how much $ should I pay for a golden axe cab

[Shape D.]

So I'm working my part time job on Saturday delivering pizza. I take a delivery to a hotel in a part of it that I havent been to before. As I'm walking back I see a control panel sticking out in this alcove, so after I deliver the food I go to check out what game it is. To my suprize it "Golden Axe" my second favorite arcade game ever.  Unfortunatley it wasn't working. So I go ask the guy at the front counter if It was just turned off or if it was out of order, Acording to him it's been broken for about a year. I want to buy this cab but I have no clue what to offer for it, or if I can even repair it because they don't know whats wrong with it. should I get it? And if I try to how much should I pay for it. I just want to offer him $50 if its been sitting there for a year.

[SirPeale]

Yeah, that's about right.

He may not even own the machine, it may be owned by a vending company.  Although if it's been that way for a year that may be unlikely.

[RayB]

Find out what's wrong. If the monitor is dead, that's 80% of the cab's value right there. Also, Golden Axe was for the most part a conversion kit. So this cab is really older than Golden Axe is. Maybe take your chances, offer $50-$75 without knowing what's wrong. Cash n carry...

(Also, you should know that GA is a "system 16" game and does not conform to the JAMMA standard. If you want to use this for MAME, you can't use a JPAC...)
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7966

[Shape D.]

(Also, you should know that GA is a "system 16" game and does not conform to the JAMMA standard. If you want to use this for MAME, you can't use a JPAC...)
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7966

Nope, I just want to fix it and own it. It's shape wierd though the one on klov looks like a standad cab.  the one I saw sort of has the monitor seperated from the body of the cab by a wooden thing that comes up there. ( I apologise for the technical speak in the previous sentence.)

[fredster]

See if he'll give it to you if you pick it up first. If not, start with $25, cash. 
the worst he can say is "no".

Most of the Golden Ax machine I saw had the monitor mounted up like that.

[Shape D.]

If I were to purchase this how would I tell what is wrong with it anyways?

[RayB]

The simple starter tests are this:

1. You open up the back and look for dangling wires and anything that looks disconnected or "wrong".

2. If all looks safely connected, close the back door, plug it in and power on, at which point you look for:
 A. An image on the monitor
 B. If no image do you hear that typical high pitched "whine" like TVs make?
 C. Open coin door and flip the coin switch. Did you hear sound?

If you hear sound but no image, then something is wrong with the monitor or the connection to the monitor. If the monitor sounds like it works, but you get no game sounds, then the game board is not connected properly or is broken. (Another monitor test is to look at it from the back and check for an orange glow in the neck of the tube).

If the monitor works, and the game board is hooked up correctly, sometimes you'll still get an image. It will either look like "junk", scrambled lines, or will be a report stating that RAM or ROM has failed.

BTW, don't leave the machine on for too long when doing the above inspections if you are getting no picture.

3. Check the fuses.

Where to go from here depends on the symptoms.

~Ray B.

PS: does it look like this: http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=10503

[Shape D.]

yep thats what it looks like.  Does that mean it's a conversion? (not that it matters to me ether way, I still want it.)

[TheGreg]

Also, 90% of the time it'll be the power supply.  They cost about 20 bucks and are easier than swiss ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- to replace.  That'd be the best case scenario.  Even if it's the PCB, you could probably get another one on ebay for a couple bucks.  But yeah, if you think the monitor is dead then leave it.  It's not worth it.

[krick]

In case you're interested, I found a page showing a MAMEd Xenophobe cabinet...

http://home.comcast.net/~anitabill/

The pictures load reeeeeeely slow for me. YMMV.