Norton Co Skee Ball Machine Cheese Roll

[ralbert]

Hi, we recently purchased a Skee Ball Type Machine and on the marquee it says Cheese Roll (has a picture of what appears to be a Chuck E Cheese Mouse/mascot).  It says Norton Co, Tampa Florida and the board/chip and our repairman states it is marked Mostek.  We are having a problem as the game lights up, but it doesn't seem to be able to count the balls or keep score...basically it won't start a game.  We are trying to find schematics on this machine for him or any ideas/suggestions on what we could do to get this working?  Thank you in advance for any help.

[Kevin Mullins]

Does it look similar to this one ?
I don't know much about them off-hand, but have seen somewhere where Chuck E Cheese had Themed Skeeballs. (can't remember where I saw it though)

Mostek was a chip and circuit board manufacturer many years ago, sold many times over.

Honestly, I would start with the usual thorough check of all switches that potentially register balls and also the logic for for bad solder joints and such where everything plugs in.
Possibly clean and re-seat any socketed chips.
I've seen many a times where a good thorough once over solves many basic problems.

[ralbert]

Kevin

Hi, thank you for your response.  Yes it does look like that with the exception of the cone dome light top, it has just a round one and then the plexiglass front is different.  We have a photo but not certain how to post.  Anyway if the connections do not work out, would switching this board out completely with a skee-ball board be an option. 
Thanks again!

[Kevin Mullins]

We have a photo but not certain how to post. 

When you reply to a post..... look under the text box for "Additional Options" and click on that, it'll drop down a menu for attachments.

Anyway if the connections do not work out, would switching this board out completely with a skee-ball board be an option. 

Well, it certainly wouldn't be a drop in replacement that's for sure. The majority of Skeeballs seem very similar EXCEPT the circuit boards.
Not that something couldn't be hacked into it, but it would sure take some work.
And I noticed that version has a four digit display where as most have a three digit display.

[ralbert]

Thanks Kevin.  We certainly appreciate your help.  Maybe we will get lucky and it will be a bad connection or our repairman finds the schematics.  We will attach a photo for reference in the event it is helpful for anyone who may have had a similar machine that can help

[ralbert]

Here is a close-up of the machine

[RichSorr]

That is indeed a Chuck E. Cheese logo. I believe cheese ball is from the "pizza time theater" era.

Through the 90s chuck e cheese had Skee Ball Classic alleys and later on Skee Ball Too. They are all being slowly weeded out and replaced by Alley Roller Classics made by I.C.E.

[RichSorr]

Also, I must say, I am incredibly jealous that you have one of these. Having worked for that bastard of a mouse for the past 2 years as a technician. I have tons of crap and game parts with him and his buddies faces all over my house.

[SirPeale]

I haven't worked on one of these personally, but the Skee-Ball machines I have worked on have used trip switches to keep score and to note the balls in the trough.  Since it's not doing any of these things (no scores on any hole, right?  Or is it incorrect scores?) I'd start by checking the wiring.

[ralbert]

Thanks to all for the pieces of the puzzle.  We thought it may be from Chuck E Cheese -- hopefully we solve the puzzle soon.  The repairman we have feels it is a wiring issue but was hoping since we pay him by the hour for the time, we could find a schematic for the board so we have a starting plan as this machine is starting to become a money pit.