Popeye Problems for a Noob

[Thrashers223]

Hey guys, I am new to the site and have been searching threads and can't find a solution to my problem.

I have a Popeye machine made by Sammy. It was working fine until today. I did not know you are to never lay these machines on its back. I was very careful and even put it on a soft quilt in the back of the car for transport. When I plugged it back in the shooter does not work. I opened the playing field and dropped a ball through a slot and everything worked as normal, but I have no power to the shooter. I don't have a key and I have very simple frame. I tried resetting the machine by holding the small button down next to the power button on the back and restarting it. Nothing changed no matter how long I held it down. I read about checking the dongle, but all I have is a port which looks like a printer port. It does have screws holding it on and I have not taken them off to check and see if it is two pieces or 1.

I also have a green wire with a connector on the end not connected to anything. It is about 3' long, but it has never been connected before. It originates toward the top of the machine on what looks like a nothing important spot. I assumed it was some sort of ground wire.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[MrGneiss]

It totally sounds like a dongle problem..Like its not plugged in anymore.. Did you you check your car for any dongles laying about??

Before you unscrew anything it might be good to post a picture of the dongle area so we can see if anything is plugged in that needs to be unscrewed..

Yes the green wire is just a ground wire..


And..

WELCOME!!!

[Drunkenclam]

Agreed. Does sound dongle related. Some dongles are in cases like the end of a printer cable. Or just a plug with the exposed components on show covered with a blob of glue. Either way it should plug into the printer serial type connector on the back of the machine. Oh and welcome to the site

[hanabi]

Welcome to PachiTalk!!

Hopefully a pic will help identify if the Dongle is the problem

if you are unsure how to attach pics, this link will explain How to Post Pictures!!

[Thrashers223]

pach board.jpg Here is the spot for the Dongle. There has never been one attached. Please let me know if this helps or if you need something else.

I really appreciate the responses and the help.

[CarlW]

The dongle is missing in your picture. Have seen sometimes where it just looks like a blob of glue with a capacitor or resistor stuck in.

Here are some pictures of dongles. One way and then turned 180 degrees. The one on the left is a Dave Rob dongle that is definitely worth it...


DSC01888.jpgDSC01887.jpg

[hanabi]

If the pachinko has been working fine previously, then the dongle must be somewhere about??

Perhaps the back was knocked when it was transported or cleaned??



If you can't find it, then you should be able to get one or make one, or if you want to upgrade and get a Dongle that emulates the parlour experience then you may want to consider getting a CRE Dongle, invented by Daverob one of our members, lots of posts about it in the forums

[Drunkenclam]

It might be worth giving this thread a read. See if you can spy a blob. Or just double check the back of the car. Does your Pachinko work without a Dongle???

[Thrashers223]

The dongle has been found!! Thanks for your help guys. Your persistence in saying it must be the dongle had me go beyond normal checking and I found the dongle in a box. Luckily the wife must have seen it and picked it up while thinking nothing about it. Thanks again guys and I look forward to learning more about these machines so I can talk confidently.

[hanabi]

That's great news!!

Happy pachinko playing!!

btw you certainly don't need to talk confidently to join in the forums, there's lots to discover and they're a friendly bunch, mostly

[yose]

WELCOME TO PACHITALK.Iam happy to see you got the machine working.It takes awhile to figure these out,but thats how we all learn. Don't be afraid to ask questions,thats how we get answers too.

[Drunkenclam]

Well done.. Here have a banana

Questions are the route to knowledge

[Moparformances]

glad to hear another Pachi has been saved

Welcome to Pachitalk

[portercbl]

The dongle has been found!! Thanks for your help guys. Your persistence in saying it must be the dongle had me go beyond normal checking and I found the dongle in a box. Luckily the wife must have seen it and picked it up while thinking nothing about it. Thanks again guys and I look forward to learning more about these machines so I can talk confidently.

Glad you got your machine back up and running. If I were you, I would invest in a DaveRob Dongle. With this device, you will activate the two buttons on the
front of your machine along with a led to have the balls you are playing with automatically dispense for you. It is like being in the parlor.
Get one, you won't regret it. Custom Pachinko sells them for a great price!
I have 38 of them!
Jerry