The Amazing Spider-Man (Gottlieb, 1980): Common Issues and System 80 Replacement Boards
Is your The Amazing Spider-Man pinball machine by Gottlieb (1980) not starting up, losing display and sound after a few minutes, with the tilt stuck on at startup, or resetting? On this Gottlieb System 80 pinball machine, the cause is almost always the grounds, connectors, and CPU/driver boards. Here is a summary along with compatible System 80 replacement boards.
The Amazing Spider-Man (Gottlieb, 1980): Overview
The Amazing Spider-Man is a Gottlieb electronic pinball machine from 1980 on the Gottlieb System 80 platform, featuring the Marvel superhero theme — one of the first System 80 machines.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1980
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80
- Type: electronic (solid state)
- Theme: Spider-Man, Marvel superhero
Common Issues on the Spider-Man (System 80)
Like all Gottlieb System 80 machines: aging CPU/driver boards, crashes and resets, slam tilt, failing displays, faulty grounds and connectors, leaking battery.
Spider-Man-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Ground mods are essential: Gottlieb had one of the worst grounding schemes; do this before anything else, otherwise the game remains unstable.
- Displays and sound drop out after some play time (the game remains playable): sign of a CPU board lock-up (the processor goes haywire).
- Tilt light on / tilt relay stuck at startup: you sometimes need to toggle the on/off switch several times to boot.
- A coin switch locks up the game: blank displays, reboot required.
- Large orange capacitor should be replaced if original.
- Pop bumpers / kicker and switch matrix to test.
Lock-ups, resets, grounding issues, and solenoid control problems all disappear when replacing the CPU/driver boards with the GottFA80_Plus; the Lisy80 helps locate switch faults.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Spider-Man
- GottFA80_Plus (Light) — all-in-one CPU + driver + power supply board, without sound.
- GottFA80_Plus (Full) — same with integrated sound board.
- Gosof — replacement sound board.
- Godri80 — replacement driver board.
- Lisy80 — CPU board + web-based diagnostics.
- GoPOP80 — pop bumper driver board (MA-922).
Plug & Play installation, no battery needed, free tutorials and support. Contact us if in doubt.
FAQ — Amazing Spider-Man Gottlieb
My Spider-Man loses display and sound after a few minutes?
This is typically a CPU board lock-up. A replacement board (GottFA80_Plus or Lisy80) eliminates this behavior.
The tilt stays on at startup?
Tilt relay / grounding issues; ground mods help, and the GottFA80_Plus rebuilds the control circuitry properly.
Are ground mods necessary?
Yes on System 80 — or upgrade to the GottFA80_Plus which rebuilds the power supply and control circuitry.
Do I need to replace the battery?
Our boards operate without a battery: no more corrosion.
How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: just a few minutes, no soldering required, with free tutorials and 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 the power off, visual inspection: look for any battery leakage or corrosion on your The Amazing Spider-Man's MPU; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5V and verify it reaches the MPU (reflow the solder on the regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
- Grounds: apply the ground mods between boards (CPU, driver, power supply, sound).
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU-to-driver board connection.
- Displays: never plug or unplug a display while powered on; test with a known working display.
- Final test: check startup, credits, solenoids, and displays; if needed, contact our free support.
Useful Guides
- How much does pinball machine repair cost? A price guide
- How much is my pinball machine worth? Valuation and estimates
- Pinball machine leg sizes: the complete guide
- Which board for a Gottlieb System 80, 80A or 80B?
See Also
- Black Hole (Gottlieb, 1981)
- Haunted House (Gottlieb, 1982)
- Volcano (Gottlieb, 1981)
- Counterforce (Gottlieb, 1980)
