I have Joust/Robotron questions

sohchx

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I own both machines and have some questions. My Joust is fully working and the Robotron is working partially. If I were to remove the main PCB from Joust will my high scores remain intact as long as I do not remove the batteries?

I want to test the main PCB from the Robotron using my Joust machine. Do I have to install the ROM/PIA board and interface board from the Robotron machine to do this?

Finally,how do I check that my 5v is correct on the Robotron and what are the specific test points? The power supply is still the original and with these I have no experience when it comes to 5v testing. I have only ever tested for 5v on machines that have a switcher installed so testing on the older PS's is new to me.
 
I own both machines and have some questions. My Joust is fully working and the Robotron is working partially. If I were to remove the main PCB from Joust will my high scores remain intact as long as I do not remove the batteries?

Yes, they will.

I want to test the main PCB from the Robotron using my Joust machine. Do I have to install the ROM/PIA board and interface board from the Robotron machine to do this?

No. J & R CPU boards are identical. Just move the CPU PCB (main board) from R to J. Power up J and see what happens.

Finally,how do I check that my 5v is correct on the Robotron and what are the specific test points? The power supply is still the original and with these I have no experience when it comes to 5v testing. I have only ever tested for 5v on machines that have a switcher installed so testing on the older PS's is new to me.

You really want to learn which chips are the 4116 RAMs and the pinout on them. They need +5, +12, -5 so it is always a good idea to measure those on the RAMs as far from the power connecter as possible. And BE CAREFUL when you do this! If you short the +12 or -5 to a pin next to it, you could do some major damage. :-(
 
Be very careful when pulling the ROM cables. A large percentage of the partially working systems will only require recrimping the ROM cable connector. Most people just grab the cable and pull. This may work the first few times, but eventually you will pull the wires loose internally.

The safer way to pull the ROM cable is to use a small flatbladed screwdriver and use the corner of the blade on the side of the connector. You are not prying the connector out, just using the blade as a friction point to help lift the connector loose. Then repeat on the other side until the connector is loose. Then lift it clear.

ken
 
My Joust is fully working and the Robotron is working partially.

What exactally is the Robotron NOT doing?

Is it not booting at all?
Is it booting but then re-booting?
What codes does the ROM board post when you boot, 1-3-1 ??

Please elaborate on this a bit....

Any more specific info that you can post will help the KLOV community better pinpoint the problem that you are having with your Robotron board.
 
Do either of you guys know if a 74LS153 is an appropriate or equivilant substitute for the 74153 chips on the main PCB. I can't seem to find the 74153 chip anywhere and wanted to purchase new ones and install as a precaution.
 
What exactally is the Robotron NOT doing?

Is it not booting at all?
Is it booting but then re-booting?
What codes does the ROM board post when you boot, 1-3-1 ??

Please elaborate on this a bit....

Any more specific info that you can post will help the KLOV community better pinpoint the problem that you are having with your Robotron board.

When I first powered it up I had a solid red screen. After checking my fuses I found one was blown and replaced that. Now I have a multicolored rug pattern that is full screen. The codes are 1-3-1 and 1-3-8. I have already purchased a full power supply rebuild kit and am purchasing a williams 4146 ram upgrade kit along with 3x 74LS373,3x 74LS367,1x 74LS245 IC chips.
 
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Anyone know what the sole job is of the 1000uf 25v radial capacitor on the power board? Apparently at some point before I bought the machine the cap swelled up so big that it shed it's plastic cover,now its a big fuzzball with two leads attached to the board lol.
 
Not likely. The -12V unregulated is only used by the sound card and the CMOS memory protect circuit IIRC.

It certainly is easy enough to replace and see.

ken
 
When I first powered it up I had a solid red screen. After checking my fuses I found one was blown and replaced that. Now I have a multicolored rug pattern that is full screen. The codes are 1-3-1 and 1-3-8. I have already purchased a full power supply rebuild kit and am purchasing a williams 4146 ram upgrade kit along with 3x 74LS373,3x 74LS367,1x 74LS245 IC chips.

Can you point me in the direction of where you read up on those chips. (I'm order some Williams components and don't want to leave anything out).

And can someone elaborate on the "old IDE cable vice crimp" replacement trick? Perhaps that will help the OP with his problem.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
Can you point me in the direction of where you read up on those chips. (I'm order some Williams components and don't want to leave anything out).

And can someone elaborate on the "old IDE cable vice crimp" replacement trick? Perhaps that will help the OP with his problem.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

I read about them in a Post from YellowDog in this thread,It's post #5

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=200629
 
Alright guys,I threw my robo board into my Joust and still got the same error codes. At power up the LCD flashed 1-3-1 twice and then flashed 1-3-8 for the duration of the power up. 1-3-1 never came up again. It does the same thing in both machines. My question is why does 1-3-1 only flash twice and never again? The pic attached is what my screen shows on both machines. Obviously I have a board issue and hopefully the chips I ordered will fix it.
 

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Have you tried replacing the 4116 RAM chip at location 3-8?? (Look at page 8 on the instruction manual for the location)

If you don't have another RAM chip to swap in, you can do a simple test...
Swap the RAM chip at 3-8 with the one above it at 3-7.

If you reboot the game and you get a 1-3-7 error, then it is most likely a bad RAM chip (error is following the RAM chip you moved.)
 
Have you tried replacing the 4116 RAM chip at location 3-8?? (Look at page 8 on the instruction manual for the location)

If you don't have another RAM chip to swap in, you can do a simple test...
Swap the RAM chip at 3-8 with the one above it at 3-7.

If you reboot the game and you get a 1-3-7 error, then it is most likely a bad RAM chip (error is following the RAM chip you moved.)

I plan to toss all of the 4116 chips today and perform the 4146 ram upgrade kit if it arrives today.
 
Update: Installed the 4164 chips today along with the adapter plug and my 1-3-1 error is gone. I still have the 1-3-8 code. I have a few more chips to install and my PS rebuild kit if it arrives tommorow. Apparently due to the holidays priority mail is two days behind.
 
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