Roller Disco (Gottlieb, 1980): faults and System 1 replacement boards
Does your Roller Disco (Gottlieb, 1980) show an EE error at start-up, flashing displays or dead playfield lamps? This Gottlieb pinball with a roller-disco theme is built on System 1. Here are the typical faults reported on the forums and the battery-free replacement solutions.
Roller Disco overview
Released in 1980, the Roller Disco is a Gottlieb solid-state pinball built on System 1. Its festive theme celebrates the roller-skating craze and the disco atmosphere of the late 1970s.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1980
- System: Gottlieb System 1
- Type: solid state (alphanumeric displays)
- Theme: roller skating, disco
Common faults (System 1)
The Gottlieb System 1 shares a set of well-known weaknesses, regardless of the game:
- Leaking battery: the NiCad battery soldered onto the MPU board leaks over time and corrodes traces and components. It's the number-one fault — remove it without delay.
- Poor grounding: the original ground wiring is undersized and causes resets and erratic behaviour (the "ground mods" are practically mandatory).
- Corroded connectors: the Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link (46 pins), lose contact and need re-pinning.
- Power supply: unstable 5 V, tired bridge rectifiers and an overheating transformer lead to crashes.
- Displays: digits that fade, flicker or stay frozen at zero.
Roller Disco-specific problems (forums)
- EE error at start-up: a classic System 1 error code on the Roller Disco, often linked to the RAM, the switches or an initialisation fault.
- Temperamental displays: blank screens flashing digits, all zeros or nothing at first, or even all segments lit at start-up.
- Dead playfield lamps: only a few lamps light up; investigate on the driver, connector and ground side.
- Silent sound board: no sound, to be diagnosed on the sound board and power-supply side.
- Missing or dead coils: check and replace any missing coils; re-pin all the connectors.
- Maintenance: ground mods, capacitor replacement and battery removal.
Roller Disco-compatible replacement boards
The Roller Disco is built on the Gottlieb System 1, a platform known to be fragile (leaking battery, weak grounds, oxidised connectors, error codes). Pinballs Store offers battery-free replacement solutions to make it reliable again:
- Gosof — replacement sound board.
For a CPU/Driver board dedicated to System 1, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Roller Disco. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support.
FAQ — Roller Disco Gottlieb
What year was the Roller Disco released?
In 1980. It's a Gottlieb solid-state pinball on the System 1 platform.
What does the EE error on my Roller Disco mean?
It's a System 1 error code (often RAM, switches or initialisation). Cleaning and re-pinning the connectors, the ground mods, or a replacement board usually fix it.
Should I remove the battery from the MPU board?
Yes, immediately. The original NiCad battery eventually leaks and destroys the board. A battery-free replacement board permanently eliminates this risk.
Is there a replacement board for the Roller Disco?
Yes. Contact us for the right System 1 CPU/Driver solution; installation is Plug & Play, battery-free, with free support.
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
- Power off, visual inspection: look for any battery or corrosion traces on your Roller Disco's MPU; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5 V and check it reaches the MPU (reflow the solder on the regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
- Grounds: apply the "ground mods" between the boards (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound).
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display with the power on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact our free support.
See also
- Cleopatra (Gottlieb, 1977)
- Torch (Gottlieb, 1980)
- Buck Rogers (Gottlieb, 1980)
- Asteroid Annie and the Aliens (Gottlieb, 1980)
