Gotllieb replacement boards?

[Karetaker]

Does anybody know where I can get replacement boards for a Gottlieb Rocky pinball machine.

Thanks

[D_Zoot]

To the best of my knowledge, nobody is doing replacment boards for Gottlieb System 80 systems except for replacment power supply boards.

[Karetaker]

The main problem is it's a Gottlieb. I've worked on it off and on for a while. It started with nothing, dead. I replaced a bad bridge, and fixed the power supply as it was missing a voltage. I pulled the boards and cleaned the edge connectors. Replace several bad pins. Now, the displays come up sometimes, or they come up with an 11  11 in the top display. Once in a while I can get the displays to look normal with zeros, but it won't go into game play. I pulled all the socketed chips and cleaned the pins. Went over the solders, and tried adding some extra ground connections here and there. I found a bad TTL chip and replaced that. I just can't remember everything I did to it.... but that's part of it anyway. I just need to get this thing fixed one way or the other and get it out of my shop. If it was mine it would have already been stripped and burnt as firewood.

[D_Zoot]

The main problem is it's a Gottlieb.

 

Hey now, that's not fair!!    Sure, Gott's of that vintage weren't the best machines out there and gameplay wasn't as good as Williams of the same era,  but properly "fixed" System 80x games could be just as reliable.  With the ground mods done and a few other tweaks they keep on running.  Heck, I've got two of them on the route still!!

Got a logic probe or an o-scope?  Looked at the troubleshooting info at Marvin's yet? Check the slam switch circuit?  Besides power/ground issues, a bad reset section or a failed RIOT chip is the most likely cause for a cpu that doesn't boot (which it sounds like yours isn't completing the boot process).


D

[Karetaker]

YOU'VE GOT THEM ON A ROUTE!?!?!?!

I used to have some of the newer style Gotts out, but nothing like this one. One day I made an executive decision, if the manufacture of a pinball started with the letter "G" it got sold. It's funny how my pinball service calls saw a dramatic drop after that.

*sighs* Yes I've checked out Marvins page.... I guess I'm going to have to do everything to it.

[D_Zoot]

YOU'VE GOT THEM ON A ROUTE!?!?!?!

Yup, I do!

The last to go back on the route was a Robo-war.

[Karetaker]

You're braver than me.

OK

[D_Zoot]

Yes, that's right at Marvin's.   The goal is to reduce the load on the diode.  Raising the resistance of the resistor reduces the current flow so CR7 doesn't have to handle as much. The resistor change brings the 12v closer to the zener voltage of CR7, reducing it's load.  In this case such a large wattage resistor isn't really needed.

Keep me posted, I'm curious how you make out and if you have CPU board issues.

Regards,
D
 

[ClubNinja]

I just wanted to add my envy here.  Rocky isn't an easy pin to find and I certainly want one.  Pictures?

[Karetaker]

How about if I take pictures of my wood stove, as this is where this thing is going to wind up. I can't take pictures and post them sorry. I don't have a digital camera, and I wouldn't know where to begin anyhow.

After doing the power supply mods it's now blowing the "F2" fuse. So, I pulled it apart yet AGAIN, and can't find anything wrong. Time to triple check, fuses don't blow for no reason. This thing is making me want to kick Stallone's ass. I've worked on less than a handful of these Gottliebs in my time... so I'm not extremely familiar with them. The ones I did work on were never this bad. Very frustrating indeed. If it was mine this thing would have been stripped long ago. I would have taken great joy in tearing this thing apart and putting it out of it's misery.... and mine.

[ChadTower]

I'd like to put in my sorrow at seeing minty older pins go out on route to be trashed.   

[2600]

Just curious, but how much value do you get out of a pin like this one let's say that is stripped as opposed to selling the whole thing?  No matter how I write that it it sounds SmartA#@, but I'm being serious.

I've been off and on looking for project pins that need electrical work.

[ChadTower]

You can get a borderline pin and maybe make a small amount of cash parting it out, but then you have to deal with the physical recovery of ClubNinja and I driving to your home and slapping you around for a couple hours.

[Karetaker]

Time is money, and parts aren't free. So, if a pin is going to cost me more money to fix than it's worth then I'm losing money. Now, if it was a Williams, Bally, or a Data East that would be different to me. It's a Gottlieb, and to me not nearly as dear to my heart as the others would be. I just finished stripping an old shuffle alley. It would have cost more to fix than the thing was worth. Putting a $1,000 into a machine you can only sell for $500 will put you out of business quick. If it was a hobby then it would be different, who cares about time. This isn't my hobby, it's my job. I usually try to sell them "As Is" first. If there aren't any takers then it's time for some good old stripping. It can be really therapeutic...hehehe. However, this Gottlieb is a home call. I threw out a big number to fix the thing and thought that would be it. But, it has some sentimental value to the guy and he told me to go ahead and fix it. I'm trying to get it done for him before Christmas. But, it's just been one thing after the other with this pin. Now I'm thinking that big number I threw at this guy wasn't big enough. I'm just frustrated with it at the moment.... which is probably being reflected here.

[ChadTower]

Time is money, and parts aren't free. So, if a pin is going to cost me more money to fix than it's worth then I'm losing money.

To many people, and I would wager a larger percentage at BYOAC than at many arcade forums, this has nothing to do with money in/money out.  This isn't a business, it is a hobby, and many of us do not balk at spending more than a game is worth to get it minty and perfect.

Now, if it was a Williams, Bally, or a Data East that would be different to me. It's a Gottlieb, and to me not nearly as dear to my heart as the others would be.

To you, perhaps, but I happen to like Gottliebs, and I know there are others here who are very partial to early SS pins... the more obscure the better. 

If it was a hobby then it would be different, who cares about time. This isn't my hobby, it's my job. I usually try to sell them "As Is" first. If there aren't any takers then it's time for some good old stripping. It can be really therapeutic...hehehe.

That said, and it is a fair thing for you to have said, you can expect a certain amount of backlash at BYOAC whenever you mention stripping an existing complete (even though nonworking) game.

[ClubNinja]

Stripping games does make sad; however, there are times when I'll allow it.  For example, I needed a specific Game Plan drop target and bumper coil.  Given that I am one of possibly four people in North America who cares about Game Plan pins, paired with their general rarity/obscurity, the odds weren't looking too good for me.  Eventually, a guy contacted me who had a playfield from a Game Plan pin that was entirely worn to the wood and missing several pieces.  It did, magically, have some complete drop targets and a couple of coils.  Stripping parts from that one is OK with me - it's a lost cause.

If it's in reasonable cosmetic shape and can be fixed, then it ought to be fixed.  Of course, if you're in it for business, then you won't care as much - and, like Chad said, the angry hobbyists will complain about it.

To you, perhaps, but I happen to like Gottliebs, and I know there are others here who are very partial to early SS pins... the more obscure the better.

That's me.  Familiar with Game Plans and Zaccarias?  I didn't think so.  While I have warm spots for a few Williams and Bally games, those oddball pins receive (and deserve) the most love.

[Karetaker]

Did you even read my post ChadTower? I didn't think so.

If you like Gottliebs it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I don't like them, I think the system 80 boards are junk. I can only recall working on four pins of this era. But, each one was a nightmare, but not quite as horrible as this one. I'm sure you are right that there are more guys here who do it as a hobby. But, do you think I'm the only one here doing it for a living? It seems to me that some of the best advice given here is by guys doing it for a living.... Ken Layton perhaps. Don't cut me off at the knees because you disagree with me.

The shuffle alley I stripped was completely UNFIXABLE!!!! It was worthless and part of a 4 shuffle alley deal. I've already fixed and sold two with one more to fix. So don't get to worked up about me stripping a game. It's not like I'm stripping an Adams Family or Harley Davidson pin. And like I said, If a machine isn't worth fixing TO ME, I put it out there for sale AS IS... like I said. I don't charge an arm and a leg for it. If the Rocky was mine I'd sell it for $95 as is. The space in my shop is more valuable than that pin WORKING. Backlash all you want I didn't mean to offend anybody. Furthermore, I'm truly happy that there are people who DO like Gottliebs. I didn't have any problem selling mine to the home market and am very glad to see ALL of them gone. Like I said I'm just frustrated with it at the moment.

I fixed two pins that where on fire.... so I think I can get Rocky back on his feet for round 9.... or course they were a Data East and A Bally so they were worth fixing.

[Karetaker]

Anyhow..... all the power supply mods are done and the power supply is working. All the voltages are looking good. Hopefully I can finish the rest tomorrow then it's on to the main board problem. It's like this thing got struck with lightning, there's problems everywhere!

[ChadTower]

Did you even read my post ChadTower? I didn't think so.

Because I disagree with you, somehow I didn't even read it?

I addressed your points and tried to make you aware that this is the wrong place to be talking about parting out machines.

Sorry for trying to warn you.  You'll see.

[paigeoliver]

Oddly enough of the assorted pins I have dealt with I have had more trouble with Williams and Data East pins that Gottlieb ones. I racked up thousands of plays on my Victory with no problems other than a few broken targets (which I replaced of course), and the other Gottlieb I had only needed one tiny repair that I personally couldn't track down, but the guy who bought it from me had it fixed in like 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to get a Black Knight working right for a friend for months now. My friend Dave's Dr. Who has needed to be fixed several times now, and I used to have a Bally EM that I couldn't even begin to figure out. I also had a Robocop that had several problems that I couldn't track down, although none of them really affected gameplay all that much (many missing sounds and lights).

[ChadTower]

Well, 20 years later, reliability is prett much a function of how much maintenance has been done on the machine and how long it was on route.  You can't judge reliability on a pin anymore, too much history on any given machine.

[Karetaker]

Look I'm just trying to fix a machine here. I'm not going to get into a debate of whether you think my business practices are acceptable. I can tell you're not an Op that's for sure. You're right I'm the bad guy. I'm the idiot who won't put more money into a machine than it's worth. All I'm trying to do is get a machine fixed that I am not very familiar with. Forgive me for coming here for help. My mistake. I didn't know this was an exclusive club for collectors. I apologise for trying to make money with my business.... what was I thinking.

Sheesh... It's just my opinion that Gottliebs are terrible. It's not etched in stone. I can tell you that looking back through my call logs that the last dozen home calls I got for pins were ALL Gottliebs. It's probably safe to say that 8 out of 10 home pin calls I get are for Gots. I turn them down. The only reason I took this one is because he had a Ms Pacman cotail that needed fixed along with the Rocky. Maybe there are more Gottliebs in the home market than all the Bally, Williams, Data East, Sterns, and everything else combined. That I can't say. Right now I really don't care... like I said I'm just trying to get this one fixed. So, if you have some HELPFUL input then I would truly appreciate it. If you want to curse me out, and tell me how horrible of a person I am then by all means just PM me. Because I am DONE discussing it here.

BTW... thanks D_Zoot for clearing that up for my, I appreciate it.

[ChadTower]

I'm not going to get into a debate of whether you think my business practices are acceptable.

We didn't say they were unacceptable.   We went out of our way to be accepting of the fact that this is your livelihood.

What I am trying to point out is that this is not an OP site, it is a hobbyist site, and you are going to encounter mostly hobbyist agenda here. 

Hey, look at that, it happened. 

[Karetaker]

See I'm the kind of man that means what he says.

I'm done with that discussion. I need helpful information with the pinball. Anything else has no relevance to me. I am grateful for the information that has already been posted. I don't care if the information comes from a hobbyist, or an operater. All helpful information is appreciated by me.

[Karetaker]

Does anyone know what "Q49" is for on the driver board on this Rocky. I don't have a book and this board is missing that transistor. It would be nice to know what its for before I replace it.

Thanks much

[D_Zoot]

Karetaker,

From what I can see having a quick look, Q49 is for circuit L48 (lamps) and on Rocky isn't used.   

It would be pin E on A3J3,  is there even a wire there?  Probably somebody knew that Q49 wasn't used and borrowed it to use elsewhere on the board, or it was never populated from the factory.


Regards,
D

[Karetaker]

Thanks D-Zoot, you're correct, there is no wire there. I've done the same thing on location. Swipe one not being used to replace a bad one. It's kind of like have a spare tire in the trunk.

Thanks again.