Chicago Cubs Triple Play (Gottlieb, 1985): Troubleshooting and System 80B Replacement Boards
Your Chicago Cubs Triple Play by Gottlieb has a faulty 6-target bank, worn saucer and bumper coils, deficient grounds, or dead displays? 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.
Chicago Cubs Triple Play (Gottlieb, 1985): Overview
Released in 1985, Chicago Cubs Triple Play is a 4-player System 80B machine with alphanumeric displays and a bank of 6 drop targets ("triple play"). It uses the Gottlieb System 80B electronics.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1985
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80B
- Type: solid state, drop targets
- Theme: baseball (Chicago Cubs)
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.
Chicago Cubs Triple Play-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Bank of 6 drop targets: the core of the game; targets no longer dropping or resetting, reset coil and target switches to check.
- Saucers (kickout) and bumpers: worn coils and switches to service.
- Deficient grounds (80B ground mod): can lock up a coil that overheats; to redo at the transformer.
- Battery leaking on the MPU: corrosion and loss of the 5101 memory.
- Un-repinned connectors: bad connections between boards, the #1 source of intermittent faults.
- Dead displays: if the MPU-to-display interface isn't perfect, a single missing bit is enough to blank everything.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Chicago Cubs Triple Play
- 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: for your machine we recommend the GottFA80_Plus Full — Chicago Cubs Triple Play is one of the select System 80B titles whose audio is supported (CPU/MPU and sound are both covered). Installation is Plug & Play and battery-free, with free support.
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 — Chicago Cubs Triple Play Gottlieb
My 6-target bank won't drop or reset.
Check the reset coil and target switches. On the logic side, a GottFA80_Plus stabilizes switch reading.
A coil locks up and overheats.
A deficient ground. Redo the ground mods at the transformer; a GottFA80_Plus provides solid grounding and stable voltages.
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 Chicago Cubs Triple Play; 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
- Bounty Hunter (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Tag-Team Pinball (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Rock (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Raven (Gottlieb, 1986)
