So here it is, the next project and I am more than fired up and ready to get on with this one... It is the biggest project I have been involved in and there is a lot of work, but I am going to go for it and see on some key decisions, such as a new play-field - I think it may end up with one. So... let's dive in.
BRAM STOKERS DRACULA
SHOP LOG - THIS IS WAR!
Initial shots of the unit show what there is wrong, this cab isn't new to the forum and I managed to convince a fellow Norfolk pinball buddy to let me have this project to do. Everyone knows from my collection I am a huge horror fan and unfortunately limited on funds, so this made perfect sense as a project, once you have the bug, you have the bug.
The game arried into my office and I never really paid attention ot the artwork before, but have fallen in love with it, that castle scene - I love it, clearly a candidate for redecal, but I have always said, it is about the play-field and how it plays for me, so this can wait if it ever gets done. Note the cobwebs all over the machine, that's a feature you know, not one I will keep, but a feature.
I had to take the head off to transport home as I was going to be using my car - the play-field is coming out anyway and there is a tonne of testing work to be done, loom needs cleaning etc, so that didn't bother me. Boards looked ok from the front, but they of course (as we will see later) hide some terrible secrets (not so terrible, emphasised for the horror theme).
This is why it needs a new play-field, if there were an insert set, I would jump on that, I don't have to have a mint play-field on this, but those inserts I don't think will do.. so there is a decision to be made there. NO ONE MAKES AN INSERT KIT FOR BSD - it is so annoying and I have emailed everyone, the guy that makes the new play-field is really happy to sell me a new one, but not an insert set, which I kind of get, but also, find a little annoying. Closer inspection I can see some slight planking, so maybe not the end of the world that it will have to have a new one.
Luckily, Ron Jeremy is ok.
Back home and yes there is filth but it isn't the end of the world under there, everything will be coming out - so will go from there.
Onto the first step
So the first thing I wanted to check was the driver board, with everything off, I am hoping I can go for a methodical look at what the issue is - having learnt what I have thus far from working on machines. The listing had the solenoids down as not working but the flippers as working, So I got my setup together, ready to go. It aint much, but it works.
Initial visual inspection, shows the heat sync paste is a little messy, probably ok, may cause some issues how thick it is on the bottom one there, I will have that off and re-paste once all working.
Trace repair looks ok - note the corrosion from the flux though, will have them off, clean, re-work. Buzzed out and all still good on the connections they make though - top and bottom side.
Sheared off screw heads and some more flux corrosion, will have the make these screws work again (probably cut a flat head into them) remove, desolder, clean, test component, resolder).
Didn't take a picture but also a connector has been reworked, needs the same love, rework and clean before going back in.
That was my initial findings, but all of the Bridge Rectifier and caps tested out ok with the meter - fuses all buzzed out too ok, will take out and clean tonight/tomorrow just to double check.
SO - if there is a power issue on the coils, I am going to start at the begining.
Ensure 51 VAC at pins J102 pin 8 and 5 from the transformer, this also controls the flippers which work, so be interesting to see what happens here.
According to the schematic from there, it is only through some fuses to the output pins, so will trace and test those too, noting J107 6.3.2.1 but will work through that accordingly and check as I go through. First step is as above
BRAM STOKERS DRACULA
SHOP LOG - THIS IS WAR!
The game arried into my office and I never really paid attention ot the artwork before, but have fallen in love with it, that castle scene - I love it, clearly a candidate for redecal, but I have always said, it is about the play-field and how it plays for me, so this can wait if it ever gets done. Note the cobwebs all over the machine, that's a feature you know, not one I will keep, but a feature.
I had to take the head off to transport home as I was going to be using my car - the play-field is coming out anyway and there is a tonne of testing work to be done, loom needs cleaning etc, so that didn't bother me. Boards looked ok from the front, but they of course (as we will see later) hide some terrible secrets (not so terrible, emphasised for the horror theme).
This is why it needs a new play-field, if there were an insert set, I would jump on that, I don't have to have a mint play-field on this, but those inserts I don't think will do.. so there is a decision to be made there. NO ONE MAKES AN INSERT KIT FOR BSD - it is so annoying and I have emailed everyone, the guy that makes the new play-field is really happy to sell me a new one, but not an insert set, which I kind of get, but also, find a little annoying. Closer inspection I can see some slight planking, so maybe not the end of the world that it will have to have a new one.
Luckily, Ron Jeremy is ok.
Back home and yes there is filth but it isn't the end of the world under there, everything will be coming out - so will go from there.
Onto the first step
So the first thing I wanted to check was the driver board, with everything off, I am hoping I can go for a methodical look at what the issue is - having learnt what I have thus far from working on machines. The listing had the solenoids down as not working but the flippers as working, So I got my setup together, ready to go. It aint much, but it works.
Initial visual inspection, shows the heat sync paste is a little messy, probably ok, may cause some issues how thick it is on the bottom one there, I will have that off and re-paste once all working.
Trace repair looks ok - note the corrosion from the flux though, will have them off, clean, re-work. Buzzed out and all still good on the connections they make though - top and bottom side.
Sheared off screw heads and some more flux corrosion, will have the make these screws work again (probably cut a flat head into them) remove, desolder, clean, test component, resolder).
Didn't take a picture but also a connector has been reworked, needs the same love, rework and clean before going back in.
That was my initial findings, but all of the Bridge Rectifier and caps tested out ok with the meter - fuses all buzzed out too ok, will take out and clean tonight/tomorrow just to double check.
SO - if there is a power issue on the coils, I am going to start at the begining.
Ensure 51 VAC at pins J102 pin 8 and 5 from the transformer, this also controls the flippers which work, so be interesting to see what happens here.
According to the schematic from there, it is only through some fuses to the output pins, so will trace and test those too, noting J107 6.3.2.1 but will work through that accordingly and check as I go through. First step is as above
