The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: ajlaird on April 11, 2009, 11:24:28 AM
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Every now and then (and perhaps the clue is that it is more prone to it on a cold morning) when I turn the Dirty Harry pinball machine on I get a series of spaced vertical lines on the DMD, followed by the startup screen (still with the spaced vertical lines). It gets stuck there, but one can start a game. As it is played, everything works as expected except that the startup screen is still displayed and there is no music. After playing for a couple of minutes, it all comes good. This leads me to believe it is probably temperature related, but I am guessing.
It does seem unusual as normally one would expect a temperature related issue to work the other way around (cause problems after the pin has been running for a certain length of time).
I have never had the problem except on startup; it doesn't happen very often so it is not a big deal, and so far it has fixed itself every time so I am not worried. I am yet to try just leaving it on without playing - the automatic reaction is to play to see if it is still working, and then to play until it comes good.
Any theories on this one?
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Very interesting issue.
Can't be the display, as when this happens - there is also no Music. I don't believe their is a faulty component. Sounds to me like there could be a connector issue, or a cold joint somewhere on the Audio Visual board (for your machine it is a DCS sound board). As the machine "warms up" the connection is more stable.
Here's something I would try - Remove the A/V board and look behind the ceramic resistors. They are located at the top of the board - and they are vertically mounted. Reflow the resistor legs - there is one resistor that is almost always a "cold" or "dry" joint.
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Thanks for the hint - next time I am bored and have an hour or two spare I will take a look at this.
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An hour or two spare do you mean you actually leave this site lmfao $#$
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Computer in the shed = check the site in between games.
I am trying to find a small file or an emery board at the moment (or even some light sandpaper) to clean up some contacts on the Mousin' Around! Business card didn't do it.
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Computer in the shed = check the site in between games.
I am trying to find a small file or an emery board at the moment (or even some light sandpaper) to clean up some contacts on the Mousin' Around! Business card didn't do it.
the contacts are not gold plated on mousin around?
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Computer in the shed = check the site in between games.
I am trying to find a small file or an emery board at the moment (or even some light sandpaper) to clean up some contacts on the Mousin' Around! Business card didn't do it.
the contacts are not gold plated on mousin around?
They might be; the problem doesn't seem to be the contacts anyway after further testing.
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Computer in the shed = check the site in between games.
I am trying to find a small file or an emery board at the moment (or even some light sandpaper) to clean up some contacts on the Mousin' Around! Business card didn't do it.
Keep the sandpaper away from the contacts - unless they a high current.
I use the empty globe boxes - cut them into strips. Believe it or not, the waxy white side takes off more dirt than the cardboard side. If the dirt is stubborn, dip a small toothbrush into some alcohol - even dip the cardboard into the alcohol.