Don't see anything obvious, but driving LEDs directly without a current limiting resistor seems like a nasty hack that might work on some chips depending on manufacturer.
Try pulling all the LEDs but the first, connect a reasonable (?k) current limiting resistor to it and see if the problem goes away.
EDIT: another idea: some manufacturers limit you to a maximum rise time on the CLK pulse. Get a pull down on it. Also take a look at the 74LS573 and 74LS574 to save yourself some hassle.
.. 74ls173's have current limiting resistor's on the output built inside the chip...
Don't see anything obvious, but driving LEDs directly without a current limiting resistor seems like a nasty hack that might work on some chips depending on manufacturer.
Try pulling all the LEDs but the first, connect a reasonable (?k) current limiting resistor to it and see if the problem goes away.
EDIT: another idea: some manufacturers limit you to a maximum rise time on the CLK pulse. Get a pull down on it. Also take a look at the 74LS573 and 74LS574 to save yourself some hassle.
I understand your point of view but the 74ls173's have current limiting resistor's on the output built inside the chip so there is no use to put them. Should I reduce the time taken for the CLK to pulse or should I do anything else?
I am not sure what the problem is here but I would like to mention that I have done a lot of experimenting with 7400 ICs on breadboards and you really do not need decoupling if you are working with signals that change at human input speeds, i.e. 1Hz max and mostly slower, because of using jumpers like this. It just doesn't matter until you get into high speeds of kHz at least. I agree with putting some resistors in series with the LEDs (e.g. 680 ohm or so) to protect your IC outputs.
First thing I would do is use a logic probe to sanity check that every pin is at the level I think it should be. If you don't have one, they are a ton of help figuring out what is going on in systems like this. And they cost next to nothing, and can be a small project themselves if you don't just buy one for $15-$20 (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronics-LP-560-Logic-Probe/dp/B000Z9HAP4).
I am not sure what the problem is here but I would like to mention that I have done a lot of experimenting with 7400 ICs on breadboards and you really do not need decoupling if you are working with signals that change at human input speeds, i.e. 1Hz max and mostly slower, because of using jumpers like this. It just doesn't matter until you get into high speeds of kHz at least. I agree with putting some resistors in series with the LEDs (e.g. 680 ohm or so) to protect your IC outputs.
First thing I would do is use a logic probe to sanity check that every pin is at the level I think it should be. If you don't have one, they are a ton of help figuring out what is going on in systems like this. And they cost next to nothing, and can be a small project themselves if you don't just buy one for $15-$20 (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronics-LP-560-Logic-Probe/dp/B000Z9HAP4).
I am not sure what the problem is here but I would like to mention that I have done a lot of experimenting with 7400 ICs on breadboards and you really do not need decoupling if you are working with signals that change at human input speeds, i.e. 1Hz max and mostly slower, because of using jumpers like this. It just doesn't matter until you get into high speeds of kHz at least.
Once you've grokked that, you will decide never to use solderless breadboards for logic; the breadboard technique causes too many problems.
Start by working out di/dt for the relevant currents and transition times. Then work out the voltage that will induce in the various wires, using v=Ldi/dt and assuming that L is 1nH per mm of wire. Now, how will those voltage spikes affect the logic?
Once you've grokked that, you will decide never to use solderless breadboards for logic; the breadboard technique causes too many problems.
Start by working out di/dt for the relevant currents and transition times. Then work out the voltage that will induce in the various wires, using v=Ldi/dt and assuming that L is 1nH per mm of wire. Now, how will those voltage spikes affect the logic?
Once you've grokked that, you will decide never to use solderless breadboards for logic; the breadboard technique causes too many problems.So what you're saying is that the inductance in a solderlesss breadboard with jumper wires with a reasonable length f*cks up digital logic? That would mean that all the professionally made wire-wrapped digital boards would be even worse? There you usually have thinner wires and longer lengths - must be totally unusable then ;-) Granted - oldskool LS TTL had a rise/fall time of about 6ns, but that is more or less what standard cheap HC/HCT have as well....
Once you've grokked that, you will decide never to use solderless breadboards for logic; the breadboard technique causes too many problems.
I agree, breadboards can certainly be a problem. OTOH, there are significant logic type projects built on them:
That is completely wrong. Speed of logic is not determined by the speed of signal you are feeding in, but by maximum speed it's capable of handling. Even 1Hz is going tohave edge time of several ns, which means you have MHz signal on board even if you don't realize that you do...
Once you've grokked that, you will decide never to use solderless breadboards for logic; the breadboard technique causes too many problems.
I agree, breadboards can certainly be a problem. OTOH, there are significant logic type projects built on them:
There are many others, this is just the one I tumbled to first when I did a search.
As you point out, routing the wires all parallel to each other probably isn't the best way but most breadboard CPU projects I have seen do it this way. Rats nest wiring would be very difficult to trace.
ETA: Here's another one
https://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/8-bit-hovey-CPU-640x353.jpg