First Time Restoration

[drjones]

Hi everyone - this is my first post and I'm excited to start participating in the forum. I'll try and keep this short - I recently picked up a DK cab that's in need of some TLC. It's got the original TKG4 serial plate (found it hiding behind the Vs. Slalom plate that had been stuck on top of it post-conversion), the original coin box, but other than that is in pretty rough shape. Definitely salvageable, but rough.

I'd like to keep this restoration as faithful to the original as possible, and certainly will in terms of artwork and aesthetics, but I have some questions about the innards that I'm hoping someone with some experience can help with.

First, it seems after doing quite a bit of reading that the original Nintendo/DK setup is quite a bit different than what I would find on a later model machine (voltage differences, monitor quirks etc). I'd like to go with original boards and Sanyo monitor but frankly I'm a little overwhelmed with finding the necessary parts/pieces to make that happen. Short of finding someone willing to part out a functioning cabinet, I'm not sure how to go down that path. I'm contemplating getting a 19" monitor, switching power supply, jamma harness and adapter for the DK boards and going that route, but I'm not sure how feasible that is, either. Basically, I'm a complete novice here and would just like to hear others thoughts/lessons learned about a DK restore. I built a MAME machine in college and it was a lot of fun but this is an ENTIRELY different ballgame. I'm still trying to convince myself that I'll be able to work with an arcade monitor and not turn myself into a crispy critter. I desperately want to climb the learning curve and not just slap a PC in what is a piece of history.

Thanks all in advance for any help/advice - glad to be a part of the community!

[opt2not]

I'd like to keep this restoration as faithful to the original as possible, and certainly will in terms of artwork and aesthetics, but I have some questions about the innards that I'm hoping someone with some experience can help with.

Welcome to the forum drjones! I can tell already, I like the cut of your gib.

Short of finding someone willing to part out a functioning cabinet, I'm not sure how to go down that path. I'm contemplating getting a 19" monitor, switching power supply, jamma harness and adapter for the DK boards and going that route, but I'm not sure how feasible that is, either.

You could probably look into using a standard PC monitor with a video adapter from CGA to VGA. Either that, or try to find a Sanyo 19" on fleabay or perhaps ask here, or on klov's trade forum for anyone selling them. Or...get a different 19" arcade monitor, like a Weiya or something.

One thing you might want to consider if you can't locate original boards, is the Braze Double DK board (sold at Mike's arcade), and run it off a switcher. This would give you both DK and DK junior. Though the downside is that the footstep sounds of the original isn't well reproduced on those machines. But if you're desperate, it's not a bad option.
Another route for a board is getting those 60in1's, and just setting the board to only play DK (you can omit games from the game's list). A 60in1 board has a VGA out, so a standard PC monitor could be used.

Again, this is if you can't locate any original boards.

I'm still trying to convince myself that I'll be able to work with an arcade monitor and not turn myself into a crispy critter. I desperately want to climb the learning curve and not just slap a PC in what is a piece of history.

I can respect this.
My advice is to try to see if any of the arcade trading forums have parts you can buy and just start "piece-mealin'" it together. Other than that, you might have to suffice with non-original internals.
Get your hands on the manual and parts schematics, there should be a full list of components you can refer to. That'd be a good start.
Second to that, do a search on this forum, as well as KLOV's for all DK restoration threads to give you an idea of what you might be faced with. It's good reading to see other people's trials and tribulations.

Also, let's see some pictures of the cabinet!

[drjones]

Thanks opt2not for the reply - I'll get some pics up shortly. I've gotten some cleanup, sanding, and bondo work done but that's as far as I've gotten. I've placed a few orders, got a new bezel sticker in the mail and a coin door is on the way from fleabay. Shipped on the 11th and still not here - USPS is the worst, I always seem to have problems when not using FedEx or UPS. I figure I'll do the cosmetic stuff and continue to debate with myself about how to handle the internals.  I'm naturally impatient so I want to try and find everything NOW but I know that good things comes to those who wait so if I just keep an eye out on craigslist, ebay, the boards here, etc, I'll find what I need. Craigslist had a $200 functional DK in a severely damaged cab last week that I was unfortunately second in line for - I'm sure there'll be other opportunities.

[astroone]

Bummer that you didn't get to be the first responder on craig's you could try to post in the wanted section on there.
I am in the same boat you are I got a gutted Donkey Kong Cab 2 year's ago that went though 2 conversion's 1st was Donkey Kong 3 then Playchoice.
I mamed it when I got it and just did the research on Donkey Kong 3 a few week's ago and that's how I found out it was a conversion just started the Bondo and Sanding a week ago.
I do have a way to go to get it back to a Donkey Kong though It need's Coin Mech's since they have been removed from the coin door when I got the cab   part's that  it need's a Sanyo Ez Monitor , Donkey Kong Board's , Control Panel with joystick and Button's, Power Supply, Wiring Harness ,Donkey Kong Bezel ,Marquee Light, Donkey Kong Marquee , Donkey Kong Side Art, New 9/16" White T-Molding Can get that on Ebay
But if you do get to impatient you could mame it just restore the Cab and  collect the part's needed to do a full restore