Op Wolf problem - any of you experts seen this before?

[RickDIII]

Hey all,

Hoping one of you can help me out.  I picked up and Operation Wolf machine this weekend.  When I tested it out it was working great.  The recoil in the gun works well (although maybe a little weak).  The screen registers shots and everything else seemed to be working well.  The artwork was in great shape except for the top of the CP.

Anyway, after playing it for about 15 minutes I picked it up. 

Now - the problem that did not start happening until after an hour or two of play.  It will suddenly lock up for a second and then reboot.  I can not seem to establish a distinct pattern or timeframe...completely random, sometimes you can play for 45 minutes with no problems, other times it happens in the first two minutes.  I've checked for loose connections, etc.  Any ideas?  Is the board on it's way out?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Rick

[yugffuts]

I had an NBA Jam that displayed similar symptoms, and I determined the power supply was bad.  It would occassionally drop the +5 it sent to the board to a level below what the board required, triggering a reset. 

If you have a spare PS, it should be quick and painless to swap in and see if it helps you out.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Thanks for any suggestions,
Rick

Not unusual..... It's normally an overheating problem on Op-Wolf...... Check and clear all the dust out of the vents and hoover out the main board also fit a fan to the case if it's still playing up.

Could also be dry solder joints somewhere that are moving as the components expand under heat.

Could also be aging caps in the PSU.... but more likely to be the first two.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[RickDIII]

Thanks all! 

I'll check the power supply, but I suspect Fozzy might be correct.  The things been in a guys shed for 3 years and after looking a little closer I can see that the coat of dust on the boards is pretty thick.  I need to open it up and clean the mirror, monitor, plexi, and lens as well. 

I'll also check for dry solder joints.  Am I correct that I would be looking for a joint that is cracked and/or pitted?  Maybe one that looks a little more faded than shiny?  Any other hints?

Anything to be careful of when cleaning the screen, mirror, etc. ?

It also smells like a bowling alley (cig smoke) but I know I've seen whole topics on getting the odor before...I'm pretty sure I can dig that answer out of the archives.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Anything to be careful of when cleaning the screen, mirror, etc. ?

Not really..... except, don't use anything abrasive... Use a good quality glass cleaner and a soft cloth on the mirror and monitor and don't let it run down into other components, is about all you need to do..

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Guaranos]

It also smells like a bowling alley (cig smoke) but I know I've seen whole topics on getting the odor before...I'm pretty sure I can dig that answer out of the archives.

If the inside of the cabinet is painted, cleaning it with some rags soaked in a weak TSP/water mixture can do wonders for the cigarette smell.  I'd avoid using the TSP on the artwork, or at least try it out in an inconspicuous spot, as it could lead to discoloration if mixed too strong.

A few years back, I bought a house that was previously owned by smokers, and ended up washing all of the walls with TSP.  You could see the tar dripping down the walls as soon as the TSP hit it.  A coat of paint over the newly cleaned walls, and even a friend of mine with severe sensitivity to cigarette smoke/smell couldn't tell that the place had ever been smoked in.