Judge Dredd Pinball Problems. Please Help!

[a***@gmail.com]

Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game? Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode? When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game? I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another. Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards? Or, could it
be another issue? I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them. Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them? Do you think
that might fix the problem? I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?

I'm also having the problem below:

- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)

Thank you for all your help and time....

[c***@yahoo.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game? Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode? When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game? I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another. Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards? Or, could it
be another issue? I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them. Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them? Do you think
that might fix the problem? I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?
- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)
Thank you for all your help and time....

you probably have a ball trough issue, divots in the trough or bad
optos....test all 6 optos in the ball trough...if they work, check and
see if they are hanging up in the trough from wear divots.

[a***@gmail.com]

Thanks, I apprecaite the prompt reply. I'm kind of new to this. Can
you please explain to me how I test the optos and how I check if they
are hanging from divets? I checked the test menu and I don't see a
test for optos. Thank you!

Post by c***@yahoo.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game?  Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode?  When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game?  I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another.  Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards?  Or, could it
be another issue?  I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them.  Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them?  Do you think
that might fix the problem?  I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?
- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)
Thank you for all your help and time....

you probably have a ball trough issue, divots in the trough or bad
optos....test all 6 optos in the ball trough...if they work, check and
see if they are hanging up in the trough from wear divots.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

[j***@aol.com]

I'm not totally familiar with JD, but I know there's an option to
start a normal game, and an option to start the "super" game, which is
the 5 ball multi ball game, that starts multi ball right from the
start. Perhaps that's what you're doing? I'd check the manual and
read up on everything, or download it from www.ipdb.org


Here's a direct link, can find the manual in PDF:

http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=judge+dredd&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick

Good luck!

Jeff Scott

[a***@comcast.net]

It doesn't sound like a multiball mode to me. Keeps spitting out balls
sounds like it's 99% to be bad trough optos. Or, at the very least, a
combination of the two. Once multi ball is done, there should be no
reason it keeps firing them out unless the game can't see how many
balls are in the trough.

Post by j***@aol.com
I'm not totally familiar with JD, but I know there's an option to
start a normal game, and an option to start the "super" game, which is
the 5 ball multi ball game, that starts multi ball right from the
start.  Perhaps that's what you're doing?  I'd check the manual and
read up on everything, or download it fromwww.ipdb.org
http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=judge+dredd&search=Search+Database&...
Good luck!
Jeff Scott

[M. Osten]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game?  Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode?  When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game?  I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another.  Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards?  Or, could it
be another issue?  I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them.  Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them?  Do you think
that might fix the problem?  I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?
- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)
Thank you for all your help and time....

Go into the switch test diagnostics and test the trough optos with a
1/2" piece of paper, trying to trip each opto. You'll more than
likely find one that's bad. You can replace the opto if you know how
to solder, otherwise you can order a new improved opto board from
here:

http://www.greatlakesmodular.com/products/index.html

Part number: DCS-TBS
Price $60

It's worth it.

The GI string is more than likely the connector to the board is
burnt. Replace the connector and header.

[a***@gmail.com]

Well, I think you are right, the best thing to do is replace both
transmitter and reciever boards DCS-TBS. It sounds like they are new
and improved over the older ones that came with it and maybe that will
fix my ball problems. It looks like I just need to unscrew them and
unplug the data cables and plug them into the new boards. Is that
correct? I played a little with the cables going into the boards and
I can now sometimes get it to shoot one or two balls at the beginning
which it didn't do before, but it still sometimes trys to start off
with 3 or 4 balls all at the same time when you start the game. It
seems to have this problem with both regular game mode and super
game. I don't think I have any divits. I played with the balls and
they seem to move freely.

Nobody has still answered my question about the problem with General
Illumination with String 5. Nothing lights up when I run it in test
mode. I have no problems with Strings 1-4. Can someone tell me what
lights String 5 is and how I might fix that issue? Can someone also
tell me what an error message, "Check Switch 55 Right Ramp Made" means
and how to fix that? That problem is with another pinball of mine. I
also need plastics for another pinball but can't find them. Any
ideas? Thanks!

Post by M. Osten

Post by a***@gmail.com
Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game?  Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode?  When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game?  I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another.  Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards?  Or, could it
be another issue?  I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them.  Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them?  Do you think
that might fix the problem?  I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?
- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)
Thank you for all your help and time....

Go into the switch test diagnostics and test the trough optos with a
1/2" piece of paper, trying to trip each opto.  You'll more than
likely find one that's bad.  You can replace the opto if you know how
to solder, otherwise you can order a new improved opto board from
http://www.greatlakesmodular.com/products/index.html
Part number: DCS-TBS
Price $60
It's worth it.
The GI string is more than likely the connector to the board is
burnt.  Replace the connector and header.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

[l***@verizon.net]

Here is the link to the part of the Marvin guide regarding GI string
problems...very common to have J120/J121 problems on the Power Driver
board (lower right corner of it)...the marvin guide has alot of other
info in it - you should browse it while trying to troubleshoot
problems before posting to either figure out your problem or make your
post more specific.

http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index3.htm#gi

You probably should keep different game problems separte in your posts
as nobody even knows what game you are talking about. "Check Switch 55
Right Ramp Made" probably means the game hasn't registered a change in
state to switch 55 (likely on the right ramp exit) in a bunch of games
(20+?) - you need to figure out if that switch is either broken or
just not adjusted right such that the pinball doesn't activate it.
Take the glass off the game and try to acttvate it while in the switch
diagnostics mode to see what is going on.

Plastics for games are all over for sale, here at RGP, Mr Pinball, Bay
Area Amusements, Marco, Pinball Resource, Pinball Life, Pinball
Heaven, ebay, to mention just some of them. You just have to start
looking around - there will be some you just can't find easily though
- if you can't find them you could post a WTB here with specifically
what plastics your are looking for.

[l***@verizon.net]

whoops - meant lower left corner of Power Driver Board for J120/J121

[a***@gmail.com]

Well, I did put it in a seperate post, but nobody replied to it and
since people are talking to me in here I thought I would mention it,
and it worked. LOL.. Well, it seems like this is way more involved
and I'm afraid I might make things worse. Maybe for this issue I need
to hire an expert to come out and take care of this problem? Thank
you! Here is the link for my other issues on my other pinball:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pinball/browse_thread/thread/5885eb84c6f92375/f0aa65aba95a9660?lnk=gst&q=johnny+mnemonic#f0aa65aba95a9660

Post by l***@verizon.net
Here is the link to the part of the Marvin guide regarding GI string
problems...very common to have J120/J121 problems on the Power Driver
board (lower right corner of it)...the marvin guide has alot of other
info in it - you should browse it while trying to troubleshoot
problems before posting to either figure out your problem or make your
post more specific.
http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index3.htm#gi
You probably should keep different game problems separte in your posts
as nobody even knows what game you are talking about. "Check Switch 55
Right Ramp Made" probably means the game hasn't registered a change in
state to switch 55 (likely on the right ramp exit) in a bunch of games
(20+?) - you need to figure out if that switch is either broken or
just not adjusted right such that the pinball doesn't activate it.
Take the glass off the game and try to acttvate it while in the switch
diagnostics mode to see what is going on.
Plastics for games are all over for sale, here at RGP, Mr Pinball, Bay
Area Amusements, Marco, Pinball Resource, Pinball Life, Pinball
Heaven, ebay, to mention just some of them. You just have to start
looking around - there will be some you just can't find easily though
- if you can't find them you could post a WTB here with specifically
what plastics your are looking for.

[Joe Jet]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Can someone tell me how the balls are supposed to be played in the
game?  Do you start out playing with one ball and then go into
multiball mode?  When is it supposed to go into multiball mode?
What’s the different between the ball modes for the regular play and
super game?  I think there is a problem because sometimes it starts
with one ball and sometimes it starts with multiple balls and
sometimes when it’s completely done with the game it keeps shooting
balls into the playfield one after another.  Do you think I need to
replace the transmitter and receiver trough opto boards?  Or, could it
be another issue?  I'm not sure where the boards are located or how
hard it is to replace them.  Is there some place it gives you
instructions on how to remove the ball trough and where the optos are
located and what they look like so you can clean them?  Do you think
that might fix the problem?  I would think it's just a few screws you
need to take out to remove it for maintenance, right?
- T.6 Gen’L Illum. – Illum. String 5 (No lights come on)
Thank you for all your help and time....

Assuming you are not referring to the supergame mode that starts out
as multiball and also that you have a drain shield in the beginning of
multiball that will keep kicking out balls until that ends.... then
its likely an opto problem described here:

http://www.pinrepair.com/wpc/index3.htm#trough

[DannyBoySmit]

Hey mate, I just finished fixing up a messed up Judge Dredd as my
first pin and it now plays perfectly with no errors (apart from the
dreaded phantom errors).

I knew nothing and just bought a machine without seeing it first and
was very overwhelmed, so it is possible, even when you think you are
at a lost end, there are hundreds of people on here willing to help
you out. Usually you'll get an answer to any question within a couple
of minutes of posting it.

If that fails, you can hit me up directly at "danny [at] octofuzz .
co . uk" and I'll see if I can help. My JD had pretty much everything
possible wrong with it :D.

Kind Regards
Danny

[highjon]

Supergame will start with two balls, if you hit the all the drop
targets then you get 6 ball multiball.
Normal game will be one ball until you hit the drop targets and the
deadworld ramp 3 times, then you get multiball.
John

Post by DannyBoySmit
Hey mate, I just finished fixing up a messed up Judge Dredd as my
first pin and it now plays perfectly with no errors (apart from the
dreaded phantom errors).
I knew nothing and just bought a machine without seeing it first and
was very overwhelmed, so it is possible, even when you think you are
at a lost end, there are hundreds of people on here willing to help
you out. Usually you'll get an answer to any question within a couple
of minutes of posting it.
If that fails, you can hit me up directly at "danny [at] octofuzz .
co . uk" and I'll see if I can help. My JD had pretty much everything
possible wrong with it :D.
Kind Regards
Danny

[DannyBoySmit]

Post by highjon
Supergame will start with two balls, if you hit the all the drop
targets then you get 6 ball multiball.
Normal game will be one ball until you hit the drop targets and the
deadworld ramp 3 times, then you get multiball.
John

Post by DannyBoySmit
Hey mate, I just finished fixing up a messed up Judge Dredd as my
first pin and it now plays perfectly with no errors (apart from the
dreaded phantom errors).
I knew nothing and just bought a machine without seeing it first and
was very overwhelmed, so it is possible, even when you think you are
at a lost end, there are hundreds of people on here willing to help
you out. Usually you'll get an answer to any question within a couple
of minutes of posting it.
If that fails, you can hit me up directly at "danny [at] octofuzz .
co . uk" and I'll see if I can help. My JD had pretty much everything
possible wrong with it :D.
Kind Regards
Danny

Sometimes supergame can start with a 3ball multiball... and sometimes
a 6ball multiball straight away, depending where you are upto.

Can anyone confirm this or is my machine feeding me too many balls in
supergame? if it is, that'd be strange because all my optos are
working beautifully and my trough is divot free.

I'm still getting a 4ball multiball from deadworld (without mod and
Rom set 4) I know this isn't right but hoping it will go away when i
change roms and get deadworld mod!