I just found a cabinet - need help

[Justfoundacabinet]

I was just lucky enough to have found a 2 player cabinet in decent condition on my street yesterday. It's been my dream for a very long time to build my own arcade machine, so you understand how happy I was when I found it . I don't have any experience working with these machines, nor do I have much experience with wiring in general. Fortunately (perhaps), the wiring from the buttons is still there, but stop short from connecting to anything, as seen in the photo. Does it look like I can use the wires as they are? Will I need to go deeper, under the controller panel, to trace the wires back to their origins? Should I just pull them out? Whats my first step? I think I want connect them to a USB encoder to attach a PC. Please consider I don't know what I'm doing 

[processedmeat]

Yes, easiest way without a multimeter is to go and trace the wires back to the source.  Each button and joystick direction would most likely have a microswitch that has two wires coming out of it.  One of the wires is the ground or common and that should be connected to all of the other ground/common wires.  This wire is usually black but not always.  The other wire connected to it is unique for each button or joystick direction.



I would start there.  Eventually you're gonna have to figure out the wiring any ways since you'll be connecting them to the encoder. 

[Titchgamer]

You will find it quicker and easier to rewire it all.
Some encoders like the mini pac and xin mo come with pre wired harnesses.
You just plug and play pretty much.

[Thenasty]

yeap, from the looks of it, it's been cut..... Just remove and install new wiring.