What to look for when inspecting a TZ

skidog

unread,

Dec 12, 2007, 11:56:13 PM12/12/07

to

Outside of the normal...

1) Palyfield Inspection (are there any specific issues in this are
particular to TZ)
2) Plastics Inspection (are there any specific issues in this are particular
to TZ)
3) Cabinet Artwork
4) PCB inpection and Hacks (are there any specific issues in this are
particular to TZ)
5) Run all the serivce test

Anything specific to TZ that is notorious for breakage, wear, hacks to be
on the lookout for?

Thanks
Bob Presutti

B.T.C.

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 12:05:52 AM12/13/07

to

Hey Bob, do a search on this site for answers to your questions.
There are a lot of good threads on this subject.

Good Luck,. Brian

skidog

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 12:10:04 AM12/13/07

to

I started googling but too many TZ posts.

I'll keep digging...

Thanks
Bob Presutti

"B.T.C." <bria...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:f897f654-ba0a-4828...@d21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

B.T.C.

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 12:13:02 AM12/13/07

to

On Dec 12, 11:10 pm, "skidog" <rpresuttiUNMU...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I started googling but too many TZ posts.
>
> I'll keep digging...
>
> Thanks
> Bob Presutti
>

> "B.T.C." <brian_...@verizon.net> wrote in message

>
> news:f897f654-ba0a-4828...@d21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hey Bob, do a search on this site for answers to your questions.
> > There are a lot of good threads on this subject.
>
> > Good Luck,. Brian
>
> > On Dec 12, 10:56 pm, "skidog" <rpresuttiUNMU...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >> Outside of the normal...
>
> >> 1) Palyfield Inspection (are there any specific issues in this are
> >> particular to TZ)
> >> 2) Plastics Inspection (are there any specific issues in this are
> >> particular
> >> to TZ)
> >> 3) Cabinet Artwork
> >> 4) PCB inpection and Hacks (are there any specific issues in this are
> >> particular to TZ)
> >> 5) Run all the serivce test
>
> >> Anything specific to TZ that is notorious for breakage, wear, hacks to
> >> be
> >> on the lookout for?
>
> >> Thanks

> >> Bob Presutti- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Try going to look at a TZ

Several good Threads there.

Brian

skidog

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 12:13:21 AM12/13/07

to

P.S.

I found what seemed to be the ultimate Modification site

http://www.tzmodfaq.com/faq.html

But could not find a consolidated TZ issues and repair site

Thanks
Bob Presutti

"B.T.C." <bria...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:f897f654-ba0a-4828...@d21g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

skidog

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 12:21:57 AM12/13/07

to

Brian.

Nice Thread...

Just needed the secret decoder ring to find it. :)

Thanks
Bob Presutti

"B.T.C." <bria...@verizon.net> wrote in message

news:5d63b55f-8b7e-4e56...@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

Fred Kemper

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 2:38:04 AM12/13/07

to

Make sure the powerball is present.

Make sure the clock works. Hopefully it has
the original boards, (or Liz boards), and no holes
drilled in the housing. Badly hacked OEM boards
and connectors/connections can be found here as well.

Make sure diverter piece on ramp to Powerfield is
present.

Look for repaired damage on CPU board caused
by leaking batteries and/or bad IC replacement techniques.

Look for hacks on the driver board. Specifically
in the bridge rectifier and GI connector areas.
Also have seen some bad ones in the +5VDC area.

Other hacks can be found on the ball trough proxy
sensor PCB. Have seen poorly hacked potentiometer
"mods" here.

Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
===================================

On Dec 12, 10:56 pm, "skidog" <rpresuttiUNMU...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Outside of the normal...

> Anything specific to TZ that is notorious for breakage, wear, hacks to be
> on the lookout for?

skidog

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 2:53:21 AM12/13/07

to

Thanks Fred!!!

"Fred Kemper" <pbga...@davlin.net> wrote in message
news:e6a78f7c-825f-4f6f...@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

Todd H

unread,

Dec 13, 2007, 9:00:49 AM12/13/07

to

On Dec 13, 1:53 am, "skidog" <rpresuttiUNMU...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Thanks Fred!!!
>
> "Fred Kemper" <pbgar...@davlin.net> wrote in message

I just recently bought and have been reviving a TZ, so I figured that
I can throw in my (somewhat limited) knowledge. I'm sure you can find
the same info by searching the threads....

Fred covered a lot of good things. I'd just add:

Checking the slot machine scoop. This thing takes a beating, and
usually some or all of the welds are broken. The yellow target to the
left of the scoop is usually bent worse than a cotton picker's back.
If they had a massive spring on the shooter like mine did, the skill
shot scoop welds (and the plastic) can be busted too.
The plastics that seem to break are the rocketship plastic, the
plastic around the piano, and the right plastic on the bottom corner
of the mini playfield. I think there's a site that sells these
specific plastics, as they're the ones that are usually found
broken.
Check the black sockets behind the translight. If most of those bulbs
are out/missing, you'll either have to pay big $ to make 'em work
again, or do the socket swap as described in the TOP video. I'm sure
there are lots of posts on that here, too.

RGP is a killer resource. You can almost find any solution or answer
to your question here.

Good luck with your TZ hunt.

Todd

John Bigbooty

unread,

Dec 14, 2007, 10:04:01 AM12/14/07

to

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:38:04 -0800 (PST), Fred Kemper
<pbga...@davlin.net> wrote:

>
> Make sure the powerball is present.
>
> Make sure the clock works. Hopefully it has
>the original boards, (or Liz boards), and no holes
>drilled in the housing. Badly hacked OEM boards
>and connectors/connections can be found here as well.
>
> Make sure diverter piece on ramp to Powerfield is
>present.
>
> Look for repaired damage on CPU board caused
>by leaking batteries and/or bad IC replacement techniques.
>
> Look for hacks on the driver board. Specifically
>in the bridge rectifier and GI connector areas.
>Also have seen some bad ones in the +5VDC area.
>
> Other hacks can be found on the ball trough proxy
>sensor PCB. Have seen poorly hacked potentiometer
>"mods" here.
>
>Fred
>TX
>CARGPB#8
>===================================

A few more:

1. Look for playfield wear at the rocket kickout and left inlane ball
drop.

2. Cabinet fade (reds become pinks)

3. Functioning gumball machine

4. Rocket plastic and plastic on lower right of mini-playfield are
most commonly broken.

5. Check for broken shot machine welds

6. Mini playfield vertical cracking.

Mark
Atlanta GA

bobbyd...@googlemail.com

unread,

Dec 15, 2007, 6:49:57 AM12/15/07

to

aside from checking the slot machine welds, check the metal bracket
that holds the slot-machine kick-out coil- mine was broken and hacked
so it would work again. as I understand it, this is very common, and
you can't get that bracket anywhere.

bobbyd...@googlemail.com

unread,

Dec 15, 2007, 6:50:27 AM12/15/07

to

oh yeah- make sure it has the powerball!

skidog

unread,

Dec 15, 2007, 8:19:44 AM12/15/07

to

Thanks

Bob Presutti

<bobbyd...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:8c9a8709-c4bc-40e9...@l32g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

skidog

unread,

Dec 15, 2007, 8:22:19 AM12/15/07

to

Thanks Everyone!!!

I am compiling a word doc to bring with me as a checklist from the response
here

I just went to look at one local but the playfield was too far gone for my
taste so everything else was kinda mute

I can repair address some/most of the items listed here but you cant really
repair a blown out playfield
(unless you are willing to strip it and send to Chris Hutchins or Playfield
restorations - Too much work and I don't have the time)

Bob Presutti

"skidog" <rpresutt...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:GX28j.14094$k27....@bignews2.bellsouth.net...