Tron

djw90

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Ok just plugged in this Tron I got a few weeks ago. Have not tested any voltages yet, Im not even sure where the test points are yet. Is the yellow led on the set of tron boards suppost to be lit?

Here is what I have on the screen. any ideas where to start?
tronscreen.jpg
 
well if you want to mess around before checking voltages, I would make sure the little flat cables that connect pcb's are connected nicely. Maybe wiggle them off and then put them back on.

Should probably see how much power is going where though.

lot of weird shit happens with tron's when the cables are bad or are not connected properly.
 
I agree 100%. Mine was working, then I took it apart to restore it and when I put it back together, it was all red and blocky looking like that. Everyone told me to reseat all of the cables...I didn't believe anyone because they were all tight. Well, I ended up pulling all of them off and pushing them back on and everything was fine. There might have just been a tiny piece of rust or something screwing with a connection somewhere, and just taking them off and replacing it seemed to do the trick.
 
the led should not be lit. that could indicate a problem.

http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Arca..._Midways_MCR_II_&_III_Systems_(July_1983).pdf

that faq, i believe either page 7 or 17, can't remember, will tell you where to check and adjust.

http://users.rcn.com/jenison/mars/faq/MCR_FAQ.txt

the mcr faq will tell you how to use the dip switches to see if there's a ram/rom problem.

the first thing i'd probably do though is check the cables. they're typically real brittle and can cause issues. the thing that i think is more important than reseating them is to make sure there aren't any bends/kinks that can cause lack of signal. what i do is pull the boardset and test each end of the pins starting at the top of the cable going down for continuity/resistance with a multimeter. if all 5 cables aren't working, the main things to have hooked up are the video board (that sits against the cab side) and the cpu board (the middle one). if you can get the 3 cables for those to be ok, it should give you an unplayable game with an upside down screen. that would at least indicate the boards are working even if all the cables are not.

if the cables are bad, bob roberts has them for $15 / set plus shipping.
 
i used a dremel tool with a brass brush to clean those header pins. came out nice and shiny.
*also*
almost every header pin had cold solder joints and turned into a semi-big job with replacing all the electrolytic capacitors and ribbon cables. try to get some axial capacitors (470uf 16v)as the radials barely fit in the PCB stack without some glue and mica insulators.

i think next time ill make my own ribbon cables instead of buying them pre-made from bob R. not that there was anything wrong with his but making ribbon cables seems easy and fun and i think i can do it way cheaper.

thanks for the links cleverly...
 
i used a dremel tool with a brass brush to clean those header pins. came out nice and shiny.
*also*
almost every header pin had cold solder joints and turned into a semi-big job with replacing all the electrolytic capacitors and ribbon cables. try to get some axial capacitors (470uf 16v)as the radials barely fit in the PCB stack without some glue and mica insulators.

i think next time ill make my own ribbon cables instead of buying them pre-made from bob R. not that there was anything wrong with his but making ribbon cables seems easy and fun and i think i can do it way cheaper.

thanks for the links cleverly...

Noticed last week previous owner replaced an axial 470 cap cp13 with a radial and when I removed it, noticed it had shorted to cp51 underneath it on the spyhunter sound board. One of the many problems I am discovering with this blessed system. And why can't I find a schematic of the -g000 revision power supply board. They don't exist I guess with that little u6 bugger. Should all the jumpers be there? I'm guessing no but someone put them in and I have shorts everywhere..and battery damage.
 
the led should not be lit. that could indicate a problem.

http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Arca..._Midways_MCR_II_&_III_Systems_(July_1983).pdf

that faq, i believe either page 7 or 17, can't remember, will tell you where to check and adjust.

http://users.rcn.com/jenison/mars/faq/MCR_FAQ.txt

the mcr faq will tell you how to use the dip switches to see if there's a ram/rom problem.

the first thing i'd probably do though is check the cables. they're typically real brittle and can cause issues. the thing that i think is more important than reseating them is to make sure there aren't any bends/kinks that can cause lack of signal. what i do is pull the boardset and test each end of the pins starting at the top of the cable going down for continuity/resistance with a multimeter. if all 5 cables aren't working, the main things to have hooked up are the video board (that sits against the cab side) and the cpu board (the middle one). if you can get the 3 cables for those to be ok, it should give you an unplayable game with an upside down screen. that would at least indicate the boards are working even if all the cables are not.

if the cables are bad, bob roberts has them for $15 / set plus shipping.

Excellent links :)
 
i think next time ill make my own ribbon cables instead of buying them pre-made from bob R. not that there was anything wrong with his but making ribbon cables seems easy and fun and i think i can do it way cheaper.

Uh... it depends on what you mean by making your own. If you plan to buy the make your own kit from bob roberts, you might be in for a surprise. I bought one and did it, and about half way through I wondered why I let myself believe it would be easy. If you have nothing better in life to do, then maybe, but otherwise it's a pain. took me a few days working on it straight to get them all done.

Luke
 
Uh... it depends on what you mean by making your own. If you plan to buy the make your own kit from bob roberts, you might be in for a surprise. I bought one and did it, and about half way through I wondered why I let myself believe it would be easy. If you have nothing better in life to do, then maybe, but otherwise it's a pain. took me a few days working on it straight to get them all done.

Luke

not to mention you're really not saving much in the bob roberts do it yourself kit.
 
Sounds silly but make sure your test switch is in the off position on startup. I accidently left my test switch flipped on when I powered my cab down, when I turned it back on I got a screen full of garbage much like yours. Anyway I turned it back off, flipped it the test button off and re powered and it powered up fine. I powered the cab with the test switch on a few times after to see if the same thing would happen and sure enough, garbage screens everytime.
 
What was the solution?


I tried reseating all connectors, all I got was that scrambled screen. My other tron was totally dead, so I knew I need at least 1 working power supply. so I bought a tested working power supply from a Klover. So I will rebuild the other one. Now I can test my other board set ,and try to figure out the sound issue. Gameplay is perfect and the monitor looks great.
 
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