Hot Shots (Gottlieb, 1989): faults and replacement boards System 80B

Does your Gottlieb Hot Shots only boot one time out of three, have a motor that doesn't turn, faulty grounds or does it reset? 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.

Hot Shots (Gottlieb, 1989): overview

Released in 1989, Hot Shots is a System 80B pinball machine with a sports theme (basketball and skill shots). It features the series' alphanumeric displays, in one of the last years of the System 80B.

• Manufacturer: D. Gottlieb & Co.
• Year: 1989
• Electronic system: Gottlieb System 80B
• Type: solid state electronic pinball, alphanumeric displays
• Theme: sport / skill

Common faults (System 80B)

System 80B machines use 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 repinning, poor grounds (ground mods essential), blank displays if a single bit fails to pass from the MPU to the display, and start-up disrupted by the starter of the backbox fluorescent tube.

Issues specific to Hot Shots (forum reports)

• Random boot: replacing the 5 V control potentiometer and reflowing the header pins takes the game from "one time out of three" to "every time".
• Motor that doesn't turn: powered by 27 V AC, it depends on an interlock switch on the left of the cabinet, to be pressed in when the playfield is lowered.
• Grounds to redo: even with its .156 header pins, the 80B requires ground mods.
• Backbox lighting: the starter of the fluorescent tube can prevent boot; test with the starter removed.
• Closed tilt switch: a tilt contact stuck closed blocks the game.

Replacement boards compatible with Hot Shots

• 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 note: 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 the 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, tutorials and free support. Contact us.

FAQ — Hot Shots Gottlieb

My Hot Shots only boots one time out of three.
Replace the 5 V potentiometer and reflow the header pins. An all-in-one GottFA80_Plus board includes a modern power supply that eliminates this fault.

The motor doesn't turn.
Check the cabinet interlock switch (to be pressed in with the playfield lowered) and the 27 V AC. This is mechanical/wiring; our support will guide you.

The game is unstable.
Do the ground mods and repin the connectors. A replacement MPU makes the whole thing reliable.

And what about 80B sound?
Audio support is for now limited to a few titles (Bounty Hunter, Chicago Cubs Triple Play, Tag Team). For Hot Shots, 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

1. Powered off, visual inspection: look for any battery or corrosion trace on the MPU of your Hot Shots; remove the NiCad battery if still present.
2. Power supply: measure the 5 V and check it reaches the MPU (redo the solder of the regulator or Q1 if the voltage drops).
3. Grounds: apply the "ground mods" between the boards (CPU, Driver, power supply, sound).
4. Connectors: re-pin the oxidised Molex connectors, especially the MPU↔Driver link.
5. Displays: never plug or unplug a display while powered; test with a known-good display.
6. Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact the free support.

See also

• Bad Girls (Gottlieb, 1988)
• Big House (Gottlieb, 1989)
• Bone Busters (Gottlieb, 1989)
• Excalibur (Gottlieb, 1988)

Sources & further reading

• Pinside Forum — Hot Shots
• IPDB — Internet Pinball Database
• OPDB — Open Pinball Database