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lifespan of an arcade machine
Vigo:
I had made a mame cab for my brother, but he doesn't know much about upkeep of a machine, however, He does know how to treat it properly...I want this machine to last for him, but I am worried about how long some of the components will last...Does anyone have a clue about how many years my brother can get out of it without replacing/repairing anything?
I know this question is hard to answer accurately, I just want to be to know what to expect to be going out on it first...
Thanks
Luckydevil:
I have a 1994 Capcom Alien vs Predator that was 11 years old when I got it. Everything was original and it appeared to have never had any type of service done. This game had 39,932 credits on the ticker, $9,983 worth of quarters. :o
A day after I got it the power supply died on me. The monitor was working fine, but I could tell it needed a cap kit. Other than that and replacing a few microswitches, the thing was still playing like a champ after 11 years of heavy use.
j123vt_99:
My missile command still has the original tax stickers from 1981 to 1984 and it works prefectly.. One thing I would keep an eye on a Mame machine would be is ventalation... As long as it doesn't over heat you should be good
Jeff AMN:
--- Quote from: j123vt_99 on April 10, 2006, 04:10:39 pm ---My missile command still has the original tax stickers from 1981 to 1984 and it works prefectly.. One thing I would keep an eye on a Mame machine would be is ventalation... As long as it doesn't over heat you should be good
--- End quote ---
Exactly.
Ventilation, dust control, and avoiding excessive humidity are the key elements for making a cabinet last for many years. You can still find original Donkey Kong machines that haven't needed repair because their owners have been responsible...
Vigo:
Thanks, thats good to know!
If my brother can get a good 10 years out of it will little to fix, That would be wonderful. I'll check over the ventelation, and make sure he doesn't let it get too dusty. The place he has it kept is pretty good humidity-wise....