skee ball not working

meangene0

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cincinnati, Ohio
I just bought a Skee ball machine yesterday. It worked right before I took it apart. I got it home and put it back together and all I get is two dashes on the display. I have been through it several times looking for bad connections. I replaced all the light bulbs, checked fuses, took the box in the back apart, removed and reseated all the ROMS in the board. At this point I am not too sure what to do. Any ideas?
 
Skeeball issue

Check all the scoring switches, if any are bent and stuck closed it will not boot.
 
Just checked scoring switches, all are operating ok. I think i am going to take the thing apart in the middle. I may have damaged a sensor at the ball return while trying to re-assemble. I appriciate everyones input so far. Thanks.
 
Unplugging all the connectors on the controller except for the display. (basically separating the machine from the controller) If it boots up (displays strobing 000's) you know the electronics are good, and something in the cabinet/ wiring is causing the issue. Could be a bad ticket dispenser, stuck switch, wires shorted etc.
-Mark
 
well, I went and unplugged everything but the display. All that came up were the 3 dashes in the center of the display. So I guess I am looking at shelling out more money to fix this damn thing. The worst is my family keeps asking "Did you fix the Skee ball yet?" Its hard to keep calm as I answer "NO!"
Where is the best place to send my board to? I see a few on e-bay and they are $300. I am pretty sure this is a $20 fix to a knowlegable person. I just don't happen to be that person.
 
If it worked prior, it's probably not broken.

Check the coin switch, too, as a shorted or misconnected switch can cause problems like that.

Also, make sure you have the connectors plugged in between the font and back CORRECTLY. I've seen some where the housings were replaced and they used the same kind for both sides, and people will connect them up wrong, causing issues. You don't need the front connected to get the cpu up and running with strobing zeroes on the display. Make sure your dashes aren't actually just bulbs not lighting for the rest of the numbers.

If you get the dashes, have you tried starting a game to see if it starts?

As for "reseating the ROMs" - there should be only one ROM. Make sure you didn't put it in backwards, and no legs are bent...
 
I give up, I've looked at all the connections, I've replaced all the bulbs in the display, I've started it with everything but the display plugged in. At one point I got 3 dashes on display now I just get 2 dashes one on left and right digits. What is my best alternative to get this thing up and going? I am located in Cincinnati.
 
Make sure the power supply is putting out a strong 5v. You can call skeeball inc and they can give you some phone support and they do board repairs.
 
Check the +5V on the PCB. There are not any test points on the PCB, so I usually use pin 40 of U12 for the +5V, and get ground from the only axial capicitor on the PCB . (sorry I don't remember the location on the PCB) You can get your +12V reading on this capaitor if both leads are connected to it. If the voltage is good, you likely have a logic failure, if it tests bad...check the 14 diodes on the PCB. They are located together 2 rows of 7 diodes. If any of them are shorted, it will drop the +5v. You could also do the quick and dirty test....put your finger on the +5v regulator, and if it is hot as hell (be careful!) Likely a diode is shorted. Let us know what you find.
-Mark
 
there is at least 1 fuse inside the PC box. the one you can access from the outside is for the coil release.

Make sure you have the dip switches set properly for fixed program or whatever.

The thing will run out of the game with just the PCB and the display with a power cord, so you can do that if you want to see if the problem is there or in something connected to it on the cabinet...
 
ok I have cpu removed and plugged into outlet with display only hooked up. I put one end of multimeter on upper left spot marked ground and found U12. I wasn't sure which one was pin 40 so I touched it to all the corrners. They all read 37 to 38 volts. not sure what the regulator is. Are the diodes marked D8 thru D16?
 
never mind my last post. I figured out the axial cap. I touched one lead to it and not sure which one is the 40 pin, but the top left was giving me 5.3 vdc. hoping that this is good what do I do if there is a logic failure?
 
Check the non-lit light sockets to see if they are pulsing.

I had someone bring me one once that supposedly worked when loaded up, but they dropped the display and when put back in the display would no work at all. CPU was up and running but you couldn't tell. Luckily I had two of them and was able to verify the problem was in the display.

Make sure that ROM you pulled and reseated doesn't have any bent pins and is in the right direction...
 
update!

Well I sent my board to Skee-ball, the guy had it up and running and re soldered some connections and sent it back to me for the total cost of $85. I get the board back and plug it into the the display and everything boots up. Then I mount the box in the machine and nothing! I then take the board out of the box and boot by itself, nothing. Send back to Skee ball and the guy checks it and it worked for him for a few minutes and crashed. He then gave up and sent me a diffrent used board. The game was playing great except the ball counter wasn't working so I saw the wire was broken off. I just activated it with my finger as if it were working and after about 5 balls being thrown it blew the fuse as it went by. I then bought a new switch and it is still doing the same thing. I am thinking that one of the 3 wires on the switch are wrong. Any ideas?
 
You can check with Skeeball Inc to see if they will service the board don't deal with greatcoinopgames on Ebay they are a complete rip off they charge double or triple for parts that you can still buy from Skeeball.
 
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