FG Feature Lights Dim/Flickering?

hotrod797

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When I first got my FG none of the feature lights were functioning, so I started with the basics and replaced to 20A fuse located at F1, that got them all working however they are dim and some of the lights IE: High score to date and game over flicker a little. I have checked, its not the bulbs, what else could it be??
 
Connectors, connectors, connectors.

Did I mention connectors?

I assume you're talking about Flash Gordon? The later Bally games are much better for connector problems on the rectifier board but you could still have connector issues there or at the lamp driver board. You could also have a problem like a cold solder joint on a bridge on the rectifier board or something but I would take a look at the connectors first.
 
Well checked/reseated all the connectors, no luck there... I think some of the flickering may be caused by the sockets, some of them seem a little loose, but that doesn't explain all of them being dim, and the power really drags down when you use the flippers, and to top it off I still haven't figured out the issue with the third flipper, think I need to order a new sleeve because I wired it back up for the first time today and got nothing...

Other than that things are all pretty good, went threw and cleaned everything a little, will do more this summer when I can take it out into the garage to work on it.. Really hope I can find this spinner target.
 
Well checked/reseated all the connectors, no luck there... I think some of the flickering may be caused by the sockets, some of them seem a little loose, but that doesn't explain all of them being dim, and the power really drags down when you use the flippers, and to top it off I still haven't figured out the issue with the third flipper, think I need to order a new sleeve because I wired it back up for the first time today and got nothing...

Other than that things are all pretty good, went threw and cleaned everything a little, will do more this summer when I can take it out into the garage to work on it.. Really hope I can find this spinner target.
You may have a socket shorting out. I've had that happen before where it just dims the lights and then I moved the socket around and it blew the fuse.


Glennon
 
You may have a socket shorting out. I've had that happen before where it just dims the lights and then I moved the socket around and it blew the fuse.


Glennon

Yep, same here. I've even had a couple instances where it was the bulb itself. I guess the filiment was causing some major amp draw.....it was in the GI train....all the lights on the train would almost drop out until the fuse blew (maybe 30 seconds). I could remove the bulb (before fuse blew) and all lighting would become "nornal" brightness.

Edward
 
Small nit-pick: I thought you were talking about Family Guy at first! At least use the real name of your game for the subject or first post, then feel free to throw the acronyms around.
 
Small nit-pick: I thought you were talking about Family Guy at first! At least use the real name of your game for the subject or first post, then feel free to throw the acronyms around.

Totally agree... though Family Guy is FGY (iirc) :p

I thought Family Guy first too.

Good suggestions so far about the possibility of a shorted socket. Bally games can be a nightmare to get ALL the lamps working perfectly but it's worth the effort. Many times when I restore a Bally or Stern game I end up "fixing" all of the sockets.
 
Small nit-pick: I thought you were talking about Family Guy at first! At least use the real name of your game for the subject or first post, then feel free to throw the acronyms around.


So did I. I was really surprised that such a new Stern machine was having this problem. In fact, had I realized he was talking about the Bally machine I would have chimed in with help...
 
lol, sorry from cruising around all the forums I got so used to everyone referring to Flash Gordon as FG, I didn't even really think about it...
I guess I am just going to go buy about 50 bulbs and start changing them, I will kinda eyeball all the sockets and make sure everything looks right as I go.

I'm just hoping its not something more than that, because like I said in my other post, everything works, but at times it just seems like the whole table isn't getting enough power IE: lights, flippers, bumpers ect. ect.
Will keep ya posted!!
 
Do yourself a favor and go ahead and order a few sockets. It will save you some trouble when you come across and unexpected issue. 5 will be more than enough to be a good stockpile.
 
I'm just hoping its not something more than that, because like I said in my other post, everything works, but at times it just seems like the whole table isn't getting enough power IE: lights, flippers, bumpers ect. ect.
Will keep ya posted!!

You probably have some flaky ground connections throughout the machine.
 
Do yourself a favor and go ahead and order a few sockets. It will save you some trouble when you come across and unexpected issue. 5 will be more than enough to be a good stockpile.


And grab you one of those light socket cleaning sticks...best $7 you'll ever spand..
http://www.pbresource.com/tools.html

Third item down.

Edward
 
Small nit-pick: I thought you were talking about Family Guy at first! At least use the real name of your game for the subject or first post, then feel free to throw the acronyms around.
I hat when people use acronyms for pinball machine, so much so that when I see them I usually won't post in the thread.

Glennon
 
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