Old IGT Fortune II Video Poker machine scrambled screen

[Keats]

6/23/24
IGT Fortune II, Model 1170A, Video poker, made 1/84, ser# 136117, Game Program PK0829, Video program VP225, Version 077, Game library version 058, Video library version 026.

I bought this machine in the early 90's. It worked well until a few years ago. Now it only shows a scrambled screen. Some of the displayed cards are fine but the others are scrambled.

I've tried the reset switch next to the game chip on the small board that has the battery (2 yrs old) attached. The battery still shows 3.6 volts. No luck.

I cleaned the board contacts on both the boards that fit into the top board compartment and I made sure that the boards were in securely.
The machine turns on without problem but there is no sound at the coin hopper. No running sound - nothing. It's in place and the electrical wires are tight. The hopper is full.

The buttons will not light up on the door. None of them light up. Pushing them has no effect of the machine.
The florescent lights do light up as they should. I traced the wires leading to the door and there are no loose or broken wires.

The coins drop right thru the coin acceptor into the build in tray in the original stand. I tried the very small push button on the coin acceptor to get a free play and it does nothing either.

I removed the MPU and the other large printed circuit board below it that are contained in the metal cabinet at the top inside of the machine.
I checked both for signs of burning or discoloration that might indicate a bad component needing replacement. Everything looked good.

Someone posted something to another member about trying the "Cursor Reset" switch. I have no idea where this switch might be located. I don't see any switches other than the switch next to the game chip. I did try that switch and left it off for a few minutes and then switched it back on and nothing changed.

Using the key, I can scroll thru the various screens about coins in etc. There are no messages about this situation. When started up I get a Call Attendant message on top of the scrambled cards shown.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'd love to get this machine up and running again for the grandkids to play.

Thanlks,
Keats
Peoria, Az

[Chris-socal]

Hello,
It would help us to see a picture of the machine and the MPU board. Some of the FC from that era vary.
One great option is to send the board to Alan at K-Lar, they have a test station that will identify all problems and then test all functions of the board.

Someone might have some ideas on doing a reset once they see the board.

Chris

[Keats]

Hello,
It would help us to see a picture of the machine and the MPU board. Some of the FC from that era vary.
One great option is to send the board to Alan at K-Lar, they have a test station that will identify all problems and then test all functions of the board.

Someone might have some ideas on doing a reset once they see the board.

Chris

Thanks Chris.
I tried to post a few photos and was informed that the file was too large to post. I'll have to try to reduce the size of the photos first.
Keats
Arizona

[Keats]

Monday 24 June 24

I was able to reduce the size of my photos and added them to my album "Fortune II". Not sure if you can access the pics or not. Never tried this before.
Might have to get My Videos & Photos to transfer the pics to my posting ?

Keats
Arizona

[Chris-socal]

Sure, when you reply there is a small “add attachments “ link at the bottom.
You can add multiple pics.
I use an app called photo compress, it’s easy and free..
Others here email the photo to themselves and hope the email server will compress it.

Chris

[Keats]

I was able to compress the size and I uploaded 4 pictures into my Videos & Photos.
Could not get them to load to the posting any other way.

[Chris-socal]

Here are your pictures.

[Keats]

THANK YOU !!!!!

[Keats]

6/25/24

Trying to add a photo of my screen showing the scrambled image I get.

Keats

Arizona

[Keats]

6/25/24

Super.... It worked. Used "Pre View" program to reduce the photo size to allow it to be less than the Max allowed for posting.

So as you can see, the 2 of Spades looks right. Everything else is screwed up. No sound, no ability to feed a coin (drops thru), no buttons work,
It's not the CRT screen. It's the info that the screen is receiving from the MPU I'm guessing. When I use the key to run thru the various screens such as # of coins in etc, it reads like it should.

I did the Game Chip Reset using the switch with no success.

Still open to suggestions.

Keats
Arizona

[Chris-socal]

I am not an expert on these boards but we had someone post awhile back with a similar issue. There are two things that can cause this.
1.  Wrong match of chips  (video to game). We would need a very clear picture of the IC's so we can read their labels to determine this. If you take one picture of the IC's in sockets and compress it to just 500K we should be able to see it well.

2.  The IC's need to be re-seated in the sockets

Many times users here have good luck with the second option. If you are not familiar with how to lift IC's out of the socket watch a Youtube video. You can use a small screwdriver and GENTLY pry one end up and then the other, don't pull one side completely out or it will bend the legs on the other side. If the legs have any corrosion or buildup on them use a pencil eraser or something to polish the metal without sanding the finish off. Make sure you only do one at a time to avoid mixing them up.

I can't read the names on the IC labels because the image is highly compressed but you could also try gently popping them all up and pressing them back in, sometimes it's that simple.

Chris

[Keats]

6/25/24

Chris,
Thank you for the tip.  I'm familiar with chips and I've removed and replaced similar chips on other machines that I have.
I have not switched the game chip on this machine. It's the original chip from the factory in 1984. I've never had it out of it's socket. I'm sure that it's the correct chip because it's never been replaced.
Option #2 makes a lot of sense. After all these years it may have built up a bit of oxydation on the legs. No visible corrosion and no damage either.
I'll try this procedure and if it works, I'll be up and running again.

Thanks
Keats
Arizona

[Keats]

Photo of my game chip

Hope it posts

Keats
Arizona

[Chris-socal]

Or the video IC has cone corrupt. You might want to contact K-Lar to see if that is a possibility. Alan can write an IC for you if that is the case. He is probably the foremost expert on Fortune machines.
Do a search on NLG for Fortune Image, or Fortune Corrupt. You might find one of the previous topics on the matter.

Chris

[Keats]

6/28/24

HOORAY !!!!!   

My Fortune II is working like new. Thanks to Chris who recommended pulling the game chip, cleaning the legs and reinstalling it to get it working again.
I did that and while the legs and socket looked clean, I did wipe them off the best I could without bending any of the very tiny legs and reinstalled the chip.
I went over the entire board and made sure everything was seated firmly and wiped the contact at the rear of the board where it plugs into the second IC board at the rear. I made sure it was firmly seated and turned the machine on again.
Wow !! it starter up and read Call Attendant. I used the key to try to reset it and after going thru the various screens RE: coins in etc, it read Game Over. So I put a quarter into the coin slot and it accepted the coin. Wow, is this going to work? I pushed the Deal button and it dealt me a hand and it was not scrambled anymore. The music played and the buttons illuminated as required.
I kept trying the machine and it was playing like new.
I can't believe that it's been down for a few years because the chips legs needed to be wiped clean.
Thank you to everyone that added to this posting. Your the best...

Keats
Arizona
 

[Chris-socal]

These really are great machines, their circuits are robust. I'm not an expert but sometimes it's not the IC itself, sometimes it's the sockets. We have to remember these machines were designed to be money makers and durable, which doesn't always equal "built to last", even back then they knew the equipment became obsolete after a few years. They often used low grade sockets which are often the problem. When you pulled the IC and cleaned the legs you also swiped the contacts....sometimes they are one-side only.
 
This is my opportunity to sell some of the archives that are available on NLG. I know it's not fun but if you read through postings in the category you will often see these fixes suggested by people like Badbaud who literally worked for the companies who made these machines. Honestly, this is a tip from him from when I had an issue on my machine. Users like him know how the boards are made. I use him as an example but there are dozens of others who have suggested these tips that resolve common problems. Far too many of the members I speak of have passed away but we have their archives to use forever. Thank you NLG!

I'm really glad this helped and I'm happy to see another Fortune machine up and running.

Shall I mark this one as resolved?

Chris

[Keats]

RESOLVED.

Thanks to everyone

Keats
Arizona