Update your website!

I contacted one of my distributors to acquire a pool table called 'Top Brass' from Valley-Dynamo. Despite the fact that the table is still on the distributors AND manufacturers website, it apparently is no longer being made. That kinda perturbs me-

Holy flaming relays, Batman!

Eolith El Dorado up in smoke!

So, as I'm perusing the game floor this morning, I notice that distinct electronic burning smell. Wonderful. I quickly find that our Eldorado is literally pouring smoke out of it. I quickly unplugged it and took it off the game floor.

During inspection- Found that the motor on the coin hopper had gone bad, jammed up. rather than blow the small 3a fuse that's supposed to protect this kind of problem, the 12v circuit on the SSR board is almost completely destroyed. The solid state relay is now a melting glob of plastic.


Oh and did I mention the fuse did not blow? weirrrrrdddd.

Tagged

OK, I got tagged by Jeep2000
So, why do I Blog-, not really sure, I haven't really blogged for a long time, but I started this blog mostly out of boredom, and maybe on the off chance someone might find a answer to a problem they may be having with a game.

I also LOVE the old arcade games, and miss having a huge collection of classics- so, now I guess I have to tag 4 other people-

OK-

TAG!

Broch
James on the canal
Empress Nightshade
Halloween Hotlist

Efficiency

One thing about having a very efficient and quick distributor, (In this case, AVS) Is that they usually get me the parts I need, way before I have the chance to replace them. As we speak, I have a set of sensor boards that need to go in a Giant Stacker, and a set of gun sensors for "The Lost World" Both sitting on my desk, just waiting...

Wheel Deal

I've had a re-occuring problem with the Benchmark Wheel Deal. The wheels stop turning, and the displays show 'open'. So far, reseating the power connector seems to fix the problem. I suspect there may be a bad solder joint, but I've yet to pull the CPU to investigate.

ATV Track

While I was working on the ATV track a few days ago, I figured it was just matter of time before there was an open in one of the control wires. These wires that run from the throttle pot and start button are thin, thin, THIN! To strip them, I use fingernails, but half the time I end up cutting through the whole dang wire. Anyway, I used the old wiresa and rethreaded a newere, more durable wireset for the start button.

F&F, Cosmic Bowler, ..

Boring day today, I replaced a few broken pin strings on our Cosmic Bowlers by Design Plus, and replaced a feedback belt on one of the Fast and Furious sit down racers. I'm still waiting to see what my Ghost Hunter is worth on trade in to our distriutor.

Saturdays

Saturdays are pretty busy around here, so no time to repair for the most part. I did notice that the LAI Giant Stacker is starting to open the prize gates again. This has been an ongoing problem, during game play the prize gate will open up for no reason. It usually indicates a bad sensor board. I've has this game about 8 months, and I think I've replaced about 8 sensor boards. Oh well, it earns it's keep.

Bromley Inc. Bad customer service-

We made a purchase earlier this year, that included the Bromley Ghost Hunter- It's a neat piece that I really enjoyed when I saw it at ASI. That, unfortunately, is the only nice things I have to say-

When it was delivered, it was obviously a floor model, or show piece that had seen some use. The coin and ticket meters each had several thousand plays, the piece was "pre-assembled" (Usually not a GOOD thing, unless I ask for it) and parts had show some wear and tear. Most noteably, the coin shooter assembly had worn paint, and the assembly was dirty.

No BIG DEAL, I like the piece, and figured warranty would cover any issues, right? WRONG.

The gun shooter assembly will not reject ANY coins, this means, it accepts pennies, nickes, ANY size tokens, etc. My coin box is seeing more and more nickels and pennies. I brought it up to my distributor who said he would address it with Bromley. Apparently, they've gone back and forth, for several weeks, finally ending with an email today saying that they are refusing to cover it under warranty.

BROMLEY

ATV Track, #2

Well, after the learning experience with the 1st ATV track, it went real simple. Undo a few bolts, a couple wacks with a hammer, and badda bing it's done. Although, apparently a bolt went missing, so I had to substitute. Now both games will be on the floor making money. Of course we had large group in earlier, now I'll go survey the damage.

Sega Lost World gun tracking

OK this tracking system SUCKS, Sega came up with this idea, and it blows. Most companies use an optical gun, that uses simple optics and light sensors. Technology that is tried and true, works like a charm.

Sega came up with this compilation of LED's surrounding the monitors and sensors inside the guns. There's like 30 led's on this thing, if one of them goes out or gets dim? BAM the whole system is screwy.

Anyway, I have a problem where BOTH of the guns in this game will not track or calibrate, you can check the LED's just by looking at them and seeing if they're lit. They are, so since BOTH guns are acting up, I figure it should, SHOULD, be the sensor control board ($270.00). Replaced the board and the guns still won't track.

So now, I'm ordering two of the gun sensors and hoping they'll fix the problem. Although it seems odd that they would both go out at the same time..

Sega Lost World KLOV

ATV Track, handlebar continued--

Well, after a few calls, I determined it was just matter of pure force to get the thing apart- Inside the bearing housings, are "DUH" bearings. Sometimes, they are held in with O-rings, but not this time. So last night, I took a big old hammer and smacked the shaft- it popped the bearings right out!

After a few bolts, switches, and other accessories, I was ready to pop the thing back together. A piece of wood, a couple of few wacks with the hammer, and everything is just fine.

The game is back together, and making money. Now I can do the other one- same problem, broken housing.

ATV Track, handlebar repair.

NAMCO / Gaelco made a really neat game called ATV track. The ATV moves and everything, which of course means more moving parts. A few years ago, the tray that held the handlebar assembly snapped at the mounting holes. I bought a few washers and cranked it down good. Well, that repair worked fine. Now, last week, the bearing housing which holds the handlebar shaft broke. Turns out the damned thing is made of pot metal. Anywho, I ordered a few parts, and now I'm trying to rebuild this thing.

ATV Track KLOV Listing

More to come...