TECH: Very strange CENTIPEDE problem w/trackball

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Stephen Beall wrote:
> Ok, here is the set up:
>
> Sold a Centipede upright a few years back to a guy. Get a call last
> summer that the TB is not moving left/right. Replace the TB with new
> unit and swap out main PCB just to be safe. Get a call this weekend
> (about a year since last repair) and the TB is not moving left/right.
> Up/down is fine.
>
> Replace the L/R opto. No change
> Hook up a switcher to run the +5. No change
> Swap out the POKEY. No change.
> Took out the main harness from my personal Centipede and put in the bad
> cabinet. No change.
> Swapped out the cp hanress. No change.
>
> Now here is the kicker. The PCB in question works just fine in my
> Centipede.
>
> I'm at a loss. I have never seen a problem like this.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
>
> -Stephen
>

The cabinet in question has a brand new Happ TB on it.

I did get the TB to move L/R for a brief second. It seems that if I
replace the opto board while the game is on, it works fine. Once I power
it off then back on, the L/R function does not work.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

xyvectorguy wrote:
> Replace the audio/regulator board !
>

No change with different AR board.


-S

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Stephen Beall wrote:
> xyvectorguy wrote:
>
>> Replace the audio/regulator board !
>>
>
> No change with different AR board.
>
>
> -S
>
>

I replaced the L/R opto with a NOS pcb I had in my stash.
The TB is working now.

Why did 3 previous opto pcb's go bad?
The original new opto pcb took a year to go bad, replaced with a used
one and that lasted about a day (9/16/05). The third one went bad right
after I replaced and powered the game off/on (9/22/05).

I then replaced the POKEY and the TB worked fine with the 3rd opto board
but then it went bad again afer I powered off/on (9/23/05).

I dunno.


-S