I recently purchased a Discs of Tron which needed a "little" work... well I finally got started. The game turns on, but never registers a credit. Instead of me fixing different parts randomly, I've decided to attack the problem head on. I started at the power supply.
I installed a new power cord, but as you can see in the following pics... the supply looks like crap!!! I even had to send the power board for repair because it had the original battery on it, and the board was heavily corroded.
I have partially dissassembled the PS and started to remove the rust and crud... I am doing one side at a time since it permits me to leave some wiring inside, instead of removing everything and forgetting where it goes... All the small parts are having a good clean-up in the polisher. I think that the first half gives a good indication of the end result!!! Completion pics to be shown soon, once I order and receive some capacitors. I had 2 non-standard ones and the 100000uF is original, so probably dried up...
Just last night I was working on my ps (for my atari warlords), and it too was pretty dirty and rusty when I pulled it out of the machine. It too had a bad power cord (grounding plug cut off, bare wire at points) and also had a few incorrect fuses installed
Power supply almost finished... power module freshened up and cap installed instead of battery by Mindstorm88 (AWESOME JOB, BRUNO!!!)... and I am now going over the entire wiring...
I seem to have found the source of my problem... The machine wasn't registering a credit, and had a few wire hacks here and there, and I have found the root cause to all this... some ribbon cables on the main boards were chewed up big time by friction because the boards were not secured in the cabinet...
I am having new cables done right now, and should have the machine running before Xmas!!! (fingers crossed!!!)
Quoted from Moonlit_Knight, posted December 21, 2004, 1:04pm at here
I am having new cables done right now, and should have the machine running before Xmas!!! (fingers crossed!!!)
Good luck to finish that before christmas! thos look almost as mangled as my 800 dollar Black Lotus Magic card that got chewed by my dog last year!
I just got challenged by Moonlit Knight to finish my MAME cab by my birthday in a week from today! I will rise to the challenge! So good luck to you with you porject as well!
"RED TEAM GO!" - Anyone remember the movie?
"Da Names GambiT, Remembor it!" - NighTshifT alter Ego
Quoted from nightshift, posted December 21, 2004, 5:32pm at here
Good luck to finish that before christmas! thos look almost as mangled as my 800 dollar Black Lotus Magic card that got chewed by my dog last year!
I just got challenged by Moonlit Knight to finish my MAME cab by my birthday in a week from today! I will rise to the challenge! So good luck to you with you porject as well!
"RED TEAM GO!" - Anyone remember the movie?
MY BAD MOONLIT! Hadn't noticed this was yer project! HAHAHAHA! Well right back at ya with the chalenge to finish it by the end of the week!
(Boy do I look ridiculous....)
"Da Names GambiT, Remembor it!" - NighTshifT alter Ego
Replaced the ribbon cables on the main boards, finished the power supply, power board rebuilt, installed everything, cleaned 22 years of crap off the bottom, ... and turned on the switch...
IT'S ALIVE!!! EVERYTHING WORKS!!!!
The only 2 bugs: small lamps powered by the lamp sequencer don't work, and sound is a little off... some sounds are loud, some are weak... other than that, she rocks!!!!
Nice work! Looks beautiful! Can't beleive it actually was that piece of yuckiness in the early picks! LOOKS BRAND NEW! I bet yer enjoying the game! (up and running!)
"Da Names GambiT, Remembor it!" - NighTshifT alter Ego
I am now working on changing ALL the connectors in the machine, as well as replacing ALL the old tired capacitors on the boards.
As of lately, game plays, but I get a popping sound from the speakers when certain sounds are emitted from the main sound board. I have also noticed a connector problem on the volume controls/test switch. These issues are being addressed. I will be installing new speakers soon on top of everything... this with the other project I have going... Robotron 2084 cocktail!!!
Well, this is what is going on now with DOT... It is currently dead. I have no video nor sound, although I know it is on by the hum of the machine.
I have bought 2 complete board sets and will see what I can do... I will probably go back to my original plan, check everything and change as much as possible. I will check the schematics and attack the thing head on...
I have had 2 board sets repaired... and now have a power supply problem...LMAO!!!
I will install a switcher with an MCR adapter kit... Once the whole thing works again, I will strip the cab to repair some structural damage, and make it as nice as possible...
you sounded so close to getting it working. I thought my S.T.U.N. Runner was hoplessly dead but I brought it back to life.. and it made me $700 minus the $100US of parts.
If you bring it back to life, it will be one more machine reborn in this world!!
....100$US in parts???? That's it??? When I say that DOT is a money pit, it is because I spent more than 100$...
... try more like 700$ in parts and repairs.
So far, this is the situation... I now have to install a switcher power supply with an MCR power adapter that BattlezoneMan gratiously supplied me with. I still have to modify the main power supply and see what is going on there. The MCR power board will be going in the garbage.
If that manages to get the game going, then the fun starts... I have to strip the whole cab, so that I may be able to repair and reinforce it. the bottom panel is cracked and the side panels where the art is have the lower corners damaged... she has been dropped a few times. I will replace the bottom panel, install metal corner protectors and aluminum bottom rails to protect the bottom.
I will also install a bunch of steel brackets inside as the cab is a little wobbly, new t-molding, all new neon light assemblies, new cpo, new metallic reflective surface on inner sides of the cab, rebuild the dented-to-mess coindoor, build a new back panel (falling apart), new levelers, cap job on monitor (or just replace it as the original has some burn-in) and change out all the connectors in the game.
I haven't given up yet, but I must admit there are times that I look at it and just feel like chopping the hell out of it and Ebaying the parts.... but it was SO COOL when it worked...
How'd it go with the MCR power adaptor? I've got a Spy Hunter that I think could use one of those and I'm wondering if it's worth the $50 US to buy one from Arcade Shop.
If you have ANY doubt about your MCR board, then change it. I bought 2 kits from Arcadeshop, and installed one in my Tron cocktail. What a difference. No more humm from the speakers, keeps all the high scores, and even remembers that you have credits left over from last time (even after powering down the machine).
I will probably go give Sparky a hand installing the kit in the EDOT when I go over to get his Robotron up and working in a few weeks
It's settled then, time for me to place an order at Arcadeshop!
Good to hear. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. It is very easy to install.
All you have to do is first unplug the three connectors from the old mcr board (and take out the board if you want. But if you have space I would just leave it there for originality sake). Then screw the new board and switching power supply to the inside of the cab. Connect the three connectors that went into the old board, into the new board, then connect the two power wires from the switching power supply to a 110v line in the cab and you are done. Then power up the machine and play
Hey I did it, and my house hasn't burn down (yet), so it must be easy
Here is a pic of the kit. You can get it cheaper if you don't get the switching power supply to go with it. But I recommed getting it just to be sure that it will work without any problems (using an old one with a few hundred hours of use on it could cause problems in the future).
Man... she is STILL not running. I am seriously considering dumping this project. It is beginning to be a little much. Main boardset has been sent to Denis again for a checkup since game will not boot up, I only get scrambled graphics appearing on the monitor. And even if I do get it running, I have major structural work to do on it.
Plus, when you get 42 emails from guys on Ebay asking for parts, and only 2 for the whole machine with ridiculous offers, it kinda sends a message...
I dunno... Looks like I have met my Waterloo...
And there is also the fact that I could get another pinball if I was out...
Dunno guys... it doesn't look good... unless I get a serious offer for it, I think I will have a bonfire in the back yard!!!
I am waiting to hear from Denis for the main boardset, and once I get it I will plug it in. If it doesn't work then, and I get no offers, she is toast. I will sell the parts and let some other EDOT owners have a chance to fix their game with parts from this one.
Do you have a working power board for it by any chance? I've been putting off the arcadeshop power adapter because of the cost. I'm still looking for something to powerup my Spy Hunter.
Do you have a working power board for it by any chance? I've been putting off the arcadeshop power adapter because of the cost. I'm still looking for something to powerup my Spy Hunter.
newf112
I have a few myself if still need one. I have 2 that are working, but I haven't checked the third one yet.
I am with Sparky though, even if it looks a little expensive, it is DEFINETLY worth getting the kit. The MCR in my tron buzzed like hell and the battery was starting to leak when I got it. Now there is no buzz and my high scores will probably be around longer than I will
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As for the EDOT, anyone who wants this nice piece of arcade history better pick it up soon before it ends up like many of its brethren. Is a great project machine which is also worth a fortune just in parts alone
Oh well, better to part it out so that others can live.
Remember, everyday dozens of arcade machines die from manfunctioning/dead parts. So don't forget to sign your arcade organs donation card (i.e. posting them in the "for sale" part of the site), so that other machines can have the gift of life
- This commercial was brought to you by the MAACA group of concerned citizens
I have a few myself if still need one. I have 2 that are working, but I haven't checked the third one yet.
I am with Sparky though, even if it looks a little expensive, it is DEFINETLY worth getting the kit. The MCR in my tron buzzed like hell and the battery was starting to leak when I got it. Now there is no buzz and my high scores will probably be around longer than I will
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I'll have to make the investment someday but right now I'm not even sure if the MCR board is actually a problem. I'd like to pick up a known working one and try it out before dropping the cash. I do like the idea of saving high scores and getting rid of the speaker buzz would be wonderful! Of course, I need to get the thing working first
ian, sorry that you have had-it with the machine. i used to own it (when it worked), and its complexity scared me - which is why i dealt it while it was alive. do you have any pictures of how the machine looks in its parted-out state? i need it for theraputic purposes. i always regretted letting it go, but again, it just scared the crap out of me, as i am newbie at electronics. harry in montreal
Well, the machine is mostly now in the dumpster.... but I do have a nice set of saloon doors now!
I know this is heart-wrenching Harry... I am truly sorry, but when you put in 750$ in a vid on top of the price I paid for it, and it is not even close to working, time to give up.
The complexity scared you... and for me, was an enormous source of headaches. My opinion? The EDOT was simply not designed to last long. Special chips... over 10 boards in it... unique hardware... an impossible cab... It truly sucks that the game is so great, but the machine so impossible.
Well, at least the parts will make other collectors happy, and make other machines work.
Sparky
PS: Here is a pic taken during the chopping spree... and another of my new sallon doors...
Sparky
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