S.A.M.I. Restoration

OHEMIO

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I'm finally down in the cave restoring my S.A.M.I.

I've cleaned the projector board and film. Although had to remove the film the tape at the joint was falling apart. Removed the adhesive and re-applied a clear tape. I used Novus 1 to clean the film and it looks a million times better. Also cleaned the projection glass parts and mirror. The fan was full of dirt and dust so I tore that down. The projector bulb looks to be in good condition. Would like to upgrade this to a LED but I want to have it up and running before I mod.

Cleaned all the bulb sockets that reside behind the back glass lower and rebulbed.

Replaced all the locks that I had to drill out...then I fount the key on the inside of the cabinet.

Pulled and cleaned the "explosion light bar". Novus 2 the top of the plexi and it looks great. Checked all the bulbs and sockets.

Took out the background and projection screen. Need to clean both and I was thinking diluted dawn dish soap and warm water. A new black light floresent tube is in order. The previous owner replaced it with a standard white tube.

Up tomorrow is he "rocket track". It's pulled and on the workbench. I need to take my time as the rocket is delaminating heat as the years gone by. Also up will be the cleaning of the score reels.

I'll post some pics soon...

OHEMIO
 
can to hear you started... If you have any questions let me know.. I restored mine (didnt do cab side work) but restored it to what was needed... I have PARTS if you need to
 
i have an old SAMI also......mine works but it seems that it needs "adjusted" it seems you have to fire ahead of the airplanes in order to hit them? and some of the ones that you swear you hit wont register. its probably something dirty inside, because i havent tried to work on this one yet. anyone out there have a backglass for sale. mine is ok, but the reds are starting to flake
 
i have an old SAMI also......mine works but it seems that it needs "adjusted" it seems you have to fire ahead of the airplanes in order to hit them? and some of the ones that you swear you hit wont register. its probably something dirty inside, because i havent tried to work on this one yet. anyone out there have a backglass for sale. mine is ok, but the reds are starting to flake

well thats how the game works, you fire before the plane hits your AIM light...

But, if its STALLING when you fire, most likely its the coil k-32-1700 (credit unit release wheel)up in the score wheel next to the credit wheel.. that sometimes doesnt pick up the metal tab that lets that step-up unit turn which in turn gives you a PAUSE when you fire..

If the shots arent registering could be 2 things, either the planes need to be calitbrated (easy) or you need to either clean the "gold" tabs on the step-up unit on the projector, or the legs of the star on the step-up unit isnt touching those gold tabs when it turns...

I have become a HUGE expert on this machine.. I pretty much know all the working of the unit

I had a repo BG but i just sold it on ebay for 200.00.. I have a fully working sami for 500 with a real nice BG on it!!
 
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SAMI acquired

Glad to report that the SAMI has been bought and on location at the Seattle Pinball Museum. It's a very cool game and in very good shape. Even came with a spare film loop and paperwork! :)
 
Glad to report that the SAMI has been bought and on location at the Seattle Pinball Museum. It's a very cool game and in very good shape. Even came with a spare film loop and paperwork! :)

Have a website for that museum that you could share with the boards?

Glad to hear you have a SAMI...still working on mine...OHEMIO
 
SAMI Update - Sound Issue / Other Concerns

I'm pretty pumped up and happy to report that my SAMI is up and running of coarse with a few issues:

The first is I had faint sound both rocket fire and when a target was hit. After a few games I lost sound completely. The speaker is trying to move when I shoot or when I hit a target. I would like to ask those whom had sound issues for pointers. This will be a learning experience for this EM guy. I notice four components on the sound board and one on the amplifier that can be adjusted. Should I try to adjust or any pointers on what to adjust and why?

I think the fan for the projector is running in the wrong direction. It's sucking air through the black side vent. I would think that I'd want it to pull cool air in from the hole in the bottom of the cabinet and blow out of the black vent. Can anyone help me out with the air flow direction?

When I started my SAMI for the first time the fan motor was making a bit too much noise. I tore down the fan motor and cleaned everything with 91% alcohol. I noticed when I tore this motor down it looks as if it has two sealed bearings this shaft rides on yet the shaft itself is not tight enough to move the bearings. Bunch of small washers four on each side that I believe separate the shaft from the housing on each side. I'm guessing a bit here as maybe they're floating seals that the shaft rides in? If not I'm a bit concerned. The motor is not nearly as loud now that I cleaned all the oil off of everything and reassembled.

Should the fan run continously once the game is powered on? My guess is yes but it leads me back to the slightly bent shaft or fan itself and how it will effect the projection unit of this game.

I have to calibrate the film to the score motor. This is the least of my concerns at this moment. I have a manual an will follow the setup guidelines. Still if you have any pointers I'd appreciate it.

All those who post I appreciate your time and help in advance!

OHEMIO
 
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ok where should i begin... First the air deal.. The fan is right, you should be pulling HOT air out of the cab and blowing it out the hole in the bottom. The fan does run all the time and should be... theres alot of lights that produce heat in that cab. Not to mention the light for the projector, if it was blowing hot air in the cab from that, the cab would get alot of heat....it also does make noise to by the way

Your sound pots should be adjusted if you havent. theres 4 of them. The one on the amp board is the main sound pot. If your not getting sound when turned then i would supsect the caps are bad on the amp board..

anything else i can help let me know

edit... as for the seals ill have to look for you tomm and let you know what i see. i have an extra projector so ill see whats up with it
 
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mabey this would help for the projector..

projectorm.jpg
 
Luckyman

Thanks for the information. In this diagram its the motor itself listed on the right I tore down.

Bad news projector bulb burned up while I was trying to calibrate the film. Fan was running? I think the bulb was old and simply burned up.

So I stopped to order the replacement bulb. However yet to find the exact replacement bulb on line. Original - GE EKB 50 (420W 120V) - estimating about 11,000+ lumens.

Closest replacement I found on internet was a GE EKB 41 (420W 120V). Base is a GY 9.5

May be designing a mod for this. I'm researching now.

I appreciate the help.

OHEMIO
 
Thanks for the search on the bulb.

No sir didn't touch the bulb...have several halogen fixtures in my house. Used latex gloves and clean cloth to install.

Used my LED hands free battery operated head lamp to align the film. Disconnected the fan as it was not needed. Based on this test I think the LED light mod is feasable. As the aircraft were very clear with just a head lamp from Harbor Freight.

Tried to make a few adjustments to the sound boards. I'm going to read up on how to test and replace items on these boards. Better learn as the Panzer has the same set up. I do have the diagrams for the amplifier and sound board.

I may have to tear down the score reels. Time is not resetting to zero before the game starts. They're gunked up with oil and movement is poor at best. It is quite the mouse trap. However familiar with this due to having six score reels on my Midway Cobra Shuffle Alley.

Again appreciate the help.

OHEMIO
 
well if you can get the LED mod going that would be great, although my machines arnt on long enough (like an arcade) where i think it would be necessary to worry about heat! but an upgrade would be nice
 
Ohemio,
If you need a hand to get the sound & amplifier card running, let me know. Would be glad to to explain how to test these.

regards Derek
 
Derek

Luckyman and I are both interested we both have a SAMI and a Panzer that uses these sound boards. Is there a document that you could create that would be helpful for all? I'd be willing to help develop that as I learn through this process.

Your time and help is appreciated sir.

OHEMIO
 
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