Sinbad (Gottlieb, 1978): faults and System 1 replacement boards

June 27, 2026

Is your Sinbad (Gottlieb, 1978) no longer starting, are the displays silent or does a target bank refuse to reset? This Gottlieb pinball runs on System 1, endearing but fragile electronics. Here are the typical faults reported on the forums and the battery-free replacement solutions.

Sinbad overview

Released in 1978, the Sinbad is a Gottlieb solid-state pinball built on System 1. Its theme takes the player along on the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, between distant seas and the treasures of the Arabian Nights.

Manufacturer: Gottlieb
Year: 1978
System: Gottlieb System 1
Type: solid state (alphanumeric displays)
Theme: adventure, Sinbad the Sailor, Arabian Nights

Gottlieb System 1 MPU board — Sinbad — The MPU board drives the entire Gottlieb System 1.

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.

Battery corrosion on a Gottlieb System 1 board — Sinbad — Typical NiCad battery corrosion on System 1: the number-one fault to fix.

Sinbad-specific problems (forums)

Wrong 3rd-player display: a factory wiring error on the 3A4J1 connector, whose pins 2 and 8 were swapped at the factory — a great Sinbad classic.
Target bank that won't reset: often the red bank; check the reset coil diode and the matching transistor on the Driver board.
Temperamental controlled lamps: driven lamps that don't light, usually on the Driver or connector side.
Grounds and resets: without the ground mods (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound), the game crashes or restarts on its own.
Original battery: if the NiCad battery is still soldered to the MPU, remove it immediately before it leaks.
Tired connectors: corroded MPU↔Driver Molex cause intermittent faults; re-pinning is required.

Sinbad-compatible replacement boards

The Sinbad is built on the Gottlieb System 1, a platform known to be fragile (leaking battery, weak grounds, oxidised connectors). Pinballs Store offers battery-free replacement solutions to make it reliable again:

Gosof — replacement sound board.

Gosof sound board for Gottlieb System 1 — Sinbad — The Gosof sound board: battery-free replacement, Plug & Play installation.

For a CPU/Driver board dedicated to System 1, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Sinbad. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support.

FAQ — Sinbad Gottlieb

What year was the Sinbad released?
In 1978. It's a Gottlieb solid-state pinball on the System 1 platform.

Why is the 3rd-player display on my Sinbad wrong?
It's often the factory error on the 3A4J1 connector (pins 2 and 8 swapped). Correcting the connector wiring restores the 3rd-player display.

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 Sinbad?
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 marks on the MPU of your Sinbad; remove the NiCad battery if it is still present.
Power supply: measure the 5 V and check that it reaches the MPU (re-solder 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 plug or unplug a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact the free support.