TZ clock help please.

[Adrian Hufton]

Hi folks,

First of all, my TZ now all works as it should (i think) except for my niggling clock (I know most TZ's have this problem)

I also know this subject has had a mention on a previous post but mine is a slightly different problem.

The clock has had a new board fitted so SHOULD be pretty reliable.

In test mode everything works pretty well as it should, hits the optos on every hour and on every 15 mins, and doesn’t miss one.

In fast reverse test mode it will just stop at a random o’clock for no reason, rather than keep going until I press the button to stop (is this normal or is it stopping when it is missing an opto?).

When I start a game the clock sets to 12 o’clock (the hour hand is never dead on 12, always half way between 11 and 12 or 12 and 1, the minute hand is spot on.)

The first game mode which uses the clock goes without issue (from what i have seen) and the clock works fine. When the clock resets, or does any fast spinning, like in the reverse test mode, thats when it seems to stop working. It will stop usually at 9 o’clock and then I get a credit dot and the clock no longer works until next game when it resets again.

Sometimes I can be lucky and have a game without incident.

My heart of hearts thinks if it misses just one opto that is game over for the clock in that particular game.

Does it matter the hour hand is not straight up?

Has anyone else had this particular problem?

I have not had much time to gather information on this so everything is based on less than 50 games.

Cheers Adie

 

[elrikos]

have you checked to see that the hands arent physically jamming at 9 o clock? the plastic lens with the decal gets quite close to the hour hand and could jam it up. I would also be tempted to strip the clock down and reassemble it. There is a particular way to reassemble to make sure everything lines up (theres a line on the black opto interrupter that has to face a particular way. I forget which way that it).

What new board did you get and where from? is it new new or NOS as the optos may still be flaky.



Clocks are a pain when they're not working properly. I recently replaced the board in mine with one from Inko in Germany. Awesome piece of kit!



the hour hand should be pretty close to 12 oclock when its properly assembled. I had problems like yours and when i reassembled the clock according to the instructions it then began to stop dead on 12.

 

[Adrian Hufton]

The board had been replaced when i got it so not sure what board it is, the hands seem to spin freely enough. In test mode it all seems fine so it seems to be something and nothing.

I will look into a new board as it seems easier to just buy a good board and be done with it.

I would be weary of taking it apart as i may totally mess things up.

I think i need to have a look at a tutorial to see how difficult it is.

Cheers Adie

 

[pinballmania]

Sometimes with replacement boards the optos are set marginally back from the originals. The minute hand interruptor occasionally dosen't completely interrupt. Try extending the minute hand very slightly with a piece of insulation tape carefully wrapped around the end. If it solves the problem, either leave it there, or look for a more permanent solution.

 

[Adrian Hufton]

That seems worth a try, i have studied it tonight and from what i can make out it always stops at 9 o'clock when on fast reverse, when it does this it;s game over.

I will let you know how i get on.

Cheers Adie

 

[Adrian Hufton]

Initial tests looked good until my bodge it job came off, i will take more time tomorrow and make a better job of it.

This may just fix it.

Thanks Adie

 

[Adrian Hufton]

Update on the clock, still no good, works until it winds backwards and stops at 8.00(or 9, can't decide which it is). Think i will bite the bullet and buy that Geman board.

One last question, the hands at 12.00 are not straight up. the minute hand is always between 11 and 12 or 12 and 1. Is this an issue or normal?

Cheers Adie

 

[Adrian Hufton]

TZ clock fixed!! Stripped it down and cleaned the optos on the back of the board, put it back together and works as sweet as a nut.

Thanks to everyone who gave input.

Adie

 

[Calimori]

Well done Adie. Pleased to hear it has been fixed and by your own hands and not having to buy a new board.

Did you take any pictures of the rebuild?

 

[Adrian Hufton]

Calimori, To be honest it was just lucky, i was so lashed with it i just took it apart to kill or cure it but saw all the cogs and lost my bottle. I saw the optos on the back of the board and just cleaned them with a cotton bud, I may have gone a little further but David from the group had text me to help me with a few tests so i had to put it back together quickly in order to do so. That had cured it so his call probably saved me from doing more harm than good. I must owe about 60 pints at the party!

Hopefully i can now just enjoy playing the game.

I do wish i had taked shots of the playfield strip down as that was quite a task for me, in saying that i would not hesitste to do it again, just need to tackle the underside of the playfield next!

Cheers Adie

 

[Calimori]

Necessity and Dutch courage doesn't sound like luck, who knows what great things might have happened if you had taken the cogs apart? Ok, probably a lot of loose cogs but you cleaned the optos which worked so good job.

 

[Sgt GrizZ]

TZ clock issues = optos and/or associated connetors 99.99% of time