Williams Black Knight (Williams, 1980) Issues - Lighting / Can't get out of testing mode

[chippyboy9]

Hello everyone,

First off, I'm a complete newbie. Just wanted to get that out in the open.

I recently bought a Black Knight machine that needs some work. I've cleaned it up a bit and got a few things to work, but there are a few issues that have caused me to hit a brick wall.

1. Score displays do not work
2. Lights do not work
3. Game only loads into testing mode (I cannot test anything though due to the display not working)

* I was able to test the sound card and all of the Black Knight voices work fine.

Being a newbie, I am not sure where to even start. I am guessing I need to get the displays to work so that I can troubleshoot everything else.

Does anyone have a suggestion on where I need to start to get the machine working?

I also attached a picture of the backbox/boards.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

Dirk

 

[hgpinball]

Hello Dirk,

I just finished restoring a "Firepower", which is a Williams System 6 machine, just before BK which is Sytem7 (if you are a member of VPForums, here's the link: http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?showtopic=9805), so maybe I can give you some hints.
The very first thing: put batteries into the holder (3x AA size) on the MPU, otherwise you'll never get out of Audit Mode, because there's no voltage for NVRAM backup! Then power cycle twice to get into "Play" mode. Later you may consider to replace the battery holder with a "gold cap", but let's start with the obvious things first.
Second thing: connectors and voltages! Check that alll connectors are properly seated, especially the interboard connector between MPU and Driver bd, reseat each of them! Check all fuses and voltages, maybe this will cure the missing displays, because they have an own 100V supply on the P/S board.
If you say "the lights don't work", you have to distinguish between the General Illumination (GI) and the MPU-controlled lights on both the backbox and the playfield. If no light works at all, there's a major problem with voltages, at least the GI lamps should be on when power is applied! The MPU-controlled lights will only start to work when the MPU goes into "Play" mode and has passed the selftest.
Be aware that the sound bd (SB) has its own power supply, just the "raw" voltages come from the same source like for the MPU and Driver bd. That's why you can run the SB selftest successfully.

A very good site with drawings, schematics and a lot of explanations for Williams system6&7 is www.pinrepair.com: http://www.pinrepair.com/sys37/index.htm. It helped me a lot.
Good luck!

 

[chippyboy9]

Hey hgpinball,

Thanks for the response!

Since taking the pictures, I did install new batteries. The batteries did show some positive results. I was able to get the sound to work like I mentioned before.

I went through the entire back box and checked the connectors. They all seemed to be connected well. I tried to disconnect each piece and then reconnect it...but I was unable to disconnect a few of them.

To better describe the lighting situation, I do not get lighting in the backbox or the playfield. When I posted before, I mentioned that the "score display screens" also did not work...but after messing with the machine today, I noticed a small bit of orange lighting on each of the score display screens. The numbers did not show up, but I could tell that the screens were getting some sort of power atleast.

I have a few questions I would like to ask. If anyone has time to answer any of them, it would really help me out! (I tried to outline in red each picture to show what Im looking at)

1. Fuses: Can someone please tell me the correct fuse values for my Black Knight machine? I seem to have a system 6 power supply. After looking on the internet, I get mixed results on the fuse values. (Please see attached pictures of fuses)

2. Score Displays: Since I seem to be getting power to the score screens, but they do not display any numbers like they should, what does that mean for the machine? Does it lead you to believe something specific is wrong?

3. Game Chip: The problems I am experiencing, could the issue be the Game Chip?

4. Random Disconnected Wires: There were a few random disconnected wires on my machine. Can anyone identify what the wires are to and whether or not they need to be connected? (Please see attached pictures of wires)

Thanks again in advance for your help! Like I said, I'm a newbie but I think I will pick up on things quick with help.

Dirk

 

[hgpinball]

Hello Dirk,

I strongly recommend to get the schematics and check all voltages! Either you have the original BK manuals, or get the schematics from pinrepair.com or http://www.blackknightpinball.com. Information about BK and a BK instruction booklet is also found at http://pinball.flippers.info/blackknight.asp and http://pinball.flippers.info/blackknightinstructions.pdf.

- Sys7 Fuse values (taken from pinrepair.com):[FONT=verdana,arial,helv,helvetica][SIZE=-1]

• Power Supply Fuses:
  • F1 = Score display 90 volts AC, .25 amp Slow Blow.
  • F2 = Solenoids 28 volts DC, 2.5 amp Slow Blow.
  • F3 = Lamp matrix 18 volts DC, 8 amp Fast Blow.
  • F4 = Flippers 28 volts DC, 10 amp (2 flippers) or 15 amp (3 or 4 flippers) Fast Blow (on shuffle alleys this is the GI fuse). This fuse is NOT used on Firepower2, LaserCue, Starlight.
  • F5 = 9.3 volts AC (input for +5 volts), 7 amp Slow Blow.
  • F6 = 9.3 volts AC (input for +5 volts), 7 amp Slow Blow.
  • F7 = General Illumination for pinballs, 6.3 volts AC, 20 amp Fast Blow.

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helv,helvetica][SIZE=-1] Sound Board Fuses:

• F1 = 9.3 volts AC, 4 amp Slow Blow.
• F2 = 9.3 volts AC, 4 amp Slow Blow.

Backbox Panel Fuses:

• None, unless user added!

[/SIZE][/FONT]If you have a Sys6 P/S, there are only 5 fuses on it, and looking at my Firepower there are 3 more fuses (equal to Sys7 F5, F6 and F7) on a backbox panel below the P/S, to the left of the two bridge rectifiers. I don't see that on your photos... Again, check out pinrepair.com.

- The displays get data and a blanking signal from the MPU, if that's missing (e.g. the MPU didn't boot correctly and is stuck) there's no display.
- Connectors placement should be documented in the manuals. Sorry, but i can't identify the loose connectors on your photos...
The good thing: you can't mix them up easily.
Hint: no onboard connector should be empty. There are some connectors between the playfield/cabinet and the boards/backbox, so you can separate the playfield from the machine for transport.

You have to go this way:
1. Voltages and fuses: 5V has to be 5V. The "unregulated logic" voltage has to be above 10.0V, with a low AC ripple.
2. Connectors - all have to look good and be seated properly
3. MPU selftest - verify that the MPU runs correctly
4. Diagnostics: solenoid, switch and lamp tests

Follow the path outlined at pinrepair.com! If you don't have, try to find a complete BK manual with schematics (it should have been with the machine).

Good luck!

 

[spalmer]

I own a Black Knight myself and may be able to help you out. I will send you a PM with my email address.

From what you are descibing, it sould like your MPU is not booting. The fact that you are getting the glow from the displays tells me that the high voltage section of your power supply is working, Since you have a system 6 powersupply, we should be able to get it playable however you likely will not get any GI or backbox lighting without a power supply or some wiring modifications. System 7 power supplys have a relay and extra conectors for the GI. The relay allows the MPU to turn the GI on and off.

CHeck you PM for my email address and we will see if I can due some long distaance troubleshooting with you.

 

[bonedoc]

Hey, I would like to ask some questions. I bought this machine from the original poster. I did some tests on the power supply. It looks like the -100V branch is NOT working at all. It appears that one of the transistors on this negative side is bad (Q1 or Q2). Some of the resistors look like there was some heat behind them, so I will test them too.

So, the +100V branch IS working properly, But not the -100v.

The yellow wires that are not hooked to anything and have the molex plug...they come from the main transformer and are supposed to carry 6.3V. The schematic I have shows it going to the power supply board for 3J9 general illumination, but that prong is not present on my power supply...so it must have been changed out?


Does this make sense?

16V lamp power and solenoid grounds are fine.

I think one of the 28V to the flappers may not be working....2 of them do.

Everything else seems to be working. Ideas? Replace the transistors? I hope I can find something that works. I cant read the diagram...

 

[spalmer]

Hey, I would like to ask some questions. I bought this machine from the original poster. I did some tests on the power supply. It looks like the -100V branch is NOT working at all. It appears that one of the transistors on this negative side is bad (Q1 or Q2). Some of the resistors look like there was some heat behind them, so I will test them too.

So, the +100V branch IS working properly, But not the -100v.

The yellow wires that are not hooked to anything and have the molex plug...they come from the main transformer and are supposed to carry 6.3V. The schematic I have shows it going to the power supply board for 3J9 general illumination, but that prong is not present on my power supply...so it must have been changed out?


Does this make sense?

16V lamp power and solenoid grounds are fine.

I think one of the 28V to the flappers may not be working....2 of them do.

Everything else seems to be working. Ideas? Replace the transistors? I hope I can find something that works. I cant read the diagram...

Looks like you have the wrong power supply. What you have is a system 6 power supply. The system 7 power supply has a relay and connector for those yellow wires.

I highly recommend this power supply. http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/PJ-8345-HV

I know the designer Brett Davis and he designs top notch boards.

 

[bonedoc]

What is the yellow wire set and relay for? A couple issues-

-Online it says that board is not available

-I'm not getting 6.3v out of those wires, and I believe they to back to the main transformer....which makes me wonder why all the incoming transformer wires work, but these.