Tech: Stern Free Fall

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Hi, I have a Stern Free Fall (mpu 200, multiball, speech) that I can't
get running. The MPU boots up fine and that's it. If I open (turn
off) all the dip switches after it boots up it goes into self test and
stays stuck there. If it push the self test button once then hold it
down a zero comes up in the match/credit display after it checks for
bad switches... so there isn't any stuck switches. Unhooked the coin
door switches = same deal. Tried a brand new Alteck mpu = same deal.
This is my first bought with a stern 200. All voltages are good,
solenoid driver works fine, lamp driver good. Anyone have any ideas
here? Am I missing something obvious? (other than a 1/4 stick)

zTim

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Ray Johnson - Action Pinball wrote:
> "Rockola" wrote:
>
>>Hi, I have a Stern Free Fall (mpu 200, multiball, speech) that I can't
>>get running. The MPU boots up fine and that's it. If I open (turn
>>off) all the dip switches after it boots up it goes into self test and
>>stays stuck there. If it push the self test button once then hold it
>>down a zero comes up in the match/credit display after it checks for
>>bad switches... so there isn't any stuck switches.
>
>
> That's the problem. You need to have all (3?) balls in the lower ball
> trough in this game before it will go into attract mode after booting up.
> Same way on all the Stern games w/Multiball.
>
> So check for missing balls or non-responsive ball trough switches.

Yeas, some Stern multiball games time-out from this and will go into
attract even if it can't see the balls (Flight 2000 comes to mind) but
Free Fall won't. I think Catacomb is the same way.

Clive

---
Board repairs, EPROMs, servicing...

The Coin-Op Cauldron
405 Wild Wing Way
Easley, SC 29642
(864)238-1707
http://www.coinopcauldron.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Hi all,

Many thanks for the help. I had checked the switches before, but I
just found a broken wire rendering then unreconizable to the mpu (hence
the zero...doh!) And I have it rolling now!! To a point anyway. I'm
still a bit out in left field yet. When I got this one, it has a wire
harness going from the speech board to the upper left molex connector
of the lamp driver board, leaving the one you would normally connect to
that row of pins with nowhere to go... and so I have no feature lamps
lighting up on the playfield. The game has not said a word yet either.
So I guess my question is, am I missing some sort of molex splitter
gizmo? The sound board is plugged into the top of the mpu and is
working - just no speech. I have a manual from the ipdb but it doesn't
go into that.

Thanks again,

zTim

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

The VSU-100 speech board essentially connects in series with the upper left
connector on lamp driver board. So the connector that normally goes to the
upper left on lamp board will go to either connector on the VSU-100 (you'll
see two connectors that are the same on that board). Then the small jumper
cable will go from the other connector on the VSU-100, down to the upper
left connector on lamp board.

If memory serves, the VSU-100 is powered by AC general illumination power
from the backbox (orange wire) so be sure your connectors on the J3
housing/pins on the fuse/rectifier board in main cabinet are healthy and
backbox lamps are working (both strands- orange/green and red/white).
You'll need at least the orange/green GI circuit working for the speech
board to have power...
..
Hope that helps!

Ray J.
--
Action Pinball & Amusement, LLC
Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Web: www.actionpinball.com

We're serious about pinball. Anything else is just for fun!



"Rockola" <fredmertz_1@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1122765732.852410.269770@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all,
>
> Many thanks for the help. I had checked the switches before, but I
> just found a broken wire rendering then unreconizable to the mpu (hence
> the zero...doh!) And I have it rolling now!! To a point anyway. I'm
> still a bit out in left field yet. When I got this one, it has a wire
> harness going from the speech board to the upper left molex connector
> of the lamp driver board, leaving the one you would normally connect to
> that row of pins with nowhere to go... and so I have no feature lamps
> lighting up on the playfield. The game has not said a word yet either.
> So I guess my question is, am I missing some sort of molex splitter
> gizmo? The sound board is plugged into the top of the mpu and is
> working - just no speech. I have a manual from the ipdb but it doesn't
> go into that.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> zTim
>

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Consider yourself VERY lucky! Many of those
speech boards are dead and non-repairable.

--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************


"Rockola" <fredmertz_1@msn.com> wrote in message news:1122772230.104066.82340@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hey Hey! That was it! Right after I posted the last message it
> started to bug me and I got out the 500w lamp and found the extra molex
> pins on the speech board. It talks!... in that early 80's robot
> speech, I always get a kick outta that. Got some switches not
> reporting but I think I can make it from here. Many thanks again Ray,
> and everyone!