Complete Bally Beat the Clock 1985

[Ashbo]

Picked the old girl up on Saturday from Dave from Birmingham. Dave was the second owner of her and he's kept her happy for over 30 years.

Since Swavesey 2022, playing on Mr Vince's Flash Gordon I realised Bally solid state really made me tick (pun intended) and when this girl came up on Facebook, I bit Dave's hand off.

She plays 100%, we have already played lots of games, but she is not without faults.

• Cabinet decals are faded and peeling.
• Glass is bubbling throughout, but no flaking yet.
• Player 4 display has the second digit out.
• The squawk and talk is just squawk.
• The playfield Mylar is in great shape, but the whole playfield is planked.
• Some bulbs needed replacing.
• Leg bolts are stiff.

So in summary, this is by no means in dire need of repair, however over rainy days when paint is drying on Mini-Zag, I'll have some fun on this old lady.

Toying with adding led strips, lot flipper buttons, colour matched t-moulding, perhaps seeing if I can add custom sound (like TNA), who knows? One thing I do know....I do actually like Bally Solid State. Did not see that one coming.....looks like this hobby may not be as expensive as I thought...

 

[Ashbo]

Transistors ordered from eBay for the faulty display driver, so time to stabilise the backglass.

It's starting to get critical, but easily saved with some Krylon Triple Thick.



First mask off the clear sections, dond want cloudy score displays.

Next, mask up face....

Spray liberally then cover with cling film
Leave to cook for a couple of days.

 

[steve brum]

Tbh someone may have sabotaged the speech as the "clock on" "clock off" grates more than eight ball chumps taunting

 

[Ashbo]

Tbh someone may have sabotaged the speech as the "clock on" "clock off" grates more than eight ball chumps taunting

I'm not missing voice one bit

 

[Gary Flower]

there are two versions of this game.

one made in USA and t'other in Germany.

The German one has a toroidal transformer.

 

[Ashbo]

there are two versions of this game.

one made in USA and t'other in Germany.

The German one has a toroidal transformer.

I have to admit, I had to Google it. Never seen one before. Therefore I think I've got a USA made machine.

 

[Gary Flower]

Ypu have. The other clue is the cabinet art. The german one says Bally Wulff, the US says Bally Midway.

The cabinet art was done by Greg Freres at the time they were thinking of doing generic artwork.

 

[Gary Flower]

At the time the exchnge rate made US games expensive so Bally experimented with games assembled in Germany with key components eg playfield and back glass exported from US. They also made Speakeasy as a 2 player in an effort to reduce prices overseas.

Similarly, Gottlieb looked to cost cut. Hence Black Hole, for export, did not have hinged back door, infininty lighting, motorised back box art and did not have speech.

 

[Ashbo]

i see the cost cutting, here is a gi hole that never was.....curious

 

[Ashbo]

Question, why don't we see back glass mounted like this on games, seems like a good idea hey...

Until the back glass starts to peel, then the lamp drivers rub against the peeled paint.

It seems since I added Krylon, the peeled paint became more brittle....bummer

 

[Ashbo]

Recapped the sound board today (with caps I could get hold of), skipped C14, C37 and C38, low and behold, all sounds back....result.

 

[Ashbo]

So after a few weeks, where am I?

>Cabinet decals are faded and peeling.

yup, nothing going to change here any time soon (short term)

>Glass is bubbling throughout, but no flaking yet.

Spoke too soon here, more work required.

>Player 4 display has the second digit out.

Replacing transistors didn't work so got a replacement from Alan Jones' old Lost World.

>The squawk and talk is just squawk.

Back to former glory (!?), Was getting used to no call outs.

>The playfield Mylar is in great shape, but the whole playfield is planked.

If this girl is a keeper I may do a restore, we'll see.

>Some bulbs needed replacing.

Sorted.

>Leg bolts are stiff.

But they are on for now, will address down the line.


Additional....

Found a broken clear plastic on the left hand in-lane so made a new one with a bit of plexiglass and a Dremel.

I'll likely pause progress for now as it's time to get back to the Mini-Zag playfield.....

 

[Ashbo]

Like a scab, these pins just can't be left alone.....played a few games this afternoon and though , fcuk it, and several hours later and a million jiffy bags with several bits in each we see the playfield. Hardly the krypton factor, but there is some work to do. Definitely signs of damp at the back of the cab and rusted screws on the underside of the upper playfield. This old girl has been tombstoned in a damp place.....don't worry old timer....I'll spend some time with you

Ps: Mylar pop rings under the playfield Mylar....very odd.

 

[Ashbo]

Just musing....how to mount ws2812b led strips to the playfield to attach to an Arduino....

A quick 3d sketch and print, this may work if I print in a nicer colour...

 

[Fubar]

Taking these to bits is just so much fun isn't it

 

[Ashbo]

Taking these to bits is just so much fun isn't it

Aw man, isn't it!!! Almost as much fun as playing them.

 

[Ashbo]

Yup, that's going to work

 

[Ashbo]

The horseshoe mount just looked odd, so put the LEDs under the plastics instead...much better.

Added a diffuser strip and worked on a simple colour pattern that compliments the plastic colour scheme.

Just waiting on a replacement pop bumper cap...

 

[Ashbo]

Spent far to long soldering 4 led long strips together to test out some backglass lighting that's been bugging me.....not too bad, will need to complete the chain.