Star Tech Journal

KoNAMI NINJA
TOUCHY VoLUME
'TuRTLE BLUES
CONTROL POTS
Erik Wittenzellner
Kemp Enterprises, Inc.
South Windsor, Connecticut
Mike Cowen
Video Images
Scottsdale, Arizona
AN OBSERVATION
PROBLEM
In the past month to month and a half, we have
received several Konami Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles. On all new games we change locks and
install security bars and give the new game a
good play. Of the new games we have received
in the past year, I have to say these are the
worst in relation to the quality of the cabinet;
and the control panel more specifically.
Volume potentiometers that are very touchy and
result in all or nothing audio.
CONTROL PANEL
SOLUTION II
If the problem is just too much control at one end
We received the first in its original carton. Dur-
ing assembly we noticed that the control panel
was literally falling apart. There were no screws
on any of the corner braces on the insides of the
panel. The mounting screws, when tightened,
pulled the upright pieces off the the back of the
control panel itself; glad it didn't end up on
location this way or we'd be less one panel!
WIRING
After rebuilding the entire panel with screws
and glue, we added steel angle brackets and
bolts to secure the panel to the cabinet. Now
with a solid panel we tried to play it, only to find
that a bunch of the crimp-on connectors on the
controls were intermittent. The grounds to the
joysticks were as tight as banjo strings and had
to be replaced in entirety. All of the wires were
cut to the correct length and soldered to the
terminals. Now we were set electrically!
SECURITY
We gave it the once over again only to find the
panel latches were not tightened down. "Oh!
Through bolting we will go. And did!" Now six
hours later we finally have it location ready.
BOTTOM LINE
For a new game, it really should not be neces-
sary to spend an additional four to five hours
(minimum) of preparation to make it location
worthy. It doesn't give Konami's quality control
(if they have any) much credit, either.
SOLUTION I
If the problem is really all or nothing than the
only fix is to replace the pot because it is dam-
aged internally. (Probably having the knob re-
peatedly jammed down hard!)
of travel and not enough at the other, chances
are split between the pot going bad and the
wrong type of pot installed at the factory (or
perhaps even wired backwards).
REPLACEMENT
Or you can try my favorite engineering trick:
Fashion an "L" bracket to mount to a board stud
and use a cheap Audio Taper pot from Radio
Shack. l0K - 50K is acceptable for value.
I
KEEP THE WIRES AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.
~
NOTE
You will notice a profound change when replac-
ing a linear type audio pot with a audio taper
(logrythmic) type control. The linear type is
cheaper and hence in most games. Replace-
ments can be found at any Radio Shack.
If you have the original "too little control"
problem reverse the two outer wires and it
should be fine.You'll then be at the "fat" end.
***