Amazon Hunt III (Gottlieb, 1987): faults and replacement boards System 80B
On your Gottlieb Amazon Hunt III, do solenoids no longer respond, are the grounds or voltages unstable, does the game reset or no longer start? These symptoms are typical of Gottlieb System 80B pinball machines, whose original boards (MPU, Driver, power supply, sound) are now over 40 years old. Good news: modern replacement boards, Plug & Play and battery-free, give your machine a second life.
Amazon Hunt III (Gottlieb, 1987): overview
Released in 1987, Amazon Hunt III is a System 80B pinball machine extending the adventure saga in the Amazonian jungle. A relatively rare title, it offers the series' alphanumeric displays.
- Manufacturer: D. Gottlieb & Co.
- Year: 1987
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80B
- Type: solid state pinball machine, alphanumeric displays
- Theme: adventure / Amazonian jungle
Common faults (System 80B)
The System 80B uses alphanumeric displays and an MPU with battery-backed 5101 RAM. Recurring faults: leaking battery on the MPU (corrosion and loss of the 5101 memory), unstable power supply (the original trim pot struggles to hold 5 V and 12 V), cracked solder joints (notably on the CPU daughter card), inter-board connectors needing re-pinning, deficient grounds (ground mods essential), dark displays if a single bit fails to pass from the MPU to the display, and startup disrupted by the backbox fluorescent tube starter.
Issues specific to Amazon Hunt III (forum feedback)
An uncommon title, Amazon Hunt III shares the 80B fault profile; the reported points are:
- Corrosion of battery, connectors and grounds: the trio that undermines the reliability of the entire System 80B platform.
- Dead solenoids/coils: check the solenoid fuse, re-pin the MPU→Driver ribbon cable and check the power transistors of the Driver board.
- Un-re-pinned connectors: poor connections between boards, the main source of intermittent faults.
- Variable voltage: replace the power supply trim pot.
- Grounds to redo: ground mods essential to stabilize the game.
Replacement boards compatible with Amazon Hunt III
- GottFA80_Plus (Light) — all-in-one CPU + Driver + power supply board, without sound.
- GottFA80_Plus (Full) — same with integrated sound board (80B audio limited to a few titles).
- Gosof — replacement sound board for System 80 and 80A (80B support currently limited to a few titles).
- Godri80 — replacement Driver board.
- Lisy80 — CPU board + web diagnostics.
- GoPOP80 — bumper driver board (MA-922).
System 80B specifics: favour the GottFA80_Plus Light — the 80B is covered on the CPU/MPU side. On the audio side, support is for now limited to a few titles (Bounty Hunter, Chicago Cubs Triple Play, Tag Team); for other System 80B machines, keep and repair the original sound board and contact us (an audio solution is in preparation).
Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free tutorials and support. Contact us.
FAQ — Amazon Hunt III Gottlieb
Some solenoids no longer respond.
Check the solenoid fuse, re-pin the MPU→Driver ribbon cable and check the power transistors. The Godri80 board replaces the faulty Driver board.
The game is unstable.
Redo the grounds (ground mod) and re-pin the connectors. An all-in-one GottFA80_Plus board includes a modern power supply.
The memory/settings are lost.
The battery leaked and the 5101 is lost. Our boards work without a battery and remove this risk.
And what about 80B sound?
Audio support is for now limited to a few titles (Bounty Hunter, Chicago Cubs Triple Play, Tag Team). For Amazon Hunt III, keep and repair the original sound board and contact us; a solution is in preparation.
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 trace or corrosion on your Amazon Hunt III's MPU; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5 V and check 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 oxidized Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check startup, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact free support.
See also
- Gold Wings (Gottlieb, 1986)
- Monte Carlo (Gottlieb, 1987)
- Spring Break (Gottlieb, 1987)
- Arena (Gottlieb, 1987)
Sources & further reading
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