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In Progress Paragon

AlanJ

AlanJ

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5Years
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Dec 27, 2017
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Leeds, West Yorkshire
Picket this up yesterday. Was working a couple of years ago, but has stood in a garage since then.

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Some nasty hacks on the rectifier board, so that's where I'm going to start:
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Removed the transformer and rectifier assembly - wow - never seen anything like it.
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There is no point trying to save this board, so will replace it completely.
 

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Machine boots. Amazingly the original NiCad battery is still there (no leakage) and still working.
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I’ll swap it for a super capacitor at some stage.

Quite a few bulbs out. I’m going to install Ledbars under the playfield so not really an issue, unless it’s a problem with the lamp board.

All solenoids work and flippers work but one is binding and another is weak. Will rebuild

Sound not working, So I’ll install a brand new sound card

A few playfield issues that need sorting - the ball is getting stuck at top of shooter lane, a wide post in the dragons lair needs putting back to a std sized post, needs new drop targets, rubbers etc. plenty to do!
 
AlanJ said:
Picket this up yesterday. Was working a couple of years ago, but has stood in a garage since then.

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Some nasty hacks on the rectifier board, so that's where I'm going to start:
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Removed the transformer and rectifier assembly - wow - never seen anything like it.
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There is no point trying to save this board, so will replace it completely.
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That looks like is modeled on the centre of Dr Who's tardis 😆
 
Upgrading the GI to comet LEDs. Cleaning playfield and fitted dome new flipper bats and flipper bushings. Flippers all now working.

A bit of elbow grease to get rid of the indandescent heat muck trails on the insert door.
 

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AlanJ said:
Upgrading the GI to comet LEDs. Cleaning playfield and fitted dome new flipper bats and flipper bushings. Flippers all now working.

A bit of elbow grease to get rid of the indandescent heat muck trails on the insert door.
Click to expand...
Yeah a lot of late 70s n early 80s all suffer what looks lamp burn in back box I’ve repainted a few before
 
Taxiturn said:
Alan, did you buy a job lot of Williams flipper bats? 🤣 The stubby Bally ones are lovely!
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I hate the Bally fat fingers. These games play soooo much better with a pointy flipper. So yes I stocked up on bats with the idea of upgrading all my games……..eventually
 
I’m convinced that the Bally flipper design was created to give more ball drains.

Anyhow yes, It’s personal choice. I choose pointy flippers. They just work so much better. As you know I’m not one for tradition - I like LEDs not incandescent 😂😂

and just to make you all groan even more- it’s getting a playfield protector as well. 👍😀
 
Lots of stuff going on

First put leds in all the gi and the back box controlled lamps.
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Had to add anti flicker resistors for the controlled lamps
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Next I’ve removed all the playfield controlled lamp sockets
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I use a beefy and very hot 100w soldering iron to de solder the lamp sockets. It does ea h one easily in a second or 2
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Once all sockets are out of the way it’s time to clean the inside of each insert as they’re filthy
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Whilst cleaning I decided to do the cabinet base. That’s very dirty. Needs another going over but cleaning up nicely
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I’ve removed all the playfield plastics and can clean and also replace the GI bulbs with comets.

Next jobs are to install the playfield Ledbars, then touch up the playfield art and final clean then install a protector.
 
The backglass has quite a few problem areas, with the artwork lifting and hardened do very difficult to get it back down without breaking. I may have to try some heat to see if I can soften it and get it to lay flat.
I know from experience that applying triple thick will only make it worse. It needs to be flat for the triple thick to work.

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Long day on this, so much done today. I just kept going. Ledbars soldered, new caps on standup targets and pops. Cleaned playfield again, added clear playfield protector, then reinstall all upper pf and flippers etc. test, fix, retest. Had a strange switch issue that was 100% my fault. I blobbed some solder on a pf switch which shorted it and its diode out. - caused strange action. !!!! 😂😂
Cleaned the glass - it’s worn / scratched.
I have more stuff to do tomorrow
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!
 
Noticed I made an error with one of the spinner lights. The bottom one is on the gi, so it’s running on AC , and is flickering. I’ll sort that today.

Today’s big job is preserving the backglass …..
 
Added a small bridge rectifier to the bottom spinner ac lamp - now it appears on all time. The video shows it still flickering but it’s not noticeable with naked eye. I could smooth the DC with a capacitor but that’s going a bit overboard.

I should have installed one of my AC Ledbars which already has the bridge rectifier on board, but I’ve “misplaced” them temporarily!

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Also replaced the coin door lit inserts - the ones in it were broken and filthy.

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Again nice bright comet LEDs behind these to fully illuminate them.

Masked off the windows on the backglass, used a hairdryer on warm but not hot setting, to gently soften the peeling delaminated art, which is now laying almost flat. Then some clear artists tape to hold it down and in place. Next step is a few coats of triple thick.


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