Author Topic: Golden Tee 99 trackball PROBLEMS (Read 14295 times)

thehammer12 · « **on:** September 14, 2009, 06:18:21 pm »

I have Golden Tee 99 arcade game thats having a problem

The trackball moves left and right but its not doing it during the game, if I give it a little smack then it will change letters/change the clubs but other then that its not working.

Any ideas or ways to fix this??

SirPeale · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2009, 06:47:02 pm »

I just want to get this straight: you can see it working fine in test mode, but not in game mode?

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2009, 07:50:10 pm »

Check that the wiring harness connectors haven't come loose.

Pinball Wizard · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2009, 08:24:56 pm »

IIRC the age of the trackball can also lead to dying IR sender/receivers. I could be completely wrong so check our harness first of course.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2009, 01:05:43 pm »

SirPeale, no the actual ball moves all around but when Im playing the game it doesnt go left or right (to swtich clubs or letters for the name) , in test mode it does NOT go left or right either.

Kevin, do I should pull the connectors out and clean it?

Pinball wizard, how do I check the IR senders/receivers?

SirPeale · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2009, 03:28:05 pm »

The first thing I'd do is swap the wiring harness so up/down is on left/right and vice versa. Then test it again. If the problem travels, the issue is on the trackball PCB somewhere.

After you've done that, post back with your findings.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2009, 06:25:06 pm »

Ok so I noticed that the 2 connectors on the trackball were a little lose so I disconnected and reconnected and wala it all of a sudden started working for about 10 seconds, I was able to change the golf courses easily but when I was playing I WAS NOT able to change clubs. THENNNNN all of a sudden I decided to be a smart guy and restart the machine and now its NO LONGER SET ON free play I must know put coins in to get credits and there is no coin mech/box or credit button that is visible.

Either I have alot of lose wires or this is jacked up

ANYONE PLEASE HELP.

SirPeale · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2009, 06:32:26 pm »

It's a setting within setup, IIRC. Not a DIP switch setting. Check there first.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2009, 11:55:43 pm »

Whats IIRC and how do I check/fix it?

Im assuming the setup menu? if it is why does it work when I bang/tap it?

SirPeale · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2009, 03:59:24 am »

IIRC = If I Remember Correctly.

You were talking about the freeplay thing. IIRC freeplay is in the setup options.

I thought you fixed the trackball issues. By your text above you tightened the wiring and it started working.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2009, 11:13:46 am »

Quote from: thehammer12 on September 15, 2009, 06:25:06 pm

Ok so I noticed that the 2 connectors on the trackball were a little lose so I disconnected and reconnected and wala it all of a sudden started working for about 10 seconds, I was able to change the golf courses easily but when I was playing I WAS NOT able to change clubs. THENNNNN all of a sudden I decided to be a smart guy and restart the machine and now its NO LONGER SET ON free play I must know put coins in to get credits and there is no coin mech/box or credit button that is visible.

Either I have alot of lose wires or this is jacked up

ANYONE PLEASE HELP.

It only worked for about 10 seconds, I was able to change the golf courses easily but then when the game started it stopped working.

SirPeale · « **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2009, 02:17:59 pm »

It's probably still either a loose connection, or a broken solder joint on the trackball PCB. Swap the input wires and see if the problem travels to up/down.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:03:37 pm »

Ok so no broken solder joint or anything but I opened the trackball and now it seems that everything is backwards on the ball. Im so confused about whats going on here. Maybe If I post pics of the inside someone can tell me whats wrong.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:04:13 pm »

Where can I get a new one from for cheap?

SirPeale · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:26:12 pm »

What do you mean everything looks backwards?

You don't need a whole new trackball, you've established that it's already working and just needs repair.

Since you're confused about what's going on in the trackball, do you really know what a broken solder joint looks like?

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:58:43 pm »

Quote from: thehammer12 on September 15, 2009, 06:25:06 pm

Ok so I noticed that the 2 connectors on the trackball were a little lose so I disconnected and reconnected and wala it all of a sudden started working for about 10 seconds

Like Peale is trying to say.... you have an "intermittent" problem which indicates something is loose, i.e. a bad connection.
Might be the connectors themselves not making a tight contact with the pins on the pcb.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2009, 12:57:09 am »

SirPeale: I meant to say that the ball is now going backwards (backswing is forward, forward is backswing)...if its a broken solder joint then would it still go left or right when I tap it??

Kevin Mullins, I checked the connections and everything looks good.

Would a high quality picture help out???

thehammer12 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2009, 01:48:09 pm »

ok so here is what I found out after reopening the trackball.

1st. I notice the track ball rollers were a bit dirty and so was the black sensors on the mini pc boards, so I wiped them clean with a paper towel, and then it started working when I put it back together and tested it.

2. I was playing and I was ABLE to switch clubs and letters and the BAM the 2nd round of golf the clubs stopped changing.

Any ideas?

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2009, 01:53:13 pm »

Grab a couple pics of the little pcb on the trackball.
Both sides, connector side and solder side.

From everything you keep describing...... every time you touch it it will start to work for a bit.... then it randomly quits...... still sounds like a bad connection or broken joint/trace on the pcb.

And yes, do make sure those optics are good and clean.
You also want to make sure the rollers aren't worn in the middle where the ball contacts, that'll cause intermittent issues as well.

SirPeale · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2009, 02:46:13 pm »

A LITTLE wear on the rollers is okay, but if it's really worn down you def want to replace them.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:51:33 pm »

Ok I will post pictures of it, but lets assume its the PCB? where can I get those from? and do you know where I can get a new trackball from for cheap??

SirPeale · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2009, 04:16:02 pm »

Stop with the replace - REPAIR. Your equipment is fine, it just needs TLC.

If everyone that had little problems with their equipment just replaced it when something went wrong with it, there would be precious little of it in the world.

smalltownguy · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2009, 08:39:50 pm »

RE: parts -- please post pictures. Then we'll be able to help you better...

thehammer12 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 22, 2009, 05:22:47 pm »

sorry for the delay, here are the pics.

What can I use to clean it.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #24 on:** September 22, 2009, 05:38:24 pm »

Looks like you need rollers.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 22, 2009, 05:41:42 pm »

Can it be cleaned or switched?? if not where can I get them from?

SirPeale · « **Reply #26 on:** September 22, 2009, 06:44:37 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Mullins on September 22, 2009, 05:38:24 pm

Looks like you need rollers.

I was going to say the opposite - there's barely any wear there.

I'd touch up ever solder joint on the two encoders though. Clean the pins with a fine sandpaper.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #27 on:** September 22, 2009, 07:05:02 pm »

Well I was looking at the overall taper at least that one encoder roller appears to have. (not just the little center discolored area) Especially compared to the lower roller in the pic, which is obviously good.
The other encoder roller appears to have the normal center wear you expect to see.

Might just be the angle of pic or something too.

Is the one I underlined in the pic the direction that has been giving you trouble ?

thehammer12 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 22, 2009, 07:42:42 pm »

I believe its the roller on the right (angle) which is maybe not catching or slipping. I just gave it a good cleaning so hopefully after that it will work. If not I guess I will order new rollers.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #29 on:** September 22, 2009, 09:03:02 pm »

You should try it by hand while you still have it apart. (spin the encoder rollers with your finger and see if they react properly in the game)

THEN...... put it back together and see what it does.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #30 on:** September 23, 2009, 12:56:52 am »

Good idea Kevin, I didnt put it back in the cab yet so I will be sure to try that first thing in the morning.

thehammer12 · « **Reply #31 on:** September 27, 2009, 06:43:34 pm »

Alright so the past few days the game has been playing perfect and today the trackball did it again

It wont let me switch clubs or letters, Im assuming its the worn out rollers so Im gonna try replacing the rollers ..... unless there is any other suggestions??

SirPeale · « **Reply #32 on:** September 27, 2009, 07:11:18 pm »

It's not the rollers. If the ball is rolling then it's turning the encoder wheel.

ninjazx71 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:21:19 pm »

Sounds like maybe a bad ground connection? I had a similar issue with my Golden Tee '99 and one of the ground wires in the loop didn't have a good enough connection so the ball would work periodically... just something else to check out...


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