I bought an Addams last week, and have some issues I need help with.  I recently bought a F-14 last weekend, which was my first, so I very new to all of this.  I have a bit of experience with soldering and electronics, but I would still call me a newb.  I bought the machine, which came with a separate new PF, and new topper.

Issues:

1 – Battery leaking – This the most important issues now.  Realized when I got the machine home that the middle battery had corrosion on the lower negative terminal.  Tried to change the batteries with the power on, however the this terminal ripped off due to the corrosion.  Tried cleaning it and putting it back, no go.

I’ve read about the remote battery pack.  Do I need a diode and four battery pack for this, or can I just go with a 3 battery pack?  Can I just use alligator clamps?  Where do I attach the terminals?

2 – Reset - Since the above happened, one of my kids had a game reset.  The previous owner noted this was a problem until he had the bridge rectifier replaced about 2 years ago.  It was professionally replaced on a separate board.  I have an extra BR as well.  I guess I should wait a bit until this is a regular occurrence before changing, but wasn’t sure if the above could have caused this issues.  Leaking did not appear to actually happen, just a white corrosion build up.

2 - Greed lighting – Only the “GRE..” were working initially.  There were some other lights out, so I naturally changed the “...ED”.  Still nothing, I cleaned the contacts with a piece of cardboard, and straightened some of the wires into the board for these lights.  This enabled the “GREE” but still no “D”.  Try playing with the wires and connections again, but to date nothing.

3 - Pop bumper lights – only two out of five were lit, of course one had to be the one under the left ramp.  How do I get at this?  Do I have to remove the entire ramp, if so are there are issues or trickiness with this?

4 – I have a set of flipper rebuilds – is this easy?  This needs to be done, have to hit hard as it is to go up the ramps.  

5 – Stickers – some on the PF lights are missing or partially off.  Where is the best place in Canada to order these from?  Eventually, when I get comfortable enough, I’m going to change everything to the new PF, but for now, the current PF is fine except for the stickers and magnet burn.

6 – Rattling from upgraded speakers – the previous owner installed more powerful speakers and box sub, however it rattles the crap out of everything.  I’ve secured some stuff, and have some ideas for the coin door and such, but with so much stuff, is this a lost cause?  I have read of other taking these out of the machine and running them separate, which I tried via another sub, however this didn’t sound as good (static mostly gone, but treble was less than favourable.

7 – Toys – I’ve looked around, and I want to get the bear, car, swamp light and fester figure.  Where is the best place to find this, given I am in Canada?

Thanks for any help, sorry for the long post.

Aaron

1-http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index3.htm#factory

2a- if you hit both flippers and the game resets, change BR2. The fact that you say "professionally replaced" means you're new around here right ? ...Welcome! ... and there is no such thing as "a professional" in this business anymore! that other board you mention is the powerdriver board. Read on the link in #1

2b-http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index2.htm#lamp

3- yep! remove everything! take pictures !

4-http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index2.htm#flip0  

(seeing a thread yet?)

5- no such luck in canada. check this: http://archive.maaca.org/s107351202.onlinehome.us/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1262477378/

6- this guy sells a antirattle tape somewhere in there: http://www.decoratorsupply.com/pinball/index.htm

7- see #5

There are a lot of very capable guys in London who could probably help you out with repairs.

I tried messaging one, but I would like to find more.  Anyone in particular that I should contact?

Godamn I love pinball!

Was that TAF from Leamington area?  Saw that ad,.. looked good.  

Welcome!  Oh, and I am of absolutely no use to you in any of these repairs.  

Good luck, lots of guys here with lots of knowledge.
Daniel

Welcome Atomic boy...nice F-14 you have there...how do I know? Thats my handiwork there!

Looks like you're settling in nicely here, theres a great bunch of guys here to steer you/us in the right direction, enjoy!

Stan

Aaron

Poolman is the best London has to offer for help with your Addams Family. He's busy though (part my fault). Drop him a pm.

I'm going to Allentown in two weeks......I could maybe pick up toys etc there if you get me a wantlist.

Cheers
Mike

Stan:

Very happy with the F-14, I was really lucky to have seen you selling that at the right time that I was starting to seriously look again.  

My one daughter absolutely loves that machine.  I wasn't sure if my girls (twins, 8 years old) would like these or not, but so far it's been like catnip to them, they are nuts to play them.  Days before when I told them I was going to get a pinball machine, they asked "what is that???".  What a massive shame this is such a lost art....

Mike:
I just sent you an email.  Thanks for the help.  I will try Poolman.  I really just want to get the battery issue fixed, as I was hoping to slowly learn everything else, and the apply it once I felt comfortable, but as this is an immediate issue, I need a quick fix.

As for the toys, that would be great.  I was hoping for the:
-bear above the ramp, the bronze "gold version" extras (I think there is a train, telephone, safe, and something else - I believe these and the bear come in a set)
-the car/limo
-the fester for the chair with a lightbulb in mouth
-amd the green swanp lighting.  

Any or all would be great!  Let me know when you're going, and I can get US funds out for you before leaving.


Thanks again all.

Just an update, my "greed" lighting problem in my original post was fixed tonight as per the link to help.  I read everything about lamp matrixes, and figured because of the impact right above with the bookcase, it was likely a cracked header pin.  It turned out to be the case.  The "d" would never light, and this solder joint was completely crack all around.  The second "e" would come on some times, and the solder joint was cracked partially.  I heated them both up, re-flowed the solder, and adder a little more, and they work perfectly now.

Thanks for the help.

I have a question about speakers.  I thought at first I blew the left speaker (I listen at volume 14), as it started crackling, but then cut out.  But since, it has been coming back on, in and out, depending on the "jarring" of the cabinet from the game.

I lost all my sound a littled while ago, and found that it was a wire to one of the speakers whose solder joint came lose.  I re-solder it, and it worked fine.  I checked this connection, and it is still good.  I checked all the other connections with the speakers, and they appear fine too.

I always thought that when I speaker "went", and didn't come on again, that was it.  The fact that this one is coming on and off makes me think there is a connection that is not 100%, however my right speaker, and the cabinet sub work fine.  Any ideas?

Aaron

Swap connectors and see what happens.