Original Chexx Machine scoreboard HELP!!

fletchccc99

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I just bought this machine. The following is in an email he sent me about the not functioning scoreboard...

"I've replaced the main fan on top to start.
The lights for the periods 1 and 3 work but not period 2 so that's probably a burnt LED.
I've got the original manual and the LED's for scoring don't work, the manual indicates that this is either a burnt out LED or a problem in the IC for the score board.
Since none of them work I'm leaning toward the IC being bad. I can't remember where i found one but i think the price to replace the IC was 23 dollars if i remember correct.
I also replaced the main ribbon cable from the main board to the scoreboard thinking that might be the issue.
My next step was to replace the IC and go from there. Everything else works just like it should."

Thoughts on this? How do I fix this scoreboard... Do the IC chips you can buy from ICE work in the old machines?
How to fix cheaply, or am I going to have to try to find an old scoreboard??? Please say the former.
THANKS!
 
The last bubble hockey I pulled apart just had a shift register that the CPU shifted data into, that in turn drove the LED displays for the scores...

Unless they went with something custom in later games, I can't imagine it's a $23 chip...

Post some pics of your scoreboard.. it's probably something simple.
 
It is around $23, but that is the price for ALL of the chips inside the scoreboard. They're off the shelf parts.

This site is an excellent resource for Chexx owners. Scroll down to a little before half way to see a picture of a disassembled scoreboard: http://marvin3m.com/arcade/chexx.htm
 
chexx

Off the top of my head it seems to me the origonal chexx had bulbs(#73 mini bulbs. 2 for each period) in the scoreboard not led's. maybe the newer ones have led's.?
 
Right, the "I" "C" "E" period lights are bulbs in the housing, but the scores are LED displays.
 
So how do I fix it if the scores don't light up at all on the board?
I don't want to go pulling chips off a motherboard when I have no clue what I am doing...
THANKS.
 
Do your period lights work? If you have power (lights and fan are on) but the problem is just the scoreboard LEDs, chances are it's the 74LS164 ICs. First try cleaning and reseating all of the ICs in the scoreboard one at a time (they're all in sockets and easily removed), and then U8 and U9 on the main board. If that doesn't do the trick and there is no visible damage, It's probably worth just replacing all of the ICs in the scoreboard, because the heat has been known to damage them. It's also probably worth it to replace the 3 capacitors that are in the scoreboard as well. Over time, heat shortens the life of caps.

Here is your parts list for the scoreboard, assuming you are getting power and it's just the scores that don't work:
74ls164 IC - 3 of these
74ls74 IC - 4 of these
.1 uf capacitor - 1 of these
10uf capacitor - 2 of these

You should be able to get those from most part suppliers (I used Futurlec). Let us know how you make out!
 
Do your period lights work? If you have power (lights and fan are on) but the problem is just the scoreboard LEDs, chances are it's the 74LS164 ICs. First try cleaning and reseating all of the ICs in the scoreboard one at a time (they're all in sockets and easily removed), and then U8 and U9 on the main board. If that doesn't do the trick and there is no visible damage, It's probably worth just replacing all of the ICs in the scoreboard, because the heat has been known to damage them. It's also probably worth it to replace the 3 capacitors that are in the scoreboard as well. Over time, heat shortens the life of caps.

Here is your parts list for the scoreboard, assuming you are getting power and it's just the scores that don't work:
74ls164 IC - 3 of these
74ls74 IC - 4 of these
.1 uf capacitor - 1 of these
10uf capacitor - 2 of these

You should be able to get those from most part suppliers (I used Futurlec). Let us know how you make out!

Well, I used my other machine's scorebard to try to isolate the problem... The problem isn't in the ribbon cable, or the MAIN board.
the problem is within the scoreboard itself. The overhead light in the scoreboard and the fan work fine but the LED for the scoreboards (both sides) and the ICE lights don't work.
on both sides. Any thoughts?
 
Old thread, great info. I've got a similar situation on my 1983 Chexx. This information gives me a sense of direction to narrow down the issue.

Will give it a go. Thank you to those that provided this info.

Dustin
 
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