Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1988-December - Vol 10 Issue 10

William.s High Speed Bum.per
New Panel Button
Frank 'The Crank" Seninsky
Alpha-Omega Amusements & Sales
Edison, New Jersey
HIGH SPEED JET BUMPER
Lately a few High Speed pins were causing us
problems when the jet bumper(s) would
energize at the start of a game and ... puffl!!
Our techs were puzzled because they did the
following and came up empty:
Remember that the jet bumper coils are
"special solenoids", meaning that they are
switched differently than the other con-
trolled solenoids. First check the driver tran-
sistor TIP122, then check the predriver
2N4401, and then check the 7402 IC. All of
these components checked "good".
What next? Take out the CPU and you will
see that the special solenoids switch inputs
have protection diodes (Ref #5234A) across
them. Of course these protection diodes are
not to be found on the schematic!!! Some of
these diodes were shorted, which naturally
caused the coils to remain energized. A
regular 1N4401 diode can be used as a
suitable replacement.
These protection diodes were put on at the
factory and somehow all of us didn't know to
look to see if any components were on the
'back side of the board"!
NEW CONTROL PANEL BUTTONS
One of the highlights of the AMOA Show, for
me, was seeing the new control panel button
by J-S Sales. It is just what every operator
needs to help make conversion work fast and
long lasting. This plastic button has threads
WNG ENOUGH (one inch of threads) so that
it can be easily tightened on a control panel
that has a 1 / 4" plexiglass cover!
The actuator button can be removed from
underneath the panel by squeezing the two
plastic prongs. The button "Name" goes
inside the button, so it can't be pealed off by
the player. This feature makes some of the~
player decal instructions obsolete!
A Cherry microswitch is mounted to the
bottom of the button. The microswitch is
easily removed by spreading apart any of the
three plastic button prongs and just rotating
it loose. (It's just as easy to replace the
microswitch.)
I didn't get a part number. Just give Don
Shimel a call atJ-S Sales 800/431-2944 (or
in NY, 914/ 668-8051) and tell him that "The
Crank" is glad to see that J-S has answered
the operators' prayers.
***
SNK P.O. W. Credit
Modifications
~
Atari Assault
Leaf Switches
Neal Zook
SNK Corporation of America
Sunnyvale, California
Doug Hutton
EBSGames
Poway, California
SNK Corporation of America's Technical
Service Department has received a number
of calls regarding Prisoners ofWarintermit-
tently not giving a credit when a coin is
inserted. The problem does not seem to be
caused by the same component in every case
and we have not been able to duplicate the
problem in-house. Several customers have
been able to eliminate the problem by per-
forming one of the following:
PROBLEM
1. Adjust the coin switch actuator wire, in
some cases the problem can be solved by
adjusting the wire up slightly.
2. Replace the coin switch, several operators
have successfully eliminated the problem
simply by replacing the microswitch.
3. Install a capacitor across the coin switch.
This will eliminate the problem in every case
and not harm the game. We have heard that
using any value between luf and l0uf
electrolytic (at least lOvdc) will eliminate the
problem. This component is polarized, so be
certain that the (-) lead is conn'!cted to the
common (ground) terminal of the mi-
croswitch.
If you have any questions regarding Prison-
ers of War or these modifications, please
,~contact SNK's Customer Service Depart-
ment Monday through Friday, between 8:00
am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time at 408/736-
8844.
Has anyone else been experiencing frequent
leaf switch failure with the fire buttons on
their Assaults? The piece of spring steel that
adds tension to the fire buttons just snaps in
half. Ours have been failing at about one per
week, and at eight dollars a switch it begins
to add up!
SOLUTION
I fmally replaced our leaf switches with
micro switches and although the buttons
now have a "harder" feel to them, the players
don't seem to mind and rve had no problems
in over three weeks.
Sega Replies
Dari Davidson
I
~~aJ~~~..:~rvlce
Last nwnth's article "Resourcefulness• by Ronnie Belitz of Larlc
Amusement. Bristol, TN drew a response from Segds Manager.
J
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~:·
Currently, I have two motors on my table missing ;,.
brush caps. I have taken these items out of inven- : ~✓- ":
tory and sent the brush caps to distributors be- 1
cause of your report that they were unobtainable. J
The old administration at Sega would never have
done this, but I have a policy: I will do whatever it
takes to get a game up -no matter what! If there is
a way I can help the customer, any way, I will do it
(even if it means disabling an entire motor!).
Please remember this when it comes time to shop
any Segagame and you need to order parts. Ronnie,
I will do my very best to keep you out of K Marts in
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