Tapper Problem

[Karetaker]

I'm having an issue with a Tapper Machine. All that comes up is colored bars on the screen. I was going to do the usually, pull the chips and clean the pins. Also there are these short 24 pin single row ribbon cables that are looking pretty bad. I already checked my local electronic suppler and they don't have any and don't know where to get any. Does anyone know where I can get these ribbon cables? Also any advice on this machine would be appreciated as this is my first Tapper fix.

Thanks

[grantspain]

whats a tapper machine?

[MustardTent]

Game in which the goal is to serve beer.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=12839

Plenty o' fun.

[Edit]
Geez, is it really worth this much?
[/Edit]

[grantspain]

its not something as daft as a coin switch jammed down,i am only saying this as i had a fault on a crypt killers that did the same with the colour bars and i removed the board,psu and checked all the cables and then after about four hours found the coin switch jammed in the down position-worth a quick check

[NightGod]

[Edit]
Geez, is it really worth this much?
[/Edit]

*Maybe* if it was a Budweiser Tapper, in mint condition, but that's a Root Beer....no way its worth that much.

[RayB]

The BEZEL is RootBeer Tapper but the rest of the machine isn't. It's the rare version with color side-art. (Assuming it wasn't repro'd)

[NightGod]

Good point, I only glanced at it for a second and saw the words "Root Beer" didn't even check the screenshot with Budweiser on the back wall nor did I pay attention to the artwork.

Seems silly of them not to update the bezel, though, almost makes me a bit suspicous-I wonder how hard it would be to burn a Budweiser ROM and drop it in there and put some repro art on the side. That bezel is just so incongruous with the rest of the machine.

[Karetaker]

Thanks Grantspain I'll check it when I take the boards back. It's a home call. He said he never turns the machines off. He said he left for work one day and when he came home it was like that with the color bars. But I will give it a check. I thought it might just be a service switch on at first. But, that wasn't the case.

Thanks again.

[SirPeale]

We had a Gauntlet: Legends machine that Mumbles assumed that the boardset was bad.  It was doing the color bar thing you're mentioning, graintspain.  Made me ship it right out without even testing it in shop.  I shrugged and did so.

It was returned in a month, they said there was nothing wrong with it.

In the meantime, the machine was pulled from the campground it was at, because it was the end of the season.  Put the board into it...color bars.

WTF.  Thought maybe there was something about this JAMMA harness that was just a bit off, so put it in our monitor test bench...fires right up.  Hm...

Try another machine, a Cruis'n USA.  Same thing as on the Gauntlet cab.  Interesting...

Bring it back to Gauntlet, fire it up, same thing.  Start unhooking harnesses one by one.  When I unplugged the control panel harness, it fired up.  That's when I noticed that one of the buttons was stuck down.  Popped it off, reconnected all harnesses, fired right up.

I kinda doubt that's what's wrong with your Tapper, but it's worth mentioning.

Check your voltages.

[Karetaker]

Interesting Peale. I did check the 5v when I was at the guys house. It was fine. These ribbons just really bother me. They are peeling apart which doesn't thrill me. I have a monitor I fixed for the guy too, so maybe I'll take the boards back and make absolutely sure that the problem isn't something like you're saying.

Thanks

[grantspain]

yeah,this is a wierd fault-if the pcb was shot you would have jargon or no display-i think its something to do with the switch inputs maybe something like that ribbon cable shorting or maybe even an ic on the board-how easy is it to trace the switch inputs through the board-bet they all go to one ic maybe a darlington or older ls type ic,also how easy is it to dis all your switch inputs so all have is voltage and rgb output?

[RayB]

I've seen those ribbon cables get horribly cracked and flaking, but in the end, the metal traces seem to be much more resilient than the plastic around them. So chances are your ribbons are fine, but make sure everything is connected nice and tight.

[LPZ]

Metal traces.....resilient?  I have a spy hunter which is the same as tapper, tron, etc.  I thought I had a board problem also, till I replaced those ribbon cables.  One of my cables looked horrible, but still had continuity   Game fired up, but just played weird.  Replaced the cables and it plays normal.  Junk those ribbon cables and  :notworthy:chuk over at RGVAC will take care of you.  He makes custom ones for $13 shipped.  Bob Roberts also sells them, but they are about $22 + shipping.  FWIW, I'll send you my old ones for shipping if your interested.

LPZ   

[Karetaker]

hehehe.... I'll pass on the old ribbons LPZ. Thanks for the info. I'm going to replace them.

Thanks again.

[Karetaker]

The email doesn't seem to work on Bob Roberts page. Anyone got an email address for him?  Or does anyone have any info on RGVAC, a link or phone number. I defiantly need these tapper ribbons.

Thanks

[LPZ]

Chuk's email is chuk at ourcade dot com.  Email him to see if he has any left in stock.  If your lucky, he does.

LPZ

 

[RayB]

The email doesn't seem to work on Bob Roberts page. Anyone got an email address for him?  Or does anyone have any info on RGVAC, a link or phone number. I defiantly need these tapper ribbons.

Thanks

www.therealbobroberts.net ?

[DrumAnBass]

The Real Bob Roberts:
http://homearcade.org/BBBB/

Edit: sorry didn't realize www.therealbobroberts.net works too...

mmm beer...! Hope you get that Tapper working!! One of my all time faves...

[DarkKobold]

Just so you know, there is a HUGE difference between Tapper and Root Beer Tapper cabs. Yes, you could do a rom swap, but that only changes the game.

Root Beer Tapper is the same cabinet as Timber, a rarer game, IIRC.

Root Beer Tapper had no cup holders and no bar at the bottom. It would be a helluva conversion to add the cupholders, since they are integral to holding the panels down.