New member, starting from scratch with a Fortune 1

[Pagoda]

Hi everyone, I'm a big video poker fan and recently picked up a 1981 Draw Poker machine off of Craigslist. It was advertised as not working, and I pretty much just got it for decoration in my poker room.
That said, it would great to bring it back to life, but I have very little experience with electronics. Here's where I'm at:
The machine powers on but the only working items are the door lights and the fan. The reset switch up top does nothing, and only one of the circuit breaker push switches works, the one on the right. I've removed the board up top and took a pink eraser to the contacts, no change. I see none of the red led lights on the lower or middle board illuminating. Dropping a coin in will sometimes result in a sound, other times not. No sign of life at all from the monitor. The date on the machine is 7/81, model is 613 and the serial number is 103554.
Any suggestions are appreciated!

[Chris-socal]

Hello and welcome to NLG.
If this is a Fortune 1 it is worth investing in, once you get them working they live for a long time and fun to play.

I suspect you have two issues.
1. Highly likely the monitor needs some attention. It is likely a Sony Trinitron or an RGB1401. Attach a picture of the machine with the door open so I can see the monitor adjustment knobs and the face of the monitor.
2. If it is playing blind, meaning it is playing but you can’t see it, you might be in luck. Just send the monitor board in and get it repaired.

I suspect the coin is registering and its waiting for you to hold some cards and DEAL.


Pictures always help us. Each picture file must be 500kb or less and total attachment 5000k. Use a free app like Photo Compress or email the picture to yourself and your email provider will likely compress the image.

Chris

[Pagoda]

Thanks very much for the reply.
I think that the monitor is a Korean brand, it has a 1994 date on it. No screen burn at all, it's very clean. I'll get a pic tomorrow and post.

[Pagoda]

Monitor pics....

[Pagoda]

More pics. I removed the hopper for the photos.
(edit) is there a way to keep the vertical photos from posting as horizontal?

[Chris-socal]

Its possible to rotate those but many of us have the same issue. I think if you take pictures on an iPhone in portrait it does this. One of our admin knows how to fix these.

Its possible the game board has a problem in the video section, its pretty common. KLar has a testing station for these boards and Alan there is one of the leading techs for F1s.

I don’t recognize that monitor. Almost makes me think of Tatung but I think thats too old to be Tatung. Im pretty sure F1s are inverted color.

Reach out to K-Lar, their contact information is on the Home Page of Newlifegames.

Since you removed the monitor send me a picture of the back side so I can see the circuit boards or the frame around them.

Chris

[Pagoda]

Monitor pics

[Chris-socal]

I have a theory and I only know one person who can confirm or deny. My theory is that is not the original monitor for that game. It probably works fine with the game. The only way to verify if that monitor works is to connect it to a benchtop signal generator or connect it to a known working game. The unfortunate part is that chassis will probably only work with that tube so you would need to find someone local to try either of the options.

Chris

[Pagoda]

One other question: On the circuit breaker, only the red pole on the right works to reset power after being pressed, the left one does nothing. What's the purpose of having two? Separate power feeds?

[Chris-socal]

Not sure. I can’t say I have ever needed to press that button. I think I pressed it the first time I got a Fortune machine but it wasn’t ever needed.