Bally home model pinball machine repair

[Ken Layton]

For those that have the Bally home model pinball machines like Fireball, Evel Knievel, Captain Fantastic, and Galaxy Ranger, there is now some repair information posted over at pinwiki:

http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bally_Home_Models

These machines use custom CPU chips that when they go bad, are impossible to get since they have been no longer available for a very long time now. However, there is a modern reproduction game board in development right now that will repair these boards and add more functions, sounds, and diagnostics. This new board is called the "Pinball Mind" board. Here is a link to the board:

http://www.nightmarepark.com/Pinball%20Mind.html

A youtube video has been posted of the prototype board going through it's bootup self test and attract mode on the score displays:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5wplyXb1yro&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5wplyXb1yro&rel=0</a>

Here are some pictures of a Fireball home model modified to use conventional playfield light sockets and switch assemblies:

http://usergallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/album521

[channelmaniac]

Ken,

This creation is the brainchild of forum member Nightmare Tony. This guy is pretty damn smart!

RJ

[Ken Layton]

He sure is one smart cookie! I have been assisting him in writing the installation manual for the "Pinball Mind" board.

Oh, and one other thing about the Pinball Mind board setup: there will be two options for powering the board. One option will be installing a common Peter Chou screw terminal switching power supply to provide the +5 volts for the gameboard. This will be used in conjunction with the machine's original power supply board still providing the other voltages (coils, switched illumination). The other option will be a new transformer box which will contain a new power supply board (with power indicating LED's and fuses instead of circuit breakers) that supplies all the operating voltages for the machine. This will be a re-engineered original power transformer box, so the original transformer box in the machine will be sent back to Tony for credit (core charge so to speak).

The new power transformer box will lose those finicky circuit breakers, the two wire 'cheater' power cord, and the two pin 'interlock power cord receptacle. There will be a new, modern IEC style power connector installed so that modern computer style power cords can be used. I understand the flimsy original pushbutton on-off switch will be replaced with a modern rocker switch.

I hope Nightmare Tony can also develop modern replacement boards for these home model pinballs too:

Brunswick "Alive" and "Aspen" machines

Mattel "Las Vegas"

Wico "Big Top"

Fischer "Skyhawk"

[Fourbyracer]

I have a 1980 Bally Pinball "Space Invaders" and when the CPU board went out, there was a modern replacement that will play almost every modern Bally and Stern game out there (90 total).  I think that is what you are talking about and I dont profess to be any kind of expert.  I do know that you can put this in machines like Evil Knievel, and Fireball.  You set the dip switches for your machine and you are back up and running.  Here is the link in case you need one.  I can tell you it has a lot of nice functions on it like free play and restarting the CPU without turning the game off (you just push a reset switch on the board).  It also comes with contact points that you can test circuits with.  With my limited knowledge of electronics, I have been very pleased.  Long live Pinball! 
http://www.allteksystems.com/products-mpu-replacements.html#mpu

[Ken Layton]

The home model pinballs use a completely different board and hardware. The Alltek board is completely incompatible and will not work in the home model Bally pinball machines. It is designed for the commercial coin operated Bally/classic Stern machines, not the home models.

That is why the "Pinball Mind" board is being developed.

[Fourbyracer]

Ahh, Ok.  I knew there must be something obvious I was missing.  I dont think I have ever even seen a home only game then.  I really don't understand why they would make them any different from regular arcade models--just seems like a wasted effort to develop 2 different platforms for the same game to me.  Who knows what those guys were thinking back in the day!!  If it does the same thing as an Alltek does for arcade models, it should be awesome!  Good luck.

[Ken Layton]

The Bally home models were "trial runs" for the first electronic pinballs. Bally wanted to 'test the waters' so to speak with a primitive electronic system to see that electronic pinball machines were viable and reliable. Once they saw that the home models would work, they developed the more complex hardware system for the commercial coin-op pinballs. That's why the confusion I suppose. Remember, that costs had to be kept down (way down) for the home models versus the commercial models.

[Frank A]

Ken,
I read somewhere that it is possible to convert an older woodrail double flipper action to a modern single flipper action with more power. Do you recall where this was ? I have a 1949 Dallas and a 1949 Tucson.Thanks,
Frank A

[Ken Layton]

The only places I can think of:

http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index.htm

http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=EM_Repair

[Frank A]

Thank you. The first link is the one that I was looking for.

[Ken Layton]

Steve Kulpa has added some rebuilt home model power supply board pictures to the repair guide.

[nightmaretony]

Ken, Ray, you both got me furiously blushing right now!

Anyhow as an update, had stuffed 3 of the prototype boards a couple of days ago. Gotta learn CPLD programming to create the logic needed here, then I can test it out.
Be aware it is a 2 board system, the first one being the main MPU and then it has an adapter board based on what pinball it will be used for.
I also plan to use it on the Bally 1000 to create a hacker's delight slot machine. One you can program with your own games. I expect that to be legal since it would ship with only a basic set and tell wins in the credit window without running the hopper as a high priority.

And now, the pretty pictures.
http://www.nightmarepark.com/6502/Pinball%20Mind/Pinball%20Mind%20partially%20stuffed.jpg
Stuffed pretty much. It will use a 50 pin ribbon cable to the adapter or the extra GPIOs on the sides, if needed. I don't expect the side 65C22s to be stuffed for pinball mind, but they can be added.
Also, note the silkscreen, I love the Berzerk trick, section things off and explain what the heck they do.
It uses the 65C02. My favorite CPU.
http://www.nightmarepark.com/6502/Pinball%20Mind/Fireball%20New%20CPU002.jpg
my old proof of concept for this that worked out well.

[coorslight115]

I still have this game in storage that I bought and built from heathkit back in 1978, Still complete but has been stored for 10+ years. Make offer if interested,,

http://user.xmission.com/~daina/images/tj/fireball_home.html

[jerkey]

Tony, I have read about your replacement MPU board and I want one!  I have to fix my girlfriends' dad's firepower pinball machine in Molokai, Hawai'i and I would rather buy a prototype from you than buy a NOS board off ebay.  Please tell me how to get one of your boards!

If anyone is reading this, can you give me some advice on fixing my firepower pinball board?  The two LEDs come on and go out, and when i press the Diagnostic button the TOP LED stays on.

Everything i've read says this means the RAM is bad, but i replaced both RAM chips with brand new (old) chips and it still does it!  wtf?!!?  What do i do!?!?!?

thank you for reading,
-jake (at spaz dot org)

Ken, Ray, you both got me furiously blushing right now!

Anyhow as an update, had stuffed 3 of the prototype boards a couple of days ago. Gotta learn CPLD programming to create the logic needed here, then I can test it out.
Be aware it is a 2 board system, the first one being the main MPU and then it has an adapter board based on what pinball it will be used for.
I also plan to use it on the Bally 1000 to create a hacker's delight slot machine. One you can program with your own games. I expect that to be legal since it would ship with only a basic set and tell wins in the credit window without running the hopper as a high priority.

And now, the pretty pictures.
http://www.nightmarepark.com/6502/Pinball%20Mind/Pinball%20Mind%20partially%20stuffed.jpg
Stuffed pretty much. It will use a 50 pin ribbon cable to the adapter or the extra GPIOs on the sides, if needed. I don't expect the side 65C22s to be stuffed for pinball mind, but they can be added.
Also, note the silkscreen, I love the Berzerk trick, section things off and explain what the heck they do.
It uses the 65C02. My favorite CPU.
http://www.nightmarepark.com/6502/Pinball%20Mind/Fireball%20New%20CPU002.jpg
my old proof of concept for this that worked out well.

[channelmaniac]

Tony has passed.

Before he did, he handed over his info on the board and hopefully it will be manufactured.

[Ken Layton]

Yup, sorry to say our friend "Nightmare Tony" passed away from kidney cancer a week ago. He will be missed for sure.

[Ken Layton]

Here is the Owner's Manual for the Fireball home model pinball.

[Ken Layton]

Here is the new link to the pictures of the Fireball home model pinball converted to use normal pinball switch assemblies:

http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/at90s2313/library/Pinball%20and%20Arcade%20Games/Fireball%20-%20Heathkit

[coorslight115]

Here is the new link to the pictures of the Fireball home model pinball converted to use normal pinball switch assemblies:

http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/at90s2313/library/Pinball%20and%20Arcade%20Games/Fireball%20-%20Heathkit

If anyone is interested, I have a complete original heathkit bally home version of the fireball for sale. Been in my garage for ten years. Located in Maryland and for pickup only, will not ship. Make reasonable offer.

[Ken Layton]

Marco Specialties will soon be offering the "Pinball Mind" replacement board for the Bally home model pinball machines.