Rock-Ola 1000 resets periodically

I am deeply involved in restoring a Rock-Ola 1000 Nostalgia machine that was terribly abused (party rental). I now have it working pretty well but have a strange problem and wondering if anyone else has seen this. Periodically, the machine gets into a mood and the front LED display goes blank (or it freezes with a single digit on) and then the computer resets. Some nights it won't do this at all, some nights it does it repeatedly. It does not appear to be power supply related. It nearly always resets itself back to full functionality, but occasionally I've needed to power down and power up the machine to have it reset.

Obviously this is not unique to the 1000 cabinet, so if anyone has seen this on other late 80's Rock-Olas, such as a 490 or 494, I'd be very interested.

I have removed and reconnected the connectors to the computer (power off) and sometimes that seems to help, but the problem later returns. Not sure if the randomness of the resets is just fooling me into thinking I've fixed something.

The NiCad has been replaced, so that's not it.

Due to the randomness of the problem, it is going to be extremely difficult to troubleshoot unless it becomes more acute.

Any ideas?

Mark.

Hi Mark,
Did you move the battery to the outside of that computer case--was there ANY battery damage in the computer ?
I have found this problem a few times and it has always been related to the plugs at the top of the computer--usually in a unit that has had a leaky battery. I clean both halves of those "plugs" with 91 % rubbin' al-key-haul, and hope not to need to replace any of them on the ribbon cables--- Good luck !! Ron Rich

Ron,

Yes, I moved the NiCad to the outside and yes, it was leaky and damaged the PC board, but the damage was contained to a small area. There were no PC board traces damaged.

I keep coming back to those connectors. It just seems like if I disconnect them and reconnect them, the reset problems go away for a while, but then comes back. But because the problem is so erratic, I wasn't sure if it was just luck or if I was really making a difference.

I will try cleaning the connectors as you describe and let you know what happens. I'd hate to need to replace what looks to be the world's longest ribbon cable.

By the way, whoever had this machine repainted the speaker grill and glopped the paint on so thick that they filled most of the holes! I guess they didn't consider that sound comes out of a jukebox. It's a real mess. Luckily the machine wasn't too expensive.

Thanks,

Mark.

Hi Mark,
Be VERY careful--those PC boards are FAMOUS for catching fire---especially the small connector just to the right of the large connector, if I re-call correctly--I would a least replace or, flip the large one from the keyboard to the CPU around--that battery "krap" getz everywhere--including inside the connectors !!
P.S. Be sure that the weight of the large cable is externally supported, next to both plugs !
Ron Rich