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Author Topic: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things  (Read 2419 times)

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Tzvi

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About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« on: August 01, 2005, 12:52:28 pm »
I am about to purchase my first cab and convert it to MAME.  I have a few questions that may be answered elsewhere, but I have searched with no luck (maybe I am not looking for the right words).

I am looking for guides on the following subjects:

1) What to look at and examine before buying an arcade machine.

2) How do I add buttons to a control panel of a cabinet (i.e.  I buy a cabinet with 3 buttons and want to add several more)

3) Suggestions on how to transport a cabinet safely.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

--Tzvi

bossyman15

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2005, 01:03:38 pm »
well i only know this

be sure its 100% dead cab, non repairable.

but even if its dead i still don't feel right about it

i would build it if i were you.
My website: www.bossyman15.com Lots of arcade pictures inside!

AlanS17

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2005, 01:13:50 pm »
Look to make sure the monitor works if you plan on using the original monitor. They're usually fixable, but a pain in the butt (and possible dangerous) if you've never done it before. Also make sure the cabinet is JAMMA compatible. Most games made in the last 20 years are. It'll make wiring it up alot easier if you have a JAMMA cabinet and a J-PAC keyboard encoder.

Installing extra buttons is as easy drilling holes for them into the control panel, screwing them in, and wiring them up to the keyboard encoder. Just make sure you have room on the control panel for the buttons you want to add. Otherwise you'll be building a new control panel. If you're adding to a metal control panel, make sure you have a way to make those extra holes. Wooden control panels are always going to be easier, but most older machines used metal control panels.

The best way to transport a machine is standing up. However, I've laid machines down in the bed of a truck before without a problem. If you're going to lay it down, though, make sure anything loose on the inside has either been removed or secured. Things that stay in place while a machine is upright might fall when you turn it on it's back or side.


RayB

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2005, 01:20:02 pm »
I disagree completely with Bossyman. Buying an existing commercial grade cabinet saves you alot of money, time and errors (provided you aren't paying more than it's really worth).

The only time I'm against it is if it is an original classic cabinet that isn't beyond hope for restoration.

What you should look at before purchase:
 - If you expect a working arcade monitor, then best you see it in action with a game up and running.
 - Never trust what the seller says. For example, if the monitor doesn't work or looks weird and the sellers says "oh that's just X Y Z and easy to fix", don't believe it. If it's such an easy fix, then he would fix it before selling.
 - Coin door: Examine that it's not all bent out of shape and rusted.
 - Wood: Check all parts made of wood and check that they look smooth and normal. Bulgey bumpy particle board is a sign of moisture damage.
 - Stuff that doesn't matter so much: Controls (best to buy new control parts), locks (you can buy new ones for cheap)
 - Try to get the coin mechs as part of the deal (some sellers like to remove them before selling).




NO MORE!!

CheffoJeffo

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2005, 01:46:39 pm »
I disagree completely with Bossyman. Buying an existing commercial grade cabinet saves you alot of money, time and errors (provided you aren't paying more than it's really worth).

I'm with RayB on this one (Sorry, BM) ... that majority of cabinets that I have seen readily available are generics/conversions that I would never worry about converting. Most are also rock-solid and will withstand tons of abuse (and bumps while moving).

And I agree with AlanS17 -- getting a working monitor and JAMMA wiring are excellent timesavers.

Cheers.
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Tzvi

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2005, 01:52:21 pm »
I was definitely planning on getting Jamma and checking the monitor over.

Until recently I was planning on getting a cab that was from the Capcom fighting series for their multiple buttons, but I also want to add service buttons (Exit, Insert Coin, etc..) and I figured if I was going to add those buttons then I could probably add more to an existing cab.

As far as new controls...  I have an X-Arcade that I was planning on using the parts from (with the machine, I no longer need to standalone controller.

And just to put everybody's mind at ease, I wasn't going for an old classic.  I am buying from an auction, hence it will probably be a cheap game in a converted cabinet.  I have no desire to see a Ms. Pac-Man or Star Wars gutted.

--Tzvi

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2005, 01:54:27 pm »
I disagree completely with Bossyman. Buying an existing commercial grade cabinet saves you alot of money, time and errors (provided you aren't paying more than it's really worth).

The only time I'm against it is if it is an original classic cabinet that isn't beyond hope for restoration.

What you should look at before purchase:
 - If you expect a working arcade monitor, then best you see it in action with a game up and running.
 - Never trust what the seller says. For example, if the monitor doesn't work or looks weird and the sellers says "oh that's just X Y Z and easy to fix", don't believe it. If it's such an easy fix, then he would fix it before selling.
 - Coin door: Examine that it's not all bent out of shape and rusted.
 - Wood: Check all parts made of wood and check that they look smooth and normal. Bulgey bumpy particle board is a sign of moisture damage.
 - Stuff that doesn't matter so much: Controls (best to buy new control parts), locks (you can buy new ones for cheap)
 - Try to get the coin mechs as part of the deal (some sellers like to remove them before selling).





I disagree completely with Bossyman. Buying an existing commercial grade cabinet saves you alot of money, time and errors (provided you aren't paying more than it's really worth).

I'm with RayB on this one (Sorry, BM) ... that majority of cabinets that I have seen readily available are generics/conversions that I would never worry about converting. Most are also rock-solid and will withstand tons of abuse (and bumps while moving).

And I agree with AlanS17 -- getting a working monitor and JAMMA wiring are excellent timesavers.

Cheers.

yeah well its just me

if i see dead cab i would feel sorry for it. there could be a working game board out there somewhere to put inside the dead cab and it would be alive again.

beside when Turing it into Mame machine, its like destroying a piece of history.
My website: www.bossyman15.com Lots of arcade pictures inside!

AlanS17

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2005, 02:09:00 pm »
Where are you from, Tzvi? What auction do you plan to go to?


Tzvi

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2005, 02:23:04 pm »
I'm in Charlotte, NC.

pointdablame

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2005, 02:26:26 pm »

yeah well its just me

if i see dead cab i would feel sorry for it. there could be a working game board out there somewhere to put inside the dead cab and it would be alive again.

beside when Turing it into Mame machine, its like destroying a piece of history.

Not if it's a generic.  There are tons of Dynamo cut corner cabs that were never an "original" cab.  There are a lot of generic looking cabs that were used for tons of different games.  There is no reason to worry about converting a machine to MAME as long as it isn't a classic.  Even then, it can be done tastefully, but I tend to agree with you when it comes to classics.

Pac man, galaga, et al.. ok, maybe you shouldn't convert them.  But for cabs that were originally made for conversions, what "history" are you destroying?
first off your and idiot

Man I love the internet, haha.

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2005, 02:53:19 pm »
This thread has an excellent FAQ in it.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=15207.0

RayB

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2005, 04:07:18 pm »
Ugh, sell that X-Arcade to some other sucker and use the cash to buy "real" controls.
NO MORE!!

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2005, 04:15:27 pm »
damn i wish i lived close to that auction or any auction :-\

anybody know of any auction near san jose, CA?
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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2005, 05:28:44 pm »
anybody know of any auction near san jose, CA?

Not seeing any auctions on any of the sites/magazines I read, but you may want to check out California Extreme this weekend ...

http://www.caextreme.org

Cheers.

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2005, 05:30:34 pm »
damn i wish i lived close to that auction or any auction :-\

anybody know of any auction near san jose, CA?
There's a Super Auction going to San Jose, CA on September 17th. Check their website:

http://www.superauctions.com/dates.html

If you need any Super Auction tips or pointers, we have quite a few veterans on these boards.


bossyman15

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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2005, 06:01:04 pm »
 :o whoa!!!! i didn't know i have such a thing in my city!!!!  :o

but gee it on weekend and i have work! gee!

maybe i will call in sick  ;D

i would die to go to that and everything is on free play!!!!!

I MUST GO!

edit: oh never mind it stays open unil midnight on saturday and 9PM on sunday
so i guess i don't have to call in sick.
but i will be having a happy face the whole time at work!  ;D

another edit: i hope the camera are allowed there so i can post them here after i have a great gaming goodies  ;D and AlanS17 thanks for bringing this up! how did you find this?
« Last Edit: August 01, 2005, 06:18:33 pm by bossyman15 »
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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2005, 06:42:19 pm »
Lots of people on these boards know about Super Auctions, but I first found out through my brother (who is oddly enough not that big of an arcade fan).

They don't allow cameras that I'm aware of. Maybe you can get away with it.

I don't know how it works in SJ, but I would check actualy auction time. Just because they're open doesn't mean they'll be auctioning anything. Here in Dallas they auction stuff off around noon and early afternoon.


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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #17 on: August 01, 2005, 08:19:40 pm »
no i don't think they will be auctioning anything there in SJ

it just a game show.
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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2005, 08:27:50 pm »
no i don't think they will be auctioning anything there in SJ

it just a game show.

I referred you to the game show, AlanS17 was pointing you to the SuperAuction in SJ on September 17 (which somehow I missed when I looked at their site):

17   SAN JOSE, CA.
SANTA CLARA FAIRGROUNDS
344 TULLY ROAD, GATEWAY HALL, SAN JOSE, CA.
PREVIEW 8-10AM, AUCITON STARTS AT 10:15AM

Cheers.
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Re: About to Buy First Cab... Help with a Few Things
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2005, 09:04:15 pm »
no i don't think they will be auctioning anything there in SJ

it just a game show.

I referred you to the game show, AlanS17 was pointing you to the SuperAuction in SJ on September 17 (which somehow I missed when I looked at their site):

17   SAN JOSE, CA.
SANTA CLARA FAIRGROUNDS
344 TULLY ROAD, GATEWAY HALL, SAN JOSE, CA.
PREVIEW 8-10AM, AUCITON STARTS AT 10:15AM

Cheers.


oh! stupid me looked at wrong post!!! thanks CheffoJeffo for bringing that up and alla for bringing up the super acution
My website: www.bossyman15.com Lots of arcade pictures inside!