Skee Ball

PUTTS5205

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Donor 4 years: 2012-2013, 2019-2020
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Just picked up a machine and it has an issue. It will light up, boot, (somewhat) and start a game, somewhat. The score display is dead. The machine seems to do everything but score. When coined up it plays the music and drops the balls but no score when you roll a ball. The ball count is not working as well. Checked all connections. Any advise on where to start. S model.
 
Ok, you have indicated that the score display is dead, what about the ball display?

As they are both on the same board, it would help to know if one is working while the other is not. And... lamps or LED?

If lamps... well... When I got my first Skee Ball, most of the lamps were dead. Had some other issues as well, but one thing at a time...

If it coins up and releases the balls, you've at least got a fair level of functionality in the main box. So it's a good start.

-jim
 
Skee ball

It is the mini light (73's)The ball count is dead as well, the machine does not chime when a ball is thrown and should be counted. I believe it is supposed to chime when each ball is counted. It does not do that. I downloaded the manual and found that there is a fuse 1 that protects the display. I will check that tonight.
 
If it has the mechanical switches, make sure that there isn't one stuck closed. Also check the wiring. The switches are wired a bit different from other coin op stuff and it is easy to get them wired up wrong.
 
Switches

I have already considered the switches, I had that problem on a previous machine, my experience with those is it will not boot or play, this machine is releasing the balls and "singing" but will not show a score or ball count and doesn't chime when balls are thrown.
 
header pins

yea, I made a new harness from the mpu to the display as it was missing. everything looked good there
 
I don't think that they are supposed to chime when you put a ball in, but I could be wrong. Most I work on have the volume disabled, but I was messing with some yesterday that played the noise when the game started but not when it scored a ball.

And if the main display doesn't work, neither will the smaller one. It all feeds through the big one. I recently had a display that was toast (owner paid for a new replacement - $350!!! from Skeeball direct). It's not too complicated - about 4 chips, a bunch of sockets and bulbs. Sometimes you get some corrosion on there and you have a bad daisy-chain for the grounds, so check those.

And this is what I did yesterday, so I'm not too fond of Skeeball anymore:

IMG_20120702_200823.jpg

IMG_20120702_200840.jpg

IMG_20120702_200903.jpg
 
Sh@tload

Well I am jealous, that is one nice score. Hopefully they were cheap and not too far away! I n oticed the previous owner on mine drove some screws through the display board, I'll be checking those areas next.
 
Skeeballs aren't really heavy - maybe 150-200 lbs tops. They're just big. You can't see the tires bulging a bit though.

I drove about 200 miles like this at 50-60 mph. Fixing to go unload them, repaint a few, hook them all up and make sure they all score properly with the balls (tested switches with my hand when I picked them up), then stuff them in my garage until I have to deliver them on Friday...
 
Voltages

Well I am getting the correct voltages to the display. 12v, +5 and readings from clock and data. 3volt roughly and 1/3 volt roughly. So it appears that the controller is good. Happy about that. There is a chip on the spd-2-a display that I am suspecting may be the culprit. However it is covered up by a heat disperser. I think it is the elusive 5833a. My question is, where do I find one and does it have to be programmed. I checked ebay and found one listed for skeeball for $75. There are several out of china for around 10 but if they need to be programmed I am in a pickle still. Any advice???
 

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Wow thats different - my model H has discreet driver chips, not one big driver. It also looks like you're missing a few lamp sockets on the leftmost digit.
 
Display

THis display is now obsolete. I called Skeeball and they are very helpful but very pricey. A new display is over 500. I found a used LED but I have to change the eprom on the mpu and use a modified harness for the diplay. They said it need updated software to run the led. I have narrowed the issue on this display to the 5833 chip so I ordered 2 out of China for 25.00. Only place I could find one. I am sure they are in the states somewhere but I couldn't touch the price here that I got there. So I am going to fix the sockets and try the cmos chip. If that doesn't work I'll go the long route and get the eprom and harness.
 
THis display is now obsolete. I called Skeeball and they are very helpful but very pricey. A new display is over 500.

That's because you don't only get the display, but also the aluminum mounting frame it sits on and the sockets for the other lighting on it. :rolleyes:

I found a used LED but I have to change the eprom on the mpu and use a modified harness for the diplay. They said it need updated software to run the led.

Not really, as I've stuck an LED display onto a non-LED computer and had it work with the original eprom. You'll find that the connector from the LED is larger and doesn't fit, but just cut the connector on the end with the white wire and connect everything normally and leave the white wire disconnected and it'll work.

And if you REALLY needed the SP65 eprom, I have a copy of it so you can always burn a new one...
 
ePROM

I may take you up on the eprom offer. I want to see what the chip does first. They did tell me it would work without the extra hookup but that there would be some issue. I don't remember what that wasa though.
 
keep us posted....these things usually arent that hard to fix. my restore thread included replacing the ball drop counter. yes there is a sound on mine as the balls get counted....its a duh dah..lol
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=279212
check your dip settings for the music attract and noises.

you said yours is model s..what year is it?

worst case scenario you can find someone parting out the scoreboard and get it on ebay...i bought the wooden balls off there and many other parts i needed
 
Skeeball

I was made an offer I couldn't refuse and the game now resides in Michingan. This post is dead.
 
Id Chip

I have the same display. Skeeball operates correctly but the display is all lit up, (all 8's). Positive its the big chip (Theres only one on it with a big heatsink epoxied to it). Hence the problem. What Is that chip? Numbers would be good.
 
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