Count-Down (Gottlieb, 1979): Troubleshooting and System 1 Replacement Boards
Your Count-Down by Gottlieb has a blown bank fuse, a game-over relay that won't engage, atypical solenoid driving, or a bonus hole ejecting repeatedly? These symptoms are typical of Gottlieb System 1 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.
Count-Down (Gottlieb, 1979): Overview
Released in 1979, Count-Down is a System 1 machine themed around a rocket-launch countdown, with multiple drop-target banks and alphanumeric displays. It uses the Gottlieb System 1 electronics.
- Manufacturer: Gottlieb
- Year: 1979
- Electronic system: Gottlieb System 1
- Type: solid state, drop targets
- Theme: space-launch countdown
Common Issues (System 1)
The Gottlieb System 1 shares a well-known set of weaknesses regardless of the game:
- Leaking battery: the NiCad battery soldered to the MPU board corrodes traces and components over time. This is the #1 failure — remove it immediately.
- Poor grounds: the original ground wiring is undersized and causes resets and erratic behavior (ground mods are virtually mandatory).
- Corroded connectors: Molex connectors, especially the 46-pin MPU-to-driver connection, lose contact and require re-pinning.
- Power supply: unstable 5V (often the legs of transistor Q1 or the R4 trim pot), tired rectifier bridges, and overheating transformers cause crashes.
- Displays: digits that fade, flicker, or freeze at zero. Never connect or disconnect a display while powered on.
Count-Down-Specific Issues (Forum Reports)
- Blown bank fuse: each bank-reset coil has its own fuse (under the playfield, near the coil); a dead fuse blocks the target reset.
- Game-over relay: it must engage at the start of a game, otherwise the coils don't work at all.
- Atypical solenoid driving: the Count-Down has 5 controlled solenoids for only 3 dedicated driver transistors; 2 are driven via lamp transistors and under-playfield transistors (yellow and blue bank resets) — useful to know for diagnosis.
- 5101 RAM and reset circuit: the most frequent board failures, often worsened by battery corrosion.
- Bonus eject hole ejecting repeatedly: a switch stuck closed (with no ball) causes spurious ejects.
Compatible Replacement Boards for Count-Down
Count-Down runs on the Gottlieb System 1, a platform known for its fragility (leaking battery, weak grounds, corroded connectors). Pinballs Store offers battery-free replacement solutions:
- Gosof — replacement sound board.
For a dedicated System 1 CPU/driver board, contact us: we'll point you to the best solution for your Count-Down. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, with free support.
FAQ — Count-Down Gottlieb
My drop-target bank won't reset.
Each bank-reset coil has its own fuse under the playfield near the coil — check it first. Then verify the reset coil, diode, and transistor.
No coils work at all.
The game-over relay may not be engaging at the start of a game. Check the relay; a modern battery-free CPU stabilizes the logic — contact us.
Do you have a replacement CPU board for my System 1?
Contact us — we'll point you to the best battery-free solution for your machine. The Gosof already covers the sound board.
Do I need to keep the original battery?
No. The NiCad battery is the #1 cause of corrosion on System 1 — remove it. Modern replacements are battery-free.
How long does installation take?
Our replacement boards are 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 battery leakage or corrosion on the MPU of your Count-Down; remove the NiCad battery immediately if still present.
- Power supply: measure the 5V rail; if low, re-solder the legs of transistor Q1 and check the R4 trim pot.
- Grounds: apply the System 1 ground mods (ground wires to the CPU and driver boards).
- Connectors: re-pin the oxidized 46-pin MPU-to-driver Molex connector and the connectors under the battery.
- Displays: never connect or disconnect a display while powered on (it can destroy the display driver chips); 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
- Pinball Pool (Gottlieb, 1979)
- Solar Ride (Gottlieb, 1979)
- Dragon (Gottlieb, 1978)
- Joker Poker (Gottlieb, 1978)
