Leaderboard

Friendliness and laughs come along when members get to know each other and get involved in the site / hobby. The Mecca is about older machines, not so much newer ones but there will always be a cross over as time passes as newer machines become older. The issues start with people / members who come on here and instantly know better than people who have been involved with machine / board repairs for 20, 30 and possibly 40years +. The know all's and do all's. Many of the things they say, do and know everything about have been tried over and over again and failed miserably. For example the case here of someone having a non working / battery damaged Epoch board repaired or replaced for £39....it just isn't going to happen whatsoever. I stand corrected if it does but it has been said and done many many times, leading to disappointment. When the company get the board they will just return it, as Andrew says, stating it is beyond economical repair. This is standard procedure for repair companies suck as Lectronix, Maggi etc. If it needs a new cap or connector replacing for pennies and a couple of minutes work, they will happily do it I am sure but they will not spend hours on it or replace expensive components for the pricing stated. As for the Mecca being a happy place, I feel it is most of the time and as for making it happier to get donations.... well what can I say. If people are willing to have a say and comment how they would want to see the place but can't donate a fiver or so to keep the place ticking over, until it is happier then imho you don't belong here, sorry. Use the site, comment, get involved in threads, give opinion, then please feel free to support the Mecca to keep it running for many more years, if not, well is there anything else I need to add? The Mecca is a goldmine for info, advice and resources about machine repairs / pcb repairs for those that wish to take it amd learn.

Nice to see it get some tlc .

Hmm, all my boards have are unpopulated, all my spare boards have the CHR chip though. I will try and find out the chip code and get back to you. J

yes clean with the pvc cleaner just to get rid of the marks then use house polish to get shine back on them

Much better! I just polished the marks out.

take the reel out of the machine put some on a rag and clean the reel be careful has the reel might be brittle with age and so rub lightly hope this helps

Say again?

pvc window cleaner

Been there, done that! https://www.fruitemu.co.uk/ib/index.php?/topic/10657-castle-tensation-repair-project/&do=findComment&comment=168266

Finished at last!!! I'll upload a video or two later...

The payout module receiving some TLC...

Reel & switch panel finished! Payouts coming next...

Thanks chaps. I couldn't leave the reel panel in that state, whoever built it originally was an arse. Reel panel back on the machine and all looms reattached. Reel shelf cleaned, awaiting cleaned buttons and new microswitches.

Just a quick update, I found the dot matrix board to be OK apart from one dead dot, so I changed the segment over. The replacement segment isn't ideal but it'll do for now, it really needs a light faced segment with a letter "F" printed on the side:

The pin repair is still a bit of a bodge. To do it properly would require hundreds of pounds worth of crimp tool! To do the above repair still required the pin extraction tool, cost £26 but worth every penny!

While I was working on the reels, I noticed that reel 1 had a damaged pin. I'll let the photos tell the story...

Reel bands next, boy do they need some attention... I've only documented the repair of reel 1. Reels 2 & 3 were pretty much the same but without a gouge to fix. I carefully removed the bands (they were glued on) and washed them, front and back. Before washing: After washing: Now to take on that gouge with some cheap plastic polish! Before and after polishing: Finished result: To hold the split parts of the band together, I used some thin adhesive film. Once the band was repaired, I mounted it back on the drum with some thin double sided adhesive: Repeat for reels 2 & 3 and here is the finished result!