Innane chatter about nagging pinball problems

score_one

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To celebrate the opening of a new forum, I thought I would spew some ramblings about the nagging problems of my Tommy pinball that I am too lazy to fix.
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The blinders work but I cant seen to get them adjusted just right. They block the view of the left flipper but don't open up all the way, so part of the right flipper is still visible.

The parachute (skill shot) entry switch is flaky. For those of you that dont know, the skill shot drains to a metal trough under the plafield and feeds the VUK. The hole behind the mirror (used in multiball) drains into the same trough. Sometimes the skill shot switch doesn't read and the game thinks the ball went into the hole behind the mirror. This is kind of a drag during multiball ready mode. If you make the skill shot and the switch doesn't read, the game goes into multiball mode and you dont get your skill shot award. I need to get another mini-microswitch and just replace the funky one.

The shooter lane switch does not work and hasn't snice I got the game. Just another case of me needing to find the correct replacement.

The right coin switch is missing. Its not a big deal because the game is set for free play. I'm sure I could dig up one, if I felt like it.

There are two lamp sockets in the backbox insert that work intermittently. Yet another thing I could fix if I felt like it.

The silverball is missing from the backbox. Somebody broke it off (the base that threads on is still in the game). I haven't been able to find a suitable replacement.

The knocker solenoid is completely missing. There are two wires laying in the bottom of the cabinet. I could probably hunt down a coil and the necessary parts if I really wanted to.

I've had the game for about a year. The two major problems I've had, I have been able to fix by myself. Recently the upper left flipper started binding up and finally became stuck. I took it all apart. The end of the shaft was mushroomed out from hitting the coil stop a billion times. I usually cure this problem with a bench grinder. I did not have one so I took the shaft and scraped the end back and forth on the sidewalk until my arm was numb. It wore the end down to the point where it no longers binds up inside the coil sleeve. Problem solved. The other major prob was the bridge rectifier for the +5V on the power supply. There I am, just sitting at my computer and I heard a noise from behind me and looked to see that Tommy had only the G.I. on and the game did not appear to be running. I quickly discovered what was wrong and was able to replace the bad bridge recitifer with one from a junked Williams linear power supply. It sure is nice to be able to fix your own stuff.

The game is a pretty nice one, all things considered. It would be better if I would fix the nagging problems with it. I just haven't got around to it. It plays pretty well, though. It has less problems than most pins on route do.
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Feel free to post your nagging problems that you either can't fix or don't feel like fixing.

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The sounds on my Arena are flaky. Sometimes all sounds work. Sometimes only the foreground sounds (when you hit targets, ramps, etc.) work. Sometimes only the background sounds (theme music) work. Usually none of the sounds work.

I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting the sound board which didn't change anything, but other than that I haven't done much.

I'll probably start caring about this more soon, as the weather's getting warmer, and I'll probably start spending more time in the garage with the games soon.
 
Victory, left outlane doesn't score. The guy I bought the machine from has even offered to send me the part to fix it, but it doesn't seem to matter to me (the ball shouldn't be going there anyway!).

Victory, you can score checkpoint three by giving the machine a good whack. I would fix this, but it is hard to get to.

Assorted bulbs out on Victory, I finally went and ordered some. Couple broken round targets, finally ordered those too.

Haven't owned Robocop long enough to call any of the problems nagging.
 
Or you could just burn that machine! I hated it. We had four of them on the route. Constantly falling apart---junk. First thing that got busted was that stupid plastic ball "topper" on the backbox. When our moving crew went to load it on the truck the ball sheared off cause it wouldn't clear our door height.

Next thing was that crappy blinder assembly falling apart/jamming.

Did I mention I hate this machine?
 
Moving machines is the responsibilty of the moving crew. They are stupid goons who move machines to the locations. They should have lowered the backbox. I'm just the repairman.
 
I pulled a Starship Troopers from location today and replaced it with a Monopoly. I lowered the backbox on both games. Its not that hard, but goons usually don't get paid very well and don't tend to give a $hit if something gets broken.
 
When my Robocop pinball arrived, it was in the back of the truck with the legs still on it. I have NEVER moved a pin that way.
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Oh my Twilight Zone: It has 2 current issues. (Well 3).

For some reason, sometimes the upper left flipper doesn't work. It doesn't appear to get stuck, it just doesn't work. Other times it works great. It will start and stop working randomly.

The right hand outlane won't score. Ball rolls over switch, nothing registers.

The third problem is the target to the left of the Slot Machine. It's been knocked back a bit (design flaw, already have after market reinforcement) and so hardly ever registers a hit now.

The most serious problem I fixed: An upgrade to the power supply that brought the Matrix display back to life.

On I guess that reminds me. The Rocket plastic is broken, and there's a few bulbs out. So... 4 items.
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This thread got me motivated to mess with Arena last night (and actually try to decifer the scematic).

After checking the sound fuse, reseating all the connecters that have anything to do with the sound (Sound Board, Driver Board, Main Board), pushing the wires into the connector (just to make sure they're making contact), and checking the power at the Sound Board and the Auxillary Power Board, I fired it up again, and I have sound again.

Pinball is so much better with sound.
 
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