Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1987-February - Vol 8 Issue 12

STAR*TECH Journal
February 1987 (12}
SKEE BALL: Potential Lethal Hazard
By Todd Erickson
Sumnit Amuserrent
St. Paul, Minnesota
Atari GAUNTLET Color Ram
T'shooting Tip
By Mark Sherman, Field Service Mgr.
Atari Ganes Corp.
Milpitas, California
Skeeball has been around for years without
any fatalities to my knowledge. This game
now, however, is my number one choice for
the roost dangerous game on location!
PROBLEM: When troubleshooting a color Ram
problem, sometimes the self test screen
will be blank.
PROBLEM: The ball-release solenoid is 110
volts and may be touched by a child
reaching under the side of the game. I was
informed at the recent AivDA by Skeeball,
Inc. personel that everyone who operates
SKEEBALLS knows to protect the sides!
SOLUTION: In order to see the self-test
message, use your video probe on the
address pins to the color Rams. This will
enable you to read the message of which
Ram is bad.
They offer no information regarding this
problem. They feel that there is no
problem, as no one has been killed yet.
No one was ever killed in a space shuttle
mission until the last Challenger mission!
FACI': The solenoid is fused at 1/2 anp,
which is enough current to kill 500
children.
Bally Midway Switching
Power Supply Mod
By Greg McKay, Field Service Rep.
Bally Midway Mfg. Co.
Franklin Park, Illinois
SUBJOCT: Condor Power Supply (#SP1016)
We have found that on Bally Midway video
games, we are operating the Condor Power
SUpply at just under the mininum load
required for proper operation. Because of
this, when turning on a game, the Condor
Power Supply may oscillate on and off.
To correct this situation, change resistor
R9 to a 750 ohm, 1/4 watt. R9 is located
under the heatsink for Q2. It is necessary
to renove Q2 and the heatsink to change
*
Merit Sex MATCH'em UP/Quik Kit
By Jim Kelly, Service Manager
Merit Industries, Inc.
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Sex MATCH'em UP is another Merit System
Winner. The game was an instant success at
the November AivDA show in Chicago.
Sex MATCH'em UP is available in a Quik Kit
at your local Merit distributor. The kit
will convert all Merit countertops with a
13" monitor.
Contents of the kit include Eproms,
joystick, control panel harness, all
necessary hardware and installation
instructions for your Revision "E-1" or
"F" circuit board. (Not available for "C"
or "D" boards. ) Any handy
operator/technician can install this kit
in less than an hour's time.
R9.
Sex MATCH' em UP is also available in the
fabulous new countertop, dedicated game,
or full conversion kit.
Also, please note that we have put a
ninety (90) day warranty on the Condor
Power Supply.
As always, any service problems can be
answered by calling Merit CUstomer Service
at 1-800-445-9353.
~
STA~*TECH Journal
Atari 720° Handgrip Package
By Atari Customer Service
Milpitas, California
PROBLEM: Your 720 ° game requires a irore
secure cabinet handgrip located on the top
rear of the video display enclosure.
SOLUl'ION: Operators or distributors can
obtain the free hardware package for
securing the handgrip, by calling or
writing their nearest Atari Garnes Customer
Service Office.
February 1987 113)
Premier/Gottlieb GOLD WINGS:
Fire Precaution
By Premier Customer Service Dept
Bensenville, Illinois
PROBLEM: Possible heat build-up with #67
lamps.
LOCATION: The #67 hi-intensity lamps
located on the playfield and under the
hats.
NOTE: When asking for the hardware
package, be sure to give your 720 ° game
serial number also.
CAUSE: If a transistor driver fails for
one of these lamps and it remains in the
'on' condition, the heat from these lamps
can cause:
1. The lexan insert (hats) to melt.
2. The playfield to bum and discolor.
For technical assistance, call Atari
Customer Service at (408)434-3950
Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Pactime.
NOTE: This could cause a potential fire
and is a fire hazard.
All products shipped after mid-Decenber,
1986, has a IOOdification incorporated.
WARRANI'Y: Premier strongly reconmends that
the following IOOdification be done to all
games shipped before this date, as failure
to do this will void any and all
warranties.
MJDIFICATION: Replace all, (8 -left and
right Thrusters, Cockpit and Missile), #67
lamps and sockets with #44 lamps and
sockets.
Williams Flipper Discharge
By Todd Erickson
Summit Amuserrent
St. Paul, Minnesota
SUBJOCT: Williams Flipper Repair.
,,-,._
PROBLEM: Late Williams games use a flipper
power supply that utilizes a capacitor to
enhance the flipper power. This can cause
a problem when working on the game. If the
end-of-stroke switch (EOS) should touch a
logic line, it may cause a board failure
through a discharge of stored energy.
SOLUl'ION: Discharging the power supply
capacitor with the game off, by grounding
the EOS switch, should help prevent any
problems.
Also, replace the 4 ohm, 7 watt resistors
located under the playfield with 30 ohm,
2 watt resistors.
KITS: Retro-fit kits have been shipped to
all Distributors at no charge. To order,
use #GWK-1.
For irore information, contact your local
distributor or Premier Technologies
312/350-0400.
*

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