Bally Fireball Home Edition

I usually don’t take on repairs for home editions of pinball machines, but I made an exception for this customer. The Bally Fireball Home Edition needed some serious attention, and I was up for the challenge.

Initial Diagnosis

The first thing I noticed was the power supply—the connector was burnt, and it wasn’t outputting the required 18 volts. This was a clear indication that the power supply needed to be rebuilt. Beyond that, the machine showed signs of neglect, so I prepared for a thorough cleaning and some mechanical repairs.

Ordering Parts and Prepping the Machine

I sourced the necessary parts from Digikey. While waiting for the parts to arrive, I tackled the mechanical issues:

• Pop Bumpers: Rebuilt the pop bumpers, ensuring they were responsive and functioning properly.
• Header Pins: Re-soldered the header pins, which had poor connections and were causing intermittent issues.
• Machine Cleanup: Gave the entire machine a deep clean, removing dirt and grime that had built up over time.
• Rubber Replacement: Installed new rubbers across the playfield to restore proper bounce and responsiveness.

Power Supply Rebuild

When the parts arrived, I got to work on the power supply. I replaced the damaged components and upgraded the +18V section with a 7818 voltage regulator, following the recommendations outlined in Pinwiki. This upgrade not only resolved the output issue but also improved the reliability of the power supply for future use.

Troubleshooting MPU Issues

After addressing the power supply, I encountered a few MPU-related problems. The machine’s buttons seemed to be shorting out, which led me to examine the board more closely. Here’s what I found and fixed:

• ILD-74 Optoisolators: Replaced both ILD-74s to resolve issues with button responsiveness.
• TIP Transistors: Swapped out some faulty TIP transistors that were contributing to the MPU malfunctions.
• Replaced CPU Socket: Removed the crappy brown socket with a new dual-wipe socket.

These repairs brought the MPU back to a stable state, allowing the machine to play and function correctly.

Final Touches

With the electronics and mechanics sorted, I moved on to the finishing touches:

• Conducted a full playtest to ensure all switches, bumpers, and lights were operating as intended.
• Cleaned and polished the playfield for a like-new appearance.
• Double-checked all connections to ensure long-term reliability.

Conclusion

Taking on the Bally Fireball Home Edition was a rewarding experience. It’s always satisfying to see a neglected machine come back to life and know it will bring joy to its owner for years to come.

If you enjoy reading about these repairs or have a home edition pinball machine that needs attention, let me know by commenting, subscribing, or sending me an email. Your feedback inspires me to share more of these repair stories!