Bounty Hunter (Gottlieb, 1985): Troubleshooting and System 80B Replacement Boards
Your Bounty Hunter by Gottlieb won't start on the first try, has switches going inert mid-game, a pressure-dependent connector, or a dead display? 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.
Bounty Hunter (Gottlieb, 1985): Overview
Released in 1985, Bounty Hunter is a multiplayer System 80B machine with alphanumeric displays. It uses the Gottlieb System 80B electronics.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1985
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80B
- Type: solid state
- Theme: bounty hunting / Wild West
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.
Bounty Hunter-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Won't start on first power-up: only the general illumination (GI) lights up; one or two restarts are needed for the machine to boot.
- Switches go inert mid-game: play starts normally, then suddenly all switches stop responding (flippers, bumpers and slingshots keep working), the ball drains without the outhole being detected; a reboot restarts it, then the fault recurs.
- Pressure-dependent connector: an edge connector only makes contact when physically pressed; cleaning alone is not enough, it must be re-pinned.
- Dead display: a mute display to diagnose starting with the fuses, from least to most invasive.
- RAM lock-up: lock-up with garbage data in memory at startup, typical of System 80B.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Bounty Hunter
- 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 — Bounty Hunter 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 — Bounty Hunter Gottlieb
My Bounty Hunter needs two tries to boot.
A RAM lock-up with garbage data at startup. A GottFA80_Plus or Lisy80 replaces the MPU battery-free and boots reliably.
My switches go inert mid-game.
Often a pressure-dependent edge connector that must be re-pinned (cleaning alone won't do). A GottFA80_Plus stabilizes switch reading.
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 Bounty Hunter; 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
- Chicago Cubs Triple Play (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Tag-Team Pinball (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Rock (Gottlieb, 1985)
- Raven (Gottlieb, 1986)
