Nintendo Space FireBird Upright Restoration
- Thread starter myPinballs
- Start date
myPinballs
Active member
Quick update:
Been doing some soak testing on my setup so far and the pcbs, as they were purchased in an unknown condition and after getting them to work originally with some rom reseating and replacements i began to have issues after some periods of on time.
The game started to lock up after being on for awhile. This started to get shorter in time as the days progressed. So i had a look on some of the repair sites for similar pictures of what seemed to be happening and identified the most likely cause the cpu rom section. I removed these roms again and cleaned all legs a little more thoroughly again. They are 2532 roms which at the moment i dont have any stock of, otherwise i would have just burned a new set. I also burned a new set of clock roms (as i did have those) and reinstalled.
Now been on for around 3 hours solid with no issues
However i have now after playing for awhile identified a few separate issues that i will need to resolve electronics based.
1) At power on after the initial boot sound there is a low repeative sound played continually. At first i thought this may be sound hum, but it seems more like a sound effect is playing continually at very low volume now.
2) When playing the dk game, you seem to get round 4 straight after round 1, the 'how high can you get' only goes to 50% and after round 4 you go straight to level 2 and round 1 back at 25% again. So i'm missing out rounds 2 and 3?? Anyone know if this is a setting somewhere or if its more likely a fault.
3) No jump man die sound or tune. Every other sound and all music seems to be ok though.
Will be investigating these faults more closer in the weeks to come, but it is playable now for the chirstmas hols It took me a couple of goes to get my joystick repaired and rebuilt so it was usable. Needed a lot of tlc!!
Finally, here's a pic of the speaker i'm now using in my cab. A pioneer 2 way coaxial. range 30hz to 30000 hz. The outer size was actually ever so slightly 2 big to fit even though the mount holes are correct and the cone is the same as the original, so i had to modify the metal rim slightly. I may get a smaller one in the new year but it works good for now and sounds great.
Merry Christmas everyone
myPinballs2015-12-23 17:20:47
Been doing some soak testing on my setup so far and the pcbs, as they were purchased in an unknown condition and after getting them to work originally with some rom reseating and replacements i began to have issues after some periods of on time.
The game started to lock up after being on for awhile. This started to get shorter in time as the days progressed. So i had a look on some of the repair sites for similar pictures of what seemed to be happening and identified the most likely cause the cpu rom section. I removed these roms again and cleaned all legs a little more thoroughly again. They are 2532 roms which at the moment i dont have any stock of, otherwise i would have just burned a new set. I also burned a new set of clock roms (as i did have those) and reinstalled.
Now been on for around 3 hours solid with no issues
However i have now after playing for awhile identified a few separate issues that i will need to resolve electronics based.
1) At power on after the initial boot sound there is a low repeative sound played continually. At first i thought this may be sound hum, but it seems more like a sound effect is playing continually at very low volume now.
2) When playing the dk game, you seem to get round 4 straight after round 1, the 'how high can you get' only goes to 50% and after round 4 you go straight to level 2 and round 1 back at 25% again. So i'm missing out rounds 2 and 3?? Anyone know if this is a setting somewhere or if its more likely a fault.
3) No jump man die sound or tune. Every other sound and all music seems to be ok though.
Will be investigating these faults more closer in the weeks to come, but it is playable now for the chirstmas hols
It took me a couple of goes to get my joystick repaired and rebuilt so it was usable. Needed a lot of tlc!!Finally, here's a pic of the speaker i'm now using in my cab. A pioneer 2 way coaxial. range 30hz to 30000 hz. The outer size was actually ever so slightly 2 big to fit even though the mount holes are correct and the cone is the same as the original, so i had to modify the metal rim slightly. I may get a smaller one in the new year but it works good for now and sounds great.
Merry Christmas everyone
myPinballs2015-12-23 17:20:47
Hi Jim
check out these repair logs and info
http://www.brasington.org/arcade/tech/dkj/
https://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/repairs/dkong.html
This is the USA rom set (the one most people play)
myPinballs said:
check out these repair logs and info
http://www.brasington.org/arcade/tech/dkj/
https://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/repairs/dkong.html
myPinballs said:
This is the USA rom set (the one most people play)
myPinballs
Active member
Hurray Banana said:
Thanks very much for the additional info. I had not seen this extra brasington page, just the one with screen images on
I will have a read up on there.Lol! I was assuming there was something up with my pcbs, but i guess i was just looking at a different rom version video when seeing if it matched. I didn't release there were separate versions other than the one to fix some game bugs. Is there a different japanese version as well as the usa ones?
myPinballs
Active member
Hello arcade Fans and Happy New Year All! I have been having a rest over the christmas break and playing plenty of Donkey Kong. It was great to have a break from making pinball hardware and general self employment strains
I've got a few things to update everyone on. Firstly the main DK board set (4 stack). I Had The game running on Christmas eve and Christmas day for around 10 hours each solid with no glitch or crash issues Very happy with that, so i think the second try of cleaning the cpu rom legs along with burning new clock roms did the trick.
Next up is the power line panel and wiring. I've been cleaning this up and managed to get new switches and line fuses that match the exact originals. The actual metal panel is a little corroded, so may get that re-plated. Also have a new line filter to plug in along with all new cabling. Need to decide where best to include the line filter then can install this along with making new wiring looms to plug in the power supply and monitor. Would still like an original power supply block not he wooden board ideally, but the switched mode one have works ok for now
I have some proper flat t-moulding coming form the states soon, so will be able to get that installed finally. Will get some more pics of this once it arrives. The cab has been t-mouldingless now for quite awhile, so looking forward to seeing that sharp white edging
Next up is a christmas gift from my wife This is the start of the collection of parts to be able to play this game in my cabinet to (along with space firebird). It is used and a bit scratched but should be nice once cleaned and polished etc.
Next some more chirstmas gifts on the history of nintendo. 2 really great books that i'm really enjoying reading. Loads of really great info in there including the arcade stuff.
Also am rediscovering my love for game and watch games from my childhood. I'm possibly going to make some clone versions for iOS and maybe put some in my pinball game rewrites, but that's for the future. Finally, i got myself a wiiU at christmas (and ditched the old wii) to and have been having loads of fun playing super mario cart 8, and super mario maker with my daughter
More space firebird updates soon
myPinballs2016-01-10 19:09:06
I've got a few things to update everyone on. Firstly the main DK board set (4 stack). I Had The game running on Christmas eve and Christmas day for around 10 hours each solid with no glitch or crash issues
Very happy with that, so i think the second try of cleaning the cpu rom legs along with burning new clock roms did the trick.Next up is the power line panel and wiring. I've been cleaning this up and managed to get new switches and line fuses that match the exact originals. The actual metal panel is a little corroded, so may get that re-plated. Also have a new line filter to plug in along with all new cabling. Need to decide where best to include the line filter then can install this along with making new wiring looms to plug in the power supply and monitor. Would still like an original power supply block not he wooden board ideally, but the switched mode one have works ok for now
I have some proper flat t-moulding coming form the states soon, so will be able to get that installed finally. Will get some more pics of this once it arrives. The cab has been t-mouldingless now for quite awhile, so looking forward to seeing that sharp white edging
Next up is a christmas gift from my wife
This is the start of the collection of parts to be able to play this game in my cabinet to (along with space firebird). It is used and a bit scratched but should be nice once cleaned and polished etc.
Next some more chirstmas gifts on the history of nintendo. 2 really great books that i'm really enjoying reading. Loads of really great info in there including the arcade stuff.
Also am rediscovering my love for game and watch games from my childhood. I'm possibly going to make some clone versions for iOS and maybe put some in my pinball game rewrites, but that's for the future. Finally, i got myself a wiiU at christmas (and ditched the old wii) to and have been having loads of fun playing super mario cart 8, and super mario maker with my daughter
More space firebird updates soon
myPinballs2016-01-10 19:09:06
Those are great books
I met Florence last year when he paid me a visit
He has some amazing stories and some inside connections
This project is coming on mate
I can't wait to see this finished
I met Florence last year when he paid me a visit
He has some amazing stories and some inside connections
This project is coming on mate
I can't wait to see this finished
myPinballs
Active member
Chuckie egg said:
Thanks mate. Looking forward to seeing your space firebird finished to
I always like to spend awhile rewiring the mains power in panels along with new power cabling throughout, fuses, filters, conenctors etc. I do all this on pinballs to and saves a lot of hassle and 'issues' later down the road. Some of the original cabling i've seen over the years with rubbed and worn through live wires is truly scary!@
myPinballs
Active member
Forgot to mention above, the next item to look at on the pcb front is my missing sounds and i'm in serious need of a set of schematics for a TKG3-06 board set. (4 stack), especially the sound board TKG-SOU-06. I've got some space firebird scans and a space firebird (gremlin) original manual, but i can't see how the sound effects map to the hardware, as it seems the earlier games have less sounds or a slightly different sound board design. What i really need to know is which parts of the TKG-SOU-06 board relate to which sound effects, so i can identify the parts for the jump man die sound. Looked on other forums but can't seem to find anything decent at the mo
There is some tech info out there for the 2 stack board, but the component numbers don't match up for the earlier boards.
myPinballs2016-01-10 19:55:40
There is some tech info out there for the 2 stack board, but the component numbers don't match up for the earlier boards.
myPinballs2016-01-10 19:55:40
I have these manuals in my stash that I can dig out next w/e and check if no ones sorted you out before then with the right ones:
Space Firebird Schematics (Nintendo)
Space Firebird Service Instructions and Parts Catalog (Taito, FU070009)
Space Firebird Owners Manual (Gremlin/Sega, 420-0533)
Space Firebird Service Manual & Parts Catalog (Gremlin/Sega, cocktail, SPC-0019)
Paul.
Space Firebird Schematics (Nintendo)
Space Firebird Service Instructions and Parts Catalog (Taito, FU070009)
Space Firebird Owners Manual (Gremlin/Sega, 420-0533)
Space Firebird Service Manual & Parts Catalog (Gremlin/Sega, cocktail, SPC-0019)
Paul.
myPinballs
Active member
PaulSwan said:
Thanks Paul, I'd be interested in seeing those, but what i really need is an original radarscope schematics manual i think. I believe form some research and looking at old pcbs that the TKG-06-SOU and TRS2-04-SOU are essentially the same design. Unfortunately all the radarscope schematic scans available online are really bad copies and i can't see enough to be able to work out the design.
I recovered the manuals but I misunderstood that you were looking for DK schematics not Space Firebird The Gremlin & Nintendo schematics for the TST ESS board are different drawings but may well be the same actual circuit. Doesn't help you if you're looking for DK though
Paul.
The Gremlin & Nintendo schematics for the TST ESS board are different drawings but may well be the same actual circuit. Doesn't help you if you're looking for DK though Paul.
Hi Guys,
(deepest apologies to myPinballs to hack your topic in such a "cavalier" way)
I am a regular reader of posts on Ukvac but only recently registered, mainly because of this topic.
I have recently bought what I assume may be the other known Space Firebird Upright in Europe from a fellow DLF collector SuperUlly and thanks to his previous work on this cab, most of the sourcing of parts was done (thanks also to Etienne the vector king for my replacement marquee). I am especially lucky to have the SF upright PCB (any way to recognize if this is a Nintendo or Sega/Gremlin? Mine has Test Points... as described in the SG manual).
I am now building/trying to source a proper harness and have to admit I could use some advice here.
As stated by Paulswan the manuals from the Nintendo Cocktail and the Sega/Gremlin Upright that are readily available on the web have different wiring schematics.
Personally I am at a loss to know what to do with the 10 pin VIDEO board power connector where pins 4,5,6 & 7 are to get +12V for Nintendo and not be wired on the Sega schematic. Same for pin 10 with -5V.
As you see, I could use some expertise....
And if someone has a nice looking SF wiring harness, a spare SF board (just in case I fry mine while playing with it) and (let's dream) the uber rare original Nintendo marquee, he may have a buyer...
Sorry for the bad quality of the pics, but the cab is in my storage room South of France , far from my place (I live close to Paris) and I only had my old phone...
(deepest apologies to myPinballs to hack your topic in such a "cavalier" way)
I am a regular reader of posts on Ukvac but only recently registered, mainly because of this topic.
I have recently bought what I assume may be the other known Space Firebird Upright in Europe from a fellow DLF collector SuperUlly and thanks to his previous work on this cab, most of the sourcing of parts was done (thanks also to Etienne the vector king for my replacement marquee). I am especially lucky to have the SF upright PCB (any way to recognize if this is a Nintendo or Sega/Gremlin? Mine has Test Points... as described in the SG manual).
I am now building/trying to source a proper harness and have to admit I could use some advice here.
As stated by Paulswan the manuals from the Nintendo Cocktail and the Sega/Gremlin Upright that are readily available on the web have different wiring schematics.
Personally I am at a loss to know what to do with the 10 pin VIDEO board power connector where pins 4,5,6 & 7 are to get +12V for Nintendo and not be wired on the Sega schematic. Same for pin 10 with -5V.
As you see, I could use some expertise....
And if someone has a nice looking SF wiring harness, a spare SF board (just in case I fry mine while playing with it) and (let's dream) the uber rare original Nintendo marquee, he may have a buyer...
Sorry for the bad quality of the pics, but the cab is in my storage room South of France , far from my place (I live close to Paris) and I only had my old phone...
myPinballs
Active member
Quick update: I finally got some time today to fit my new power cabling and line filter. Now have a nice single black lead input with moulded plug and molex connector outputs after the line filter for the psu and monitor.
looking good
Any updates Jim ?
myPinballs
Active member
Chuckie egg said:
I just did some new work on the cabinet today, the first time in ages, due to being so busy with work. Finally got a spare hour and fitted the white t-molding to the cab. Well chuffed with the result
Pics
The next thing on the list is to fix my sound boards missing sounds, but not had a chance to get into this yet. After that i need to source some new dk control panel stuff, then i'm going to start the space firebird pcb and parts search and also the dk jr parts search. I want to be able to play all 3 of these in my cab eventually, with a minimum of swapping
The T moulding really finishes it off.
Good idea to have all 3 games in one saves on space.
Beautiful cab well jealous
Good idea to have all 3 games in one saves on space.
Beautiful cab well jealous
Very nice so far