading at the capacitor at C3.

the vertical lines almost seem like a sync issue as they drift up and down, side to side intermittently.
 
Looks like the board might be working, just doesnt have sync. Coin it up and see if you can hear a game start.

bingo, it is a sync issue. I've never had a game with a wg4600, and was not familiar with the little red vertical adjustment screw on the monitor card.

Between the adjustments on the monitor pots, I'm ALMOST able to dial it in.

I still get slow drifting to the left/right, and when I power down, then up, the game needs more adjusting with the red screw:

Best I can get it:


Any suggestions???
 

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how are the sync wires hooked up in this cab?

are you runniong the 6pac on the known working board #1 or is this with board 2?
 
I'm using the second board. I'm going to try the 6pac in the known working board #1 and update tomorrow. To be honest, I'm in no shape to be pulling ic's at this point.

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I'm mean I'm tired!:)
 
The board is working fine, thats obvious. Post a picture of the monitor wires where they connect so we can see how its connected. If the sync has been connected wrong you could have this issue. Also there are several different cards for the 4600 so I wouldnt rule that out either.
 
OK, I'm fresh as a daisy this AM and ready for some projects!

Here's the wiring to the 4600:

IMG_3289.jpg


I've heard that sometimes to fix a sync issue people will cut the jumper between the h and v pins, but I'll wait till someone chimes in.

To recap:
Board 1
w/MsPac daughterboard & speed-up chip - works great
w/6pac - garbage on screen

Board 2
w/MsPac daughterboard & speed-up chip - won't sync
w/6pac - won't sync
 
I'm just throughing this out there...

Are you using that filter board between the wire harness and the game pcb's? If so get that thing out of there.
 
Your monitor connections look fine....dont cut the sync jumper.
Sounds like board #2 has a problem in the sync circuit and needs repair. On board #1 have you cleaned the side test connector where the 6pac plugs in? If its working as a mspac then its probably something simple keeping that 6pac from booting. If im following the thread right it looks like the 6pac is working fine on board 2 other than the sync issue, is that correct?
 
Your monitor connections look fine....dont cut the sync jumper.
Sounds like board #2 has a problem in the sync circuit and needs repair. On board #1 have you cleaned the side test connector where the 6pac plugs in? If its working as a mspac then its probably something simple keeping that 6pac from booting. If im following the thread right it looks like the 6pac is working fine on board 2 other than the sync issue, is that correct?

Yes, I am able to select each game, enter a credit via the coin switch and play on board two. It just won't sync.

During one game I went behind the cab to adjust the v-hold, the game booted back to the menu screen and the joystick was unresponsive. Powered down, then up, everything ok. Probably nothing.

What should I clean the side connector with? Denatured alcohol?

Just to be sure, here's what I did on working board 1:
removed ribbon cable connection at 6B, replaced with Z80 chip from board 2
removed small aux board at 6D, replaced w/6pac "SyncBus Controller"
removed MsPac ic's at 5E and 5F, replaced with 6pac 2 ic stack at 5E (the one w/2 orange wires running to 6pac edge board)
installed 6pac board at edge connector

I agree, I think I'm just missing something that I don't see yet, as I have
1. a known working Pac wMsPac db
2. a known working 6pac

but can't get them to work together. I guess I could try board 1 + 6pac again, maybe I had a bent ic leg or loose connection to create that garbage-filled screen.

Thanks for your help, and I'll likely be pm'ing you soon for the board 2 repair.
 
Yep, take your time and dont overlook the obvious.
That sync issue should be an easy fix. Let me know when you want to get it taken care of.
 
BOO-YAH!!!

IMG_3295.jpg


IMG_3296.jpg


This is the 6pac in board #1. I must have had a bent ic leg or something the first time I installed it. I cleaned the edge card and dbl-checked all the changes. All is good.

Merci beaucoup, Riptor.
 
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