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Complete Uh oh, I'm in the Twilight Zone

s000m

s000m

Registered
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Messages
3,695
Location
Swindon
Finally starting this one. Numerous part delays meant I had to park it for a bit.

Had to spend a few weeks getting it working initially, game would reset and blow out several fuses in the process.

Issue turned out to be several issues. Power driver was dropping 5v but also one of the J Connector looks like it had a previous blow out. The connection was charred and the wiring was loose.

Power driver board was rebuilt and new IDC's were added.

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Lots of parts require replacement. The clock was unfortunately left in an unfinished state due to the person passing away before they could complete replacement. I've mostly completed it now but I'm waiting on the clock hands.

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I've gone with the prototype 3 magnet version for the playfield/mini playfield.

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The cabinet door was unfortunately mashed so it needs replacing.

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The game was a fine players condition game but you know me by now.

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Playfield has been removed.

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Found some oddities during disassembly


Anyone know wtf this is?

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Cabinet strip done.

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Bye bye faded decals.

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If your going this far the 3rd magnet is a must, catching all 3 balls before multiball is very cool indeed.

Changing all the capacitors on these 90s games is the best thing you can do to a 30 year old machine if it’s not resetting now it will in the near future, or what a few pin heads might opt for is that 5v board that hides the fault !!! the cost of that pays for the components to do it right. I always use the long legged rectifiers they allow more air flow, worth considering next time you get a board serviced.
Good luck on my favourite game and the most played in my collection.
 
I have done a couple of 3 magnet conversions.

It it great - but what bugged me everytime is that you have to wait for the power ball to go thru the game once after each power up for the game to know 'where it is'.

This info is held in memory on that game that is wiped on every power cycle.

It is a shame someone can not write a rom that on every boot up the machine 'empties' the gumball machine and learns where the powerball is.

It is a brilliant site seeing three locked magnet balls.
 
Cabinet all prepped and ready for painting.

This cabinet honestly wasn't too bad. I've had to repair way worse.

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Cabinet and backbox all done. Need to wait on the Decals.

Backbox had the usual chunks missing.

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Back of the cab I decided to keep the back stickers intact

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Went with a standard black for the interior.

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That odd socket looks the type used to connect a printer. But Orange-green and Orange-Blue are two of the Cpu 'Direct' switch lines, D5 and D6. These are the Service Credits/Escape and Down buttons, respectively. Maybe it's along the lines of 90's fruit machines - the lines wired through the socket won't work without a specially wired header plugged into the socket. Perhaps a location somewhere had a key, but the operator wanted to prevent 'free play' by staff there.

Re. the coin door; it probably isn't the factory-fitted one anyway. From the picture of the rear of the cabinet, the label seems to state 'Twilight Zone 3 Slot'. By that time, the label mentioned what door the production line had fitted. The large warning label suggests it was meant for Germany. If it still has the original Cpu board, that may still have the German jumper pattern.
 
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Jay Walker said:
That odd socket looks the type used to connect a printer. But Orange-green and Orange-Blue are two of the Cpu 'Direct' switch lines, D5 and D6. These are the Service Credits/Escape and Down buttons, respectively. Maybe it's along the lines of 90's fruit machines - the lines wired through the socket won't work without a specially wired header plugged into the socket. Perhaps a location somewhere had a key, but the operator wanted to prevent 'free play' by staff there.

Re. the coin door; it probably isn't the factory-fitted one anyway. From the picture of the rear of the cabinet, the label seems to state 'Twilight Zone 3 Slot'. By that time, the label mentioned what door the production line had fitted. The large warning label suggests it was meant for Germany. If it still has the original Cpu board, that may still have the German jumper pattern.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice on the serial connector. I'll look to remove it when I get back to assembly of the cab.

I've managed to source a better condition door though I think its a 2 slot from memory.
 
Today was a boring yet neccessary evening of documenting the playfield

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Tomorrow I hopefully begin the migration.
 
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Definitely needs markers and loads of photos. Glad I’m not doing it again with a TZ a lot going on.
 
Sorry for the lack of updates, I actually have been progressing but just keep forgetting to upload images and such.

One of my ramps (left small chute/subway) isn't in great condition but unfortunately it seems its out of production!

Here's hoping some parts come availiable soon for it (Pedretti).

The game is caked in soot. Thankfully no rust!
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You can't really tell from the photo but this part has a divit, in the centre.


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I've tried to sand and heat it, but no dice. Its still somewhat pronounced at least on the outside. inside I think its smooth enough not to get in the way of the ball travel.

Anyone who has a NOS ramp laying around would be greatly appreciated!

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I've bought some new metal parts.

One to replace this coil bracket (with the red coil), notice how the old one has entirely snapped!

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I also got the replacement skillshot scoop as the old one was ropey. All new mantis parts.

Old chute before:

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Old Chute after

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Most of the metal work, bar the coils has moved across now. I might replace the standard pop bumper lamps with the Stumblor lollipop mod, its my last one so gotta use it wisely.

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OK so got the switch and GI harness are off!

Coil harness remains, I've rebuilt the pop bumpers (sleeves, yokes etc.)
Replaced the coil stops
Replaced the sleeves on all flippers and will replace the pawls etc.

Need to finish replacing the coil sleeves on other coils before i migrate them off.


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Hopefully tomorrow I'll have everything migrated across. Its taking extra time as the wife will NOT allow me to use the dish washer to clean the looms :D

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Lots of progress over the weekend.

Installed all the harnesses

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Still need to secure in a few flashers and route the cables a bit better on the coil harness but its 90% there....


Alot of today was replacing old with new. Some coils were seized (couldn't remove the coil sleeve, let alone install a new one).

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With the bottom side now pretty much done, I turned my attention to the top side..

Replaced some plastics, I can't get a hold of a whole set only individual plastics which is a pain!

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I'm installing star post LED's to assist with GI lighting

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Spent many hours polishing metal. I hate this part

Went from this

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To this

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and this

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Old star posts were knackered, all are being replaced along with the rubbers, gone with Titan rubbers as per usual.

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Old Playfield Progress:

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New Playfield Progress:
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I had hoped to make more progress on the weekend, but this game has so many corroded parts its slowing me down a bit.
 
More progress last night, all posts now installed. In hind sight I should have installed these first, getting nylon nuts and washers under that forest of wires was a real pain!

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More progress today.

I've been told to stop and wait until the 3rd magnet kit arrives or its a night mare so pretty much progressed what I can on the playfield.

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So magnet kit isn't arriving till March! Apparently a huge back log, that'll teach me to wait on ordering it.

In the mean time I'm sorting out the wireform ramps.

Unfortunately some of the plating is peeling... BADLY so I'm sending them off to Ant's platers to sort.

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My powder coat arrived this morning so I've dropped off all the metal work thats getting powder coated too.

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Decals arrived yesterday so we're hoping to apply decals to the cabinet this weekend.

I can work on the Mini playfield at least in the mean time today.
 
I got all the stuff, but those bolts have chewed heads, no amount of polishing will sort them out. I don't post every bit I've replaced but I've done switch out on posts, star posts and ramps. Not to mention the best part of 300 wood screws. I can always change the machine screws at a later date. I don't even know if I'll be keeping the game.

I'm not attached to it like you are.

I'll see how it goes when I play it. When I got it the game wasn't playing great and mired my experience a bit.
 
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