Scorpion (Williams, 1980): faults and replacement boards System 6

Does your Williams Scorpion fail to start (no blanking signal), blow the solenoid fuse, keep stuck bumpers or have a faulty 40-pin connector? These symptoms are typical of Williams System 6 pinball machines, whose original boards (MPU, Driver, power supply) are now over 40 years old. Good news: the WillFA7 replacement board, Plug & Play and battery-free, brings your machine back to life.

Scorpion (Williams, 1980): overview

Released in 1980, Scorpion is a Williams System 6 pinball machine themed around the scorpion and the desert. A fast title from the end of the System 6 range.

• Manufacturer: Williams
• Year: 1980
• Electronic system: Williams System 6
• Type: electronic pinball (solid state)
• Theme: scorpion / desert

Common faults (System 6)

On Williams System 3 to 7, recurring faults come from ageing: leaking NiCad battery on the MPU (corrosion, the no.1 cause of dead boards), worn 40-pin MPU↔Driver connector (the best-known weak point), resets/reboots on 5 V drop (headers and power connectors to be resoldered), tired power supply capacitors, displays with missing segments (connectors, display resistors), and a solenoid fuse that blows (stuck slingshot or bumper).

Issues specific to Scorpion (forum feedback)

• No blanking signal: prevents start-up, even after replacing the MPU and Driver boards — needs precise diagnosis.
• Solenoid fuse (SB 3.5 A) blowing: unplugging connectors J9 and J11 (sound board and playfield coils) helps isolate the cause.
• 40-pin MPU↔solenoids connector: high failure rate; if one pin makes no contact, the game won't boot.
• Displays: stuck strobe lines: in test, lines stuck high cause missing digits.
• Stuck pop bumpers: often a switch left closed; resistors that heat up with cold solder joints to watch.

Replacement boards compatible with Scorpion

• WillFA7 — 2-in-1 board (MPU + Driver) compatible with System 3 to 7, System 7 included.

The WillFA7 replaces the original MPU and Driver board (start-up, logic resets, coil control, battery-free memory) and does away with the fragile 40-pin ribbon cable. Purely power-supply and mechanical faults still need to be handled separately; our support guides you.

Plug & Play installation, battery-free, tutorials and free support. Contact us.

FAQ — Scorpion Williams

My Scorpion won't start (no blanking).
The blanking signal is missing. The WillFA7 replaces MPU and Driver; if the fault persists, our support helps you diagnose the wiring.

The solenoid fuse blows.
Unplug J9 and J11 to isolate the cause (sound board or coils). The WillFA7 makes the Driver stage reliable.

My pop bumpers stay stuck.
Often a closed switch. Check it; the WillFA7 replaces the failing Driver control.

Should I keep the original battery?
No. The WillFA7 works without a battery and removes the no.1 cause of corrosion on System 6.

How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: a few minutes, no soldering, with tutorials and free support.

Does a battery-free board keep the settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use non-volatile memory: no more battery, no more corrosion, and the settings are kept when powered off.

Step-by-step diagnosis

1. Power off, visual inspection: look for any trace of battery or corrosion on the MPU of your Scorpion; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
2. Power supply: check the 5 V and the fuses; resolder the power supply and MPU headers if the voltage drops or the game resets.
3. Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
4. Coils: check the solenoid fuses and the switches (stuck slingshot) before powering back on.
5. Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
6. Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; remember that the WillFA7 replaces MPU + Driver. If needed, contact free support.

See also

• Firepower (Williams, 1980)
• Blackout (Williams, 1980)
• Algar (Williams, 1980)
• Alien Poker (Williams, 1980)

Sources & further reading

• Pinside Forum — Scorpion
• IPDB — Internet Pinball Database
• OPDB — Open Pinball Database