diff --git a/src/devices/machine/pit8253.cpp b/src/devices/machine/pit8253.cpp
index 3c7ee7922f7..1cfb5d45c3e 100644
--- a/src/devices/machine/pit8253.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/machine/pit8253.cpp
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ void pit8253_device::set_output(pit8253_timer *timer, int output)
 	if (output != timer->output)
 	{
 		timer->output = output;
+		LOG2(("set_output(): timer %d, %s\n", timer->index, output ? "low to high" : "high to low"));
 
 		switch (timer->index)
 		{
@@ -1007,6 +1008,11 @@ WRITE8_MEMBER( pit8253_device::write )
 
 			load_count(timer, data << 8);
 			simulate2(timer, 0);
+
+			if (CTRL_MODE(timer->control) == 0)
+			{
+				set_output(timer, 0);
+			}
 			break;
 
 		case 3:
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/amusco.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/amusco.cpp
index 08bac02e2ad..49efb13102e 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/amusco.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/amusco.cpp
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@
 #define CPU_CLOCK           MASTER_CLOCK / 4    /* guess */
 #define CRTC_CLOCK          SECOND_CLOCK / 8    /* guess */
 #define SND_CLOCK           SECOND_CLOCK / 8    /* guess */
+#define PIT_CLOCK0          SECOND_CLOCK / 8    /* guess */
+#define PIT_CLOCK1          SECOND_CLOCK / 8    /* guess */
 
 #include "emu.h"
 #include "cpu/i86/i86.h"
@@ -111,7 +113,6 @@ public:
 	virtual void machine_start() override;
 	DECLARE_READ8_MEMBER(hack_coin1_r);
 	DECLARE_READ8_MEMBER(hack_coin2_r);
-	DECLARE_READ8_MEMBER(hack_908_r);
 	DECLARE_READ8_MEMBER(mc6845_r);
 	DECLARE_WRITE8_MEMBER(mc6845_w);
 	DECLARE_WRITE8_MEMBER(output_a_w);
@@ -191,12 +192,6 @@ READ8_MEMBER(amusco_state::hack_coin2_r)
 	return BIT(ioport("IN2")->read(), 2) ? 1 : 0;
 }
 
-READ8_MEMBER(amusco_state::hack_908_r)
-{
-	// IRQ4 and other routines wait for bits of this to be set by IRQ2
-	return 0xff;
-}
-
 /*************************
 * Memory Map Information *
 *************************/
@@ -204,7 +199,6 @@ READ8_MEMBER(amusco_state::hack_908_r)
 static ADDRESS_MAP_START( amusco_mem_map, AS_PROGRAM, 8, amusco_state )
 	AM_RANGE(0x006a6, 0x006a6) AM_READ(hack_coin1_r)
 	AM_RANGE(0x006a8, 0x006a8) AM_READ(hack_coin2_r)
-	AM_RANGE(0x00908, 0x00908) AM_READ(hack_908_r)
 	AM_RANGE(0x00000, 0x0ffff) AM_RAM
 	AM_RANGE(0xec000, 0xecfff) AM_RAM AM_SHARE("videoram")  // placeholder
 	AM_RANGE(0xf8000, 0xfffff) AM_ROM
@@ -372,7 +366,7 @@ static INPUT_PORTS_START( amusco )
 	PORT_BIT( 0x40, IP_ACTIVE_LOW, IPT_POKER_HOLD4 ) // move down in service mode
 	PORT_BIT( 0x80, IP_ACTIVE_LOW, IPT_POKER_HOLD3 ) // move up in service mode
 
-	PORT_START("IN2")
+	PORT_START("IN2") // TO DO: enabling IRQ4 produces COIN ERROR message
 	PORT_BIT( 0x02, IP_ACTIVE_HIGH, IPT_COIN1 ) //PORT_WRITE_LINE_DEVICE_MEMBER("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir4_w)
 	PORT_BIT( 0x04, IP_ACTIVE_HIGH, IPT_COIN2 ) //PORT_WRITE_LINE_DEVICE_MEMBER("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir4_w)
 	PORT_BIT( 0xf9, IP_ACTIVE_HIGH, IPT_UNUSED )
@@ -435,10 +429,10 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( amusco, amusco_state )
 	MCFG_PIC8259_ADD("pic8259", INPUTLINE("maincpu", 0), VCC, NOOP)
 
 	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD("pit8253", PIT8253, 0)
-	//MCFG_PIT8253_CLK0(nnn)
-	//MCFG_PIT8253_OUT0_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir0_w))
-	//MCFG_PIT8253_CLK1(nnn)
-	//MCFG_PIT8253_OUT1_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir2_w))
+	MCFG_PIT8253_CLK0(PIT_CLOCK0)
+	MCFG_PIT8253_OUT0_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir0_w))
+	MCFG_PIT8253_CLK1(PIT_CLOCK1)
+	MCFG_PIT8253_OUT1_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir2_w))
 
 	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD("ppi_outputs", I8255, 0)
 	MCFG_I8255_OUT_PORTA_CB(WRITE8(amusco_state, output_a_w))
@@ -479,7 +473,6 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( amusco, amusco_state )
 	MCFG_MC6845_CHAR_WIDTH(8)
 	MCFG_MC6845_ADDR_CHANGED_CB(amusco_state, crtc_addr)
 	MCFG_MC6845_OUT_DE_CB(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir1_w)) // IRQ1 sets 0x918 bit 3
-	MCFG_MC6845_OUT_VSYNC_CB(DEVWRITELINE("pic8259", pic8259_device, ir0_w)) // IRQ0 sets 0x665 to 0xff
 	MCFG_MC6845_UPDATE_ROW_CB(amusco_state, update_row)
 
 	/* sound hardware */
@@ -537,5 +530,5 @@ ROM_END
 *************************/
 
 /*     YEAR  NAME        PARENT  MACHINE   INPUT     STATE          INIT  ROT    COMPANY      FULLNAME                      FLAGS                                                    LAYOUT    */
-GAMEL( 1987, amusco,     0,      amusco,   amusco,   driver_device, 0,    ROT0, "Amusco",    "American Music Poker (V1.4)", MACHINE_IMPERFECT_COLORS | MACHINE_NODEVICE_PRINTER,     layout_amusco ) // runs much too fast; palette totally wrong
+GAMEL( 1987, amusco,     0,      amusco,   amusco,   driver_device, 0,    ROT0, "Amusco",    "American Music Poker (V1.4)", MACHINE_IMPERFECT_COLORS | MACHINE_NODEVICE_PRINTER,     layout_amusco ) // palette totally wrong
 GAME(  1988, draw88pkr,  0,      amusco,   amusco,   driver_device, 0,    ROT0, "BTE, Inc.", "Draw 88 Poker (V2.0)",        MACHINE_NOT_WORKING | MACHINE_IMPERFECT_COLORS | MACHINE_NODEVICE_PRINTER )