Lethal Weapon 3

[Andypc]

I picked up a Lethal Weapon 3 yesterday that had bee in storage for years. No Battery leaks. It boots with sound and lights on the playfield, but no display and left half of the backbox lights out. Changed one dead fuse and got a loud noise and a big plume of smoke :-( still boot ok when fuse is removed.

It's on the sound board. It's the empty fuse on the sound board. I now have continuity across the fuse terminal which wasn't there before, so something is shorting out. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pinballmania]

You mean the power board. The top fuse is for the display power supply. Your power supply is bad and needs to be rebuilt. One of the transistors on the heat sinks has probably exploded, and may well have taken out some of the other transistors.

 

[Andypc]

Anyone you recommend that would be able to help with that? I have just tested everything on the playfield and the only thing not working is the display and half the backbox GI.

 

[Moonraker]

Looks like there's a blown capacitor in the top left of your picture...

 

[Andypc]

Also a burnt connector.

 

[Andypc]

Doesn't look like it's the cause of today's smoke as lead is already wire direct to the board!!!

 

[Andypc]

I need to replace the burnt connector below, but I ordered the wrong one. Can anyone confirm what connector I need to order.

 

[PinballDaze]

That's a GI connector. Leave disconnected and best to sort the boot up first (if you haven't already)

 

[Andypc]

The game is booting fine. The only problem is the DMD power board, so no DMD and half the backbox GI being out.

 

[astyy]

Can anyone confirm what connector I need to order.

There are two common pitch sizes 0.156" (7 pins to the inch) and 0.1" (10 pins to the inch), that looks like the larger 0.156" but you can measure the number of pins to the inch to double check.

Then you decide what connector type, you need the proper tool IDC or Molex/Crimp either way. I prefer the Molex and for 0.156" can use trifurcon crimps. The header pin surface is likely burnt off too so consider replacing at the same time for proper job.

Crimp housing and you need the keying plug :-
https://pinparts.co.uk/products/crimp-housing-0156-pitch-choose-size

Trifurcon crimps (only available for 0.156" size)
https://pinparts.co.uk/products/crimp156tri

Crimp tool - Excellent pinball tool investment, it does both header sizes
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crimping...-PC-Connectors-Terminals-HT-225D/120933035908

Header - cut down to size
https://pinparts.co.uk/products/0156-pitch-header-pin-24-ways

 

[Andypc]

Thanks that's really helpful