How to Restore a Project Pin...

[DanLewell]

I've finally finished my games room at home and have now got machines set up at home rather than in storage.

Some of the machines work, but some were bought years ago as projects to give me something to do in my spare time and keep me out of the pub. It hasn't worked very well as they haven't been touched since I bought them.

So now the games room is ready, I want to get the project machines up and running. What I'm looking for is a checklist to follow when you've got a machine that you know nothing about.

I'm quite happy tinkering with working machines, taking apart something that is working and putting it back together is one thing, but if you got a machine that hasn't been switched on in years, what steps should you follow?

I can take it to bits and polish stuff up (I'll do separate shop logs for each machines when I get started) but there's no point doing that if I cant ever get the machine to work.

So... What do I do first?
Plug it in and see if anything goes bang?
or is there a more sensible methodical approach that other people take?

 

[astyy]

I followed these guides for mine, checking all the fuses are present, good and rated correctly (amps and fast/slo blow) then wiring for anything obviously burnt, exposed, dangerous, good grounding is sensible. Then switch on and be ready to quickly switch off in anything snaps, crackes or pops!

Beginning Pinball repair - http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/
Repairing Bally 1977 - 85 - http://techniek.flipperwinkel.nl/ballyss/rep/index1.htm#top
Repairing DE/Sega 1987 - 1985 - http://techniek.flipperwinkel.nl/desega/
Read the pinwiki for you manufacturer - http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

 

[Paul]

Ok first thing to do in my book is to check ALL fuses... ensure they are good, and ensure that they are the correct value. If you have a spare few minutes, also check the condition of the mains cable, and Using the continuity setting on your meter ensure good earths on all boards and on the lockdown/siderails - this ensures that if there IS a problem then no-one would get mashed.

Then it depends on the history of the machine in my book...

If it WAS working when you bought it, and depending on how it was stored, should be good to switch on.
If history is unknown, Personally after the fuses i check disconnect the power board from other boards, and when the machine is switched on then i can check the o/p voltages from it. If these are good then switch everything off, re-connect the power board, and fire up again to see what happens

You have myself (occasionally), Sam and Keith in the area to give you some pointers in person if it helps

Paul