Author Topic: roadblasters - no left/right control (Read 6588 times)

ElGwako · « **on:** February 03, 2006, 11:06:07 pm »

I don't beleive this is worth me putting more money into so "sending it out" isn't worth it. I'm pretty sure this is a board problem since i have 3 yoke and none of them fix the problem. I traced the wires to the board and checked to make sure they were connected correctly and there was continuity (no broken wires). All "looks" good. I was wondering where else i can take a look. I have another system 1 board which i tried and it appears to be a bad board so it didn't help me.
any suggestion apprecitated.
thanks

RayB · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:34:29 am »

Quote from: ElGwako on February 03, 2006, 11:06:07 pm

"I'm pretty sure this is a board problem"

And that problem would be... what exactly? Your whole post sounds more like you're replying to another message. If not, describe the problem.

ElGwako · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2006, 09:14:57 am »

Quote from: RayB on February 04, 2006, 12:34:29 am

Quote from: ElGwako on February 03, 2006, 11:06:07 pm
"I'm pretty sure this is a board problem"

And that problem would be... what exactly? Your whole post sounds more like you're replying to another message. If not, describe the problem.

Sorry, the problem i have is mentioned in the subject title.....No left and right control. I am not able to move left and right. Everything else works great. I'm not sure how much more there is to tell to describe it better than "no left/right control".
to recap:
I cannot move left or right. I have swapped out the yokes and still have the same problem. All fire buttons work fine. I traced the wires to the board and none are broken and all is connected correctly. I don't believe this game is worth sticking more $$ into to send it out. I was just hoping to get other suggestions on what else i can look at. I do have a spare System 1 board that does not work. If it can be used for parts that'd be fine. I am not a technician by any means...just a hobbyist. I looked over the schematic to see if i can pinpoint where it is controlled from the board but i am still learning things as i go and i have resorted to asking for help.
any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks

APFelon · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2006, 11:13:30 am »

Do you have a PDF of the schematics available (board schematics, not a cabinet wiring diagram)?

Have you checked the PCB for cut traces or loose components? Howabout some third-party "hack" that wore out over time?

Does Roadblasters have a self-test? Do the chips test good?

Good luck

APf

ElGwako · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:00:41 pm »

Quote from: APFelon on February 04, 2006, 11:13:30 am

Do you have a PDF of the schematics available (board schematics, not a cabinet wiring diagram)?

Have you checked the PCB for cut traces or loose components? Howabout some third-party "hack" that wore out over time?

Does Roadblasters have a self-test? Do the chips test good?

Good luck

APf

Thank you-
yes the chips test good though i will do it again, there was something about it that i had questioned but it was a while ago.

I do have the .pdf and traced things the best i could for my novice experience. As far as the line traces go, they do look good.

third party hack

i will google that idea and see what i come up with. My spare board does have a bunch of wires attached to pin legs and even a double stacked IC. The board in question has only one or 2 wires attached to pin legs. I was curious of that and did look for info with no luck. I will try again with the word hack in the keyword i guess.
thanks for your input....much appreciated

grantspain · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:06:06 pm »

sorry for being a bit stupid but do you have a steering fault,and whats a yoke?
not heard that expression used in arcade games other than tube yokes(could be just an english thing).

ElGwako · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:30:16 pm »

Quote from: grantspain on February 04, 2006, 02:06:06 pm

sorry for being a bit stupid but do you have a steering fault,and whats a yoke?
not heard that expression used in arcade games other than tube yokes(could be just an english thing).

sorry, yoke is a term used for a flight contoller mostly....I AM using the word wrong. Most everyone ends up calling the roadblasters control a yoke because of it similarity (in looks only) to the Star Wars contoller i guess. Roadblasters only goes left and right whereas a true "yoke" goes left/right/up and down. I believe it came from the true flight contols in jets which if i am not mistaken are called yokes.

It could be the controller still i guess, however i have 3 and all do the same.

ElGwako · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:34:18 pm »

Quote from: APFelon on February 04, 2006, 11:13:30 am

Do

Does Roadblasters have a self-test? Do the chips test good?

I remember the problem with the test. In order to advance through the selections i believe i need to go left and right . I cannot seem to choose any option other than first one highlighted. there are a bunch of selections i cannot access without the control it seems.
I've been at this most the day.I'm just about to pull the board again and play with the spare. Maybe it's an easier fix for my level.
thanks

grantspain · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2006, 04:13:10 pm »

sounds like a board problem probably adc chip(analogue/digital converter),if all your wires meter through ok.dont those controllers have 2 pots(up/down and left/right),and you have tried 3 so that rules out the controller,unless you have a wire in the wrong place looks like a board fault-is there no way you can navigate the test menu?

APFelon · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2006, 05:07:17 pm »

Did you check the pot? Did you check for broken wires at the pot? Did you make sure the gear from the wheel/yoke turns the gear on the pot...?

Impulsively, I don't think it's a board problem, but that's just a hunch and nothing more. It's just odd to me (being unfamiliar with the System 1 hardware and all) that you have coin / brakes / gas / fire button and no left and right.

That just screams "BAD POT" to me. Or maybe "BROKEN WIRE AT THE POT". Could even be "BROKEN GEAR".

Yes, arcade machines scream at me.

ElGwako · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2006, 06:23:33 pm »

Quote from: APFelon on February 04, 2006, 05:07:17 pm

That just screams "BAD POT" to me. Or maybe "BROKEN WIRE AT THE POT". Could even be "BROKEN GEAR".

Yes, arcade machines scream at me.

I'll give it a look since i haven't. I am assuming though, since i tried 3 different controls and all do the same, that it is not the control...but it could be a common issue, i don't know. no broken wires from the control board to the main board.

thank you for your input.

ElGwako · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2006, 06:29:03 pm »

Quote from: grantspain on February 04, 2006, 04:13:10 pm

is there no way you can navigate the test menu?

I can only navigate from one set of tests to another. any test that has options i cannot choose any option other than the one already highlighted.
I was hoping this was an easy issue to pinpoint where on the board controls the movement but with 2 kids up my behind it is tough to concentrate.
Looks like i am putting this down for tonight.
On a good note, i got the cab all cleaned up and looking good.
thanks for your time

APFelon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2006, 07:33:19 pm »

Do you have proper voltage at the board? (~5.1 VDC)

APf

Kremmit · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2006, 11:15:41 pm »

Just because you've got three "yokes"

doesn't mean you don't have three sets of bad optics. Connect one up to a mousehack, opti-pac, opti-wiz, other game or whatever, and verify that's not the problem before you go crazy on board repairs.

ElGwako · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2006, 09:53:23 am »

Quote from: Kremmit on February 04, 2006, 11:15:41 pm

Just because you've got three "yokes" doesn't mean you don't have three sets of bad optics. Connect one up to a mousehack, opti-pac, opti-wiz, other game or whatever, and verify that's not the problem before you go crazy on board repairs.

True, all 3 could be bad for sure. I was actually looking for a way to test the optics. I will look further into your suggestion. If it still fails i will probably resort to having someone physically taking a look for me. I believe i have met the end of my capabilities.
thank you

RayB · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2006, 11:48:01 am »

The 3 could be bad, but I think the odds are against it...

Kremmit · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2006, 05:46:36 pm »

Quote from: RayB on February 06, 2006, 11:48:01 am

The 3 could be bad, but I think the odds are against it...

I found out a while back that if you always bet with the odds, you win most of the time, but you also lose some of the time. This is good if you're making lots of bets, but if it's a one-time deal, not so good.

APFelon · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2006, 06:21:41 pm »

I like your pirate avatar.

Just kidding.

If I were to bet, I'd wager that the issue is off-board. It's just too isolated to be a board issue IMHO. I wish I could look at it.

APf

WaRpEd · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2006, 10:04:32 pm »

When I had my roadblasters the pot in the steering wheel would become loose and turning left and right was impossible. Check the pot with an ohm meter and see if the resistance reading changes when tuning the wheel.
I fiddled with mine until I finally replaced the pot.

Kremmit · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:58:03 pm »

Quote from: WaRpEd on February 10, 2006, 10:04:32 pm

When I had my roadblasters the pot in the steering wheel would become loose and turning left and right was impossible. Check the pot with an ohm meter and see if the resistance reading changes when tuning the wheel.
I fiddled with mine until I finally replaced the pot.

There's no pot in a Roadblasters wheel. Boy are you embarrased.

APFelon · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:47:30 am »

Does Roadblasters use optos? Wow.

If that's the case, you can pick up an opto sensor strip at Radio Shack for a dollar or two. Place the strip between the opto and the receiver and you *should* see a glow on the strip. If not, check the solder joints.

APf

ElGwako · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2006, 11:08:44 am »

Quote from: APFelon on February 11, 2006, 09:47:30 am

Does Roadblasters use optos? Wow.

If that's the case, you can pick up an opto sensor strip at Radio Shack for a dollar or two. Place the strip between the opto and the receiver and you *should* see a glow on the strip. If not, check the solder joints.

APf

NICE!! now that is something i did not know of! thanks!!! I'm on my way.

I am getting a flutter of the vehicle when i try to move left or right. It flutters in the direction i move to but does not actually move the car. I am leaning more toward an optics problem now. I think only one of the 3 controls i tried did it, whereas the other 2 did nothing at all. I gotta try all 3 again to be sure though as it was the last one i tried that i noticed it happening.
I am going to get the sensor strip now though so i'll be back
THANKS!!

ElGwako · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2006, 01:53:38 pm »

Quote from: APFelon on February 04, 2006, 05:07:17 pm

Impulsively, I don't think it's a board problem, but that's just a hunch and nothing more. It's just odd to me (being unfamiliar with the System 1 hardware and all) that you have coin / brakes / gas / fire button and no left and right.

.

annoyed....very annoyed. Yet happy! I never made it to radio shack, yet anyway. I checked the control again to compare the reaction of the 3 of them. As i thought, one showed a little reaction whereas the other 2 did not. I played around with all the connections on the suspected good one. I even did a basic clean up,wiggled the pins a little, blew out the connectors and such.
Everything was tight and clean looking.....really nothing obvious at all. I connected it back up and well........i've been playing it ever since, i just came up to grab a sandwich.
Son a of a mother ....can you believe it! I almost feel pissed off to be honest. I've tinkered with it for months. I swapped this and that making one nice control setup out of the 3. All the while hooking it up and trying different things and checking different connections.
anyway, it works. I'm going to play a little longer and go get that strip from radio shack
thanks for taking the time guys, Suggestions and APFelons deduction was logical enough for me to get back to it being a control issue....thanks

grantspain · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2006, 03:32:40 pm »

just a message,flight type controls in the u.k use two pots x/y axis this is the case on star wars plus others.in the u.k we tend to shun opto wheel type controls because of all the problems with dirt,british pubs and arcades tend to be very dirty,smokey places.

APFelon · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2006, 05:07:49 pm »

Cool! Glad you got it figured out and didn't have to pay 75$/hour for a tech.

We have a Roadblasters CP in the shop, and I forgot to have a look at it to see whether it has a pot or an opto wheel. Judging by some of the responses here, there may have been two versions. I don't think I can remember seeing a 270 degree wheel with an opto sensor instead of a potentiometer. Learning experience for me as well.

Best of luck, and have fun!

APf

Rocky · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2006, 05:16:15 pm »

All the RoadBlaster cotrols used optics, no pots.

Just a question for others with a RoadBlasters. Is there a tree in the middle of the road on level 38? It's right at the beginning of the level.

I never played the game until I bought it. very odd.

APFelon · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2006, 09:41:15 pm »

You are certain for European versions?

APf

Kremmit · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2006, 10:13:23 pm »

Quote from: grantspain on February 11, 2006, 03:32:40 pm

just a message,flight type controls in the u.k use two pots x/y axis this is the case on star wars plus others.in the u.k we tend to shun opto wheel type controls because of all the problems with dirt,british pubs and arcades tend to be very dirty,smokey places.

That's the case on Star Wars and all of our X & Y flight controls, too. But Roadblasters only has one axis, the handles don't move, and they're all optical, even in the UK.

APFelon · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2006, 10:50:26 pm »

ElGwako · « **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2006, 10:42:35 am »

Quote from: Rocky on February 12, 2006, 05:16:15 pm

All the RoadBlaster cotrols used optics, no pots.

Just a question for others with a RoadBlasters. Is there a tree in the middle of the road on level 38? It's right at the beginning of the level.

I never played the game until I bought it. very odd.

I do believe i saw one using a pot on ebay a while ago. I wouldn't doubt it was modified though.

Just played for a little bit. There is a tree, but on level 35. I had forgotten about it.

RayB · « **Reply #30 on:** February 14, 2006, 12:12:45 am »

Quote from: ElGwako on February 13, 2006, 10:42:35 am

I do believe i saw one using a pot on ebay a while ago. I wouldn't doubt it was modified though.

I think you're thinking of the one 2-3 months ago that was in the middle of being modified into an XY yoke. The guy had it only half-done, but had installed a POT in it.

ElGwako · « **Reply #31 on:** February 14, 2006, 06:45:03 am »

Quote from: RayB on February 14, 2006, 12:12:45 am

I think you're thinking of the one 2-3 months ago that was in the middle of being modified into an XY yoke. The guy had it only half-done, but had installed a POT in it.

That is entirely possible RayB. About 3 months ago is when i got the machine and was looking for items for it.


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