Replacing the speech board ribbon cable

Steps

• Open the latches at each end of the IDC connector on the speech board and lift off its cover.
• Remove the old cable without damaging the IDC terminals; gently squeeze any spread terminals back with fine pliers.
• Cut an old PC IDE ribbon cable to the same length, using the end whose polarity rib lands on the correct side.
• Lay it on the IDC terminals with the cut end protruding slightly at the back.
• Back the board with a piece of wood over the solder side, put another piece over the cover and squeeze in a vice.
• If the cover will not latch, remove it, press each wire into its slot with a small screwdriver, check the terminals again and squeeze once more.
• Check continuity from the IDE plug to the speech board solder side.

Systems

• Williams System 6 / 6A
• Williams System 7

Related tips

• No speech? Check the speech board pot
• Setting up a sound board for speech
• System 6/7 sound and speech board ROMs
• Sound board jumpers for sound-and-speech games (2K ROM)
• Getting speech from a board with a 55536 speech chip
• System 9 sound and speech boards fit System 6/7
• Sound and speech board sockets need checking too
• Missing words or sounds from cracked connector pins

Source: Repairing Williams System 3 to System 7 Pinball 1977 to 1984, Part Three, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)