Force II pinball machine

Force II (Gottlieb, 1981): Common Issues and System 80 Replacement Boards

Is your Force II by Gottlieb (1981) suffering from a misadjusted power supply, a temperamental game over relay, boot problems, or weak displays? On this Gottlieb System 80 pinball machine, everything points to the power supply, the connectors, the grounds, and the CPU/Driver boards. Here is the essential information and the compatible System 80 replacement boards.

Force II (Gottlieb, 1981): Overview

Force II is a Gottlieb electronic pinball machine from 1981 built on the Gottlieb System 80 platform, with a space/science fiction theme.

  • Manufacturer: Gottlieb
  • Year: 1981
  • Electronics platform: Gottlieb System 80
  • Type: solid state
  • Theme: space, science fiction
Gottlieb System 80 boards — Force II
The CPU and Driver boards of the Gottlieb System 80.

Common Issues on the Force II (System 80)

Like all Gottlieb System 80 machines: aging CPU/Driver boards, crashes and resets, slam tilt, failing displays, unreliable grounds and connectors, leaking battery.

Battery corrosion on Gottlieb System 80 board — Force II
Typical corrosion from a leaking battery on System 80: must be addressed first.

Specific Issues on the Force II (Forum Reports)

  • Power supply: the E2 voltage adjusts the output voltage; after a poorly calibrated rebuild, you can end up with voltages too high (60/42 V) — readjust on the power supply side.
  • Game over relay acting up (contacts need cleaning/adjusting).
  • Boot: redo connectors + ground mods + check the slam switch.
  • Weak displays: clean the edge connectors with an eraser.

Power supply, reset, and driving issues disappear when switching to the GottFA80_Plus, which includes a new power supply; the Lisy80 helps with diagnostics.

Compatible Replacement Boards for Force II

GottFA80_Plus board for Gottlieb System 80 — Force II
The GottFA80_Plus: all-in-one board (CPU + Driver + power supply) with no battery.

Plug & Play installation, no battery needed, with free tutorials and support. Contact us if in doubt.

FAQ — Force II Gottlieb

My Force II has voltages too high after a power supply rebuild?
Readjust the E2 voltage; the GottFA80_Plus, which includes a new power supply, eliminates these tedious adjustments.

The game over relay is acting up?
Clean and adjust the contacts; the rebuilt driving in the GottFA80_Plus makes the whole system reliable.

Should I do the ground mods?
Yes on System 80 — or switch to the GottFA80_Plus.

Should I replace the battery?
Our boards work without a battery: no more corrosion.

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

Does a battery-free board retain settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use NVRAM: no battery, no corrosion, and settings are retained when powered off.

Step-by-Step Diagnostics

  1. With power off, perform a visual inspection: look for any signs of battery leakage or corrosion on your Force II's MPU; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
  2. Power supply: measure the 5V rail and verify it reaches the MPU (reflow the solder on the voltage regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
  3. Grounds: apply ground mods between the boards (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound).
  4. Connectors: re-pin oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU-to-Driver link.
  5. Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known good display.
  6. Final test: check startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; if needed, contact free support.

Useful Guides

See Also

Sources & Further Reading

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