Look what I bought today for $140.00

Walkamo

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Look what I bought today for $140.00 (Battlezone Lives!!!)

So today I purchased my first Vector game Battlezone!!!!!

I found it on craigslist as a non-working game that probably just needed fuses (Yeah Right) and it was at a storage facility with no power to test it out...

The guy was asking $200 for it so I met him today during lunch just to check it out.. .The thing is in amazing shape... The game counter reads 8119... Very little usage for a game this popular.. I talked the guy down to $140.00 since I had no way to see if it worked.. All of the boards looked great, side art is almost perfect and all of the plastic parts are there and not scratched up..

There is even a set of stickers in the bottom of the cabinet showing that the machine takes Susan B Bnthony dollars.....

I got it home, plugged it in and all I get it a tiny green dot in the middle of the screen...

I have no idea what is wrong, however I am guessing that someone here will know..

Any ideas would be appreciated... here are some pics..


Chris
 

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Last edited:
Cabs surely in nice shape overall... but it does look like it's seen more than only 8119 plays... but who knows.
 
Step 1 : Order the High Score Save Kit for it.
Step 2 : Check the +5 at the motherboard.
Step 3: Check all the fuses
Step 4 : see if it plays blind.
 
Based on that step, it hasn't had a lot of plays. The rust on the CP could be from storage or somebody swapped the good CP out for an older one.

Nice haul though.

What is the serial number on it?

ken
 
So,

I disconnected the monitor and all I get it a buzz from the speaker when it is turned on.. (Start Button is lit as well)

I checked all of the fuses and they are OK. Re-seated the edge connectors.

Both boards have a red LED that is lit, however it does not play blind..

Is there anyone in So Cal that has a Battlezone? Maybe we can swap boards to help diagnose....

Thanks,

Chris
 
Ok,

So I broke out the multi-meter and the tested the voltages on the boards test points and they are only reading 3.94volts on the 5 volt points...

I am guessing that the regulator/audio board needs to be replaced... Am I better off replacing it or just replacing all of the caps on the board?

Does anyone have this board? A035435-02

Thanks,

Chris
 
Mine would lock up from time to time... spot killer would come on... start button was lit solid (instead of flashing). I pull both PCBs out, carefully lift each socketed IC... I wouldn't actually take them out and clean the legs, etc because they're likely to be brittle, etc... but lift them enough to be able to reseat them. Be careful because the larger ones are typically in an elevated sort of socket and you don't want to pull that up... it would be broken. It's not too hard I just want to be sure and give you the complete story. Anyway... the game might be fine... just try reseating all the socketed chops on both boards. Cheap, quick and, often, it works.
 
Ok,

So I broke out the multi-meter and the tested the voltages on the boards test points and they are only reading 3.94volts on the 5 volt points...

I am guessing that the regulator/audio board needs to be replaced... Am I better off replacing it or just replacing all of the caps on the board?

Does anyone have this board? A035435-02

Thanks,

Chris

Could you not adjust 5V any higher?

Edit: Deadly just beat me... :(
 
Don't run the game with the monitor disconnected. You can fry the R29 resistor on the AR board. It maybe already be burnt, and thats why your voltages are wrong. Check the AR board, for burnt parts.

There are test points on the boards that you can hook a meter to. Check your +5 at the boards. The adjustment for +5 is on the AR board. Also clean the edge connectors with a eraser. Dirty connecters can cause the sense line to fluctuate the voltage.
 
Have you attempted to try adjusting the voltage using the pot on the AR board?

I just finished trying.. .The most I can get out of it is 4.26 volts.... I am guessing this is my problem...

No I have to find a replacement board and go from there.. I hope that is all that is wrong..

Thanks,

Chris
 
First thing you do is replace that big blue cap in the bottom of the cab. It's an Atari after all ;)
Then rebuild the AR board.

I would assume one or both will get you a stable +5
 
So the 8119 was for the 2nd coin mech.. .The first coin mechs counter shows 21344 player...

So almost 30,000 games....

My bad...

Chris


Ah... that sounds more like it. My BZ cab is decent, but not-quite-as-nice condition. It has around 35,000 plays... I thought I only saw one counter in there... I suppose I should check again.
 
BTW: Does the black light behind the half silvered mirror light up? If not, you're going to want to replace it. It's supposed to take a white-black light... though I am still on the fence as to whether I prefer a white or black black light.
 
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