About four weeks ago I got a text from one of my mates who knew a guy who was moving house and was thinking about selling his only pin, a Data East Lethal Weapon 3.
I wasn’t really chasing a DMD, but being a fan of the three Lethal Weapon movies and at the price he was asking, it was too good an offer not to take a look. (The Newcastle guy’s on the forum, I’m sure would agree, that there isn’t too many pins that come on offer up this way, especially at a reasonable price.)
So I rang the owner and was told it plays well but needs a few globes replaced.
Well the machine was indeed playable but it needed new rubbers, 3 new balls & none of the lights worked at all, it also was missing a drop target and was filthy dirty.
The main fuse for the lights was blown so we replaced it and it blew instantly, I asked the guy if I could borrow the manual for the game and have a think about it and call him later.
During the week I checked out the games manual and had a good read of Clays guides which suggested that Data East games used cheaply made pcb fuse clips during manufacture and that they had a problem with them losing their tension over time, as well as problems with burnt GI connectors and the corresponding pins on the pcb having dry joints or even unsoldering themselves from the boards due to the heat.
I rang the seller and we agreed on an even better price and the deal was done. Pinball number Four was on its way to the shed.
I placed another order with Greg at RTBB for new rubbers, new balls & a drop target and picked up some connectors and fuse clips at Jaycar.
Three of the fuse clips on the power supply board had no tension at all, one even snapped of when I touched it, so these were replaced. Two of the GI connectors were burnt with a pin even pulling out of the board with the connector when it was unplugged, these were both replaced and then I gave the machine a good clean and installed the new rubbers and its been playing fine for the last few weeks.
The only issue left to sort out is a hum through the speakers, it’s only really noticeable when in attract mode. While you play you can’t hear the hum over the ZZ Top soundtrack, the explosions, the sirens, the bullets firing & bloody Leo Getz saying OK, OK, OK.
It’s alot different to my three other pins, they’ve got the chimes ringing, score reels clicking, motors turning, but my kids and I like it and my best mate loves it, so I guess it’s going to be a keeper.
Steve
PS: I’ve just been playing it again for the last hour or so and it’s definitely a keeper. Here is some pics.
