Bone Busters (Gottlieb, 1989): Troubleshooting and System 80B Replacement Boards
Your Bone Busters by Gottlieb has a particular PROM configuration, faulty controlled lamps, stuck pop bumpers, or intermittent grounds? These symptoms are typical of Gottlieb System 80B pinball machines whose original boards are now over 40 years old. The good news: our battery-free replacement boards, Plug & Play, bring your machine back to life.
Bone Busters (Gottlieb, 1989): Overview
Released in 1989, Bone Busters is one of Gottlieb's last System 80B pinball machines, with alphanumeric displays. It uses the Gottlieb System 80B electronics.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1989
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80B
- Type: solid state
- Theme: comedy horror / skeletons
Common Issues (System 80B)
System 80B machines use alphanumeric displays and a 5101 RAM-based MPU backed by a battery. Recurring failures include: leaking battery on the MPU (corrosion and loss of the 5101 memory), unstable power supply (the original trim pot struggles to maintain 5V and 12V), cracked solder joints (especially on the CPU daughter card and the LM338K regulator), inter-board connectors needing re-pinning, poor grounds (ground mods are essential), dead displays if even a single data bit fails between the MPU and display, and startup disrupted by the fluorescent tube starter in the backbox.
Bone Busters-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Particular PROM configuration: jumpers E3, E5 and E7 must be installed; Bone Busters uses a 2732 PROM in the "PROM 1" position.
- Faulty controlled lamps: check and replace the Z33 decoder connected to U6 if the controlled lamps are a problem.
- Stuck pop bumpers: if the relay that enables coil power opens, the bumpers fire continuously as long as they have current.
- Intermittent grounds: reseat the connectors at the bottom of the Driver board; a slightly crooked connector at the ground-improvement location is enough to create faults.
- Faulty sound: the tantalum capacitors on the auxiliary power board (near the amp) generate faults when they weaken.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Bone Busters
- GottFA80_Plus (Light) — all-in-one CPU + driver + power supply board, without sound.
- GottFA80_Plus (Full) — same all-in-one board with integrated sound.
- Gosof — replacement sound board for System 80 and 80A.
- Godri80 — replacement driver board.
- Lisy80 — CPU board + web-based diagnostics.
- GoPOP80 — pop bumper driver board (MA-922).
System 80B note: we recommend the GottFA80_Plus Light — 80B is covered on the CPU/MPU side. On the audio side, support is currently limited to select titles (Bounty Hunter, Chicago Cubs Triple Play, Tag-Team Pinball); for other System 80B games, keep and repair the original sound board and contact us (an audio solution is in development).
The GottFA80_Plus replaces the original CPU, driver, and power supply in a single board — battery-free, no corrosion risk, and no more drifting trim pot. Installation is Plug & Play, with tutorials and free support. Contact us.
FAQ — Bone Busters Gottlieb
My controlled lamps are faulty.
Check and replace the Z33 decoder connected to U6. The Godri80 replaces the driver board that handles the lamps.
My pop bumpers fire continuously.
The coil-power enable relay has opened. Check the relay; the GoPOP80 replaces the pop bumper driver board.
Is the GottFA80_Plus compatible with my Gottlieb System 80B?
Yes. The GottFA80_Plus covers System 80, 80A, and 80B. If in doubt, contact us.
Do I need to keep the original battery?
No. Our boards run without a battery and eliminate the #1 cause of corrosion.
How long does installation take?
Installation is Plug & Play: just a few minutes, no soldering required, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board retain settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use NVRAM: no battery, no corrosion, and settings are preserved when powered off.
Step-by-Step Diagnostics
- With power off, visual inspection: look for any signs of battery leakage or corrosion on the MPU of your Bone Busters; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5V rail and verify it reaches the MPU (replace the drifting trim pot or re-solder the regulator if voltage sags).
- Grounds: apply ground mods between the boards (CPU, driver, power supply, sound).
- Connectors: re-pin oxidized Molex and edge connectors, especially the MPU-to-driver connection.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known good display.
- Final test: verify startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; if needed, contact free support.
Useful Guides
- How much does pinball machine repair cost? A price guide
- How much is my pinball machine worth? Value and estimation
- Pinball machine leg sizes: the complete guide
- Which board for a Gottlieb System 80, 80A or 80B?
See Also
- Big House (Gottlieb, 1989)
- Hot Shots (Gottlieb, 1989)
- Night Moves (Gottlieb, 1989)
- Bad Girls (Gottlieb, 1988)
