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SOLVED: Intermittent fault cannon motors and flashers J126 U3 STTNG

Andy B

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1 10 Years
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Oct 6, 2014
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Hull. England.
Was having issues with Launch Probe and Battle Simulation modes not working on STTNG I am restoring. Ball would either be kicked out of left VUK (not cannon popper) and roll down to left flipper or else would just not pop out of popper in to cannon. Also noticed that whereas previously on start up both cannons would fire and right cannon would turn before returning to home, they were no longer turning (but where still firing).

Originally I thought opto or diverter problems but all optos and diverters test good.

I narrowed it down to an issue with the cannon motors and flashers which are connected to J126 on Power Driver board. Motors and all flashers that were connected to J126 were not working in test mode but would work when I grounded TIP102 transistors so was thinking it must be issue with U3 which feeds that connector.

One last thing before I go down replacement of UC3 I thought and took board out and reflowed pins at J126 and J125 and put board back in and it worked absolutely fine. Switched it off to watch footie. Came back and problem returned. Launch Probe mode will not start, cannon not turning at start up, J126 connected motors and flashers not working (in play or test mode). Sometimes if I switch it off, reseat connectors, switch back on again it works fine, other times both cannons fire and turn but continue turning, like they can’t find home, even through playing of a game. But more often than not they don’t work.

Connectors J125, J126 and U3 are the only things that are exclusive to these flashers and motors that are not working as far as I can make out from schematics, so now I’ve reflowed connectors, I am thinking something up with U3? I’ve never had it where ALL solenoids/flashers on same connector are not working all at same time before, so that’s what’s making me think it’s NOT an issue with the connectors themselves (and also the motors/flashers work when manually grounded too which would point to connectors being good).

But then, as I am not that hot on ICs I’m wondering if it is even possible that an IC could sometimes work fine and other times not? Is there anything else it could possibly be?

I am sure it is unrelated (as unrelated as any “Fix one thing and another pops up” fix is in a pinball of course!) but this only started when I installed an led score display from Pinsound. Launch Probe and Battle Simulation were working fine (I.e. ball would get popped in to cannons, cannon motors would turn etc.) when I was playing the game blind (as DMD display was broke). I originally piggybacked the 12v at J118 for the display (as per install instructions) but, though I am sure it is unrelated, I have now hooked the led display up to 12v on Pinsound DMD controller I have installed. Motors and flashers don’t run off 12v obviously but figured it wouldn’t hurt to go back to having only original connectors connected to the power driver board.

Thanks

Andy
 
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Hi Andy,
did you reseat the flat cable between CPU and PDB a few times? The Solenoid Select for U3 is on pin 9 of the flat cable connector - have a look at that one, if that is intermittent to pin 11 of U3 you have your problem. It isn't impossible that a chip is intermittent but I don't believe that.
 
Hi Andy,
did you reseat the flat cable between CPU and PDB a few times? The Solenoid Select for U3 is on pin 9 of the flat cable connector - have a look at that one, if that is intermittent to pin 11 of U3 you have your problem. It isn't impossible that a chip is intermittent but I don't believe that.
Thanks for the suggestion.

I have indeed removed that cable quite a few times. I removed it again to have a look. None of the pins are bent or misaligned but, is it me, do some of the pins appear to be a little green (see photo)?

This machine is a barn find which had severe acid damage to the CPU, so I replaced the CPU with a Rocket CPU from Pinsound. I checked the old CPU and there is a tiny amount of green on some of the pins on the CPU side of that connector (including pin 9). Is it feasible that that is acid that has spread across to the power driver board via the data cable? Or maybe it's just corrosion to the pins caused by the machine being left in the damp environment for so long? Or maybe there is no green tinge at all and it's my rubbish eye sight?

Anyways, after I'd removed it to inspect it, I gave the pins a clean with some isopropyl and then reconnected it.

Everything is working fine. Cannons fired at start up, right cannon rotated and then returned to home at start up. Flashers and cannon motors connected to J126 and U3 working in test mode. Launch Probe and Battle Simulation modes working no problems.

BUT borg kicker and kick back solenoids stopped working!

Moved data cable a bit, everything, including borg and kick back solenoids working fine again. When I was moving the data cable (gently flexing it a little) I noticed that the right cannon was rotating as I was flexing it.

So looks like it is that data cable that is flaky and not the IC.

If that is indeed acid that has somehow leaked across to the data connector then I am guessing clean as best I can with vinegar and isopropyl and fingers crossed that that will stop it in its tracks?

I will order a new cable today. Presumably these are just standard 34 pin ribbon cables with IDC connectors that I can get from anywhere rather than needing to order a full set with Williams part numbers at £54 a set?

Thanks again for the suggestion - I would not even have thought to check the data cable.
 

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Problem is that the electrolyte from the battery will wick into the connectors and sometimes even through the cable causing these issues. Replace cable and thouroughly clean the connectors, also on the new CPU. Standard straight cable otherwise.
 
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Problem is that the electrolyte from the battery will wick into the connectors and sometimes even through the cable causing these issues. Replace cable and thouroughly clean the connectors, also on the new CPU. Standard straight cable otherwise.
Cheers!

Cable ordered.

Will get cleaning both connectors.
 
Do not forget to replace BOTH the cannon looms.
Pinball Heaven sell them.
Read the installation guide.
Whenever I get a STTNG in, the first thing I do is change the cannon looms.
These cause so many issues on this game.
 
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