Resolder and inspect the driver board header pins
Steps
- With the driver board out, look at every .156 inch Molex header pin around the edge for burnt or tarnished pins.
- Replace any burnt or tarnished pins with new .156 inch header pins.
- Remove the old solder from each header joint with a desoldering tool; old solder does not take fresh solder well.
- Resolder each pin with new solder. Vibration and board flex crack these joints and cause intermittent faults.
Systems
Related tips
- Resolder the driver board header pins
- Replace the 40-pin interboard female connector
- Slingshot kicker never fires from its switches: loose pin at 2J13
- Freezes mid-game and blows solenoid fuse F2: clean and reseat the 40-pin interconnect
- Damage after the black and white plugs were swapped
- Removing the old interboard female connector
- Resolder board header pins properly
- Boards pass on the bench with Leon's code but the game is dead
Source: Repairing Williams System 3 to System 7 Pinball 1977 to 1984, Part Two, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)