Arcade Collecting > Restorations & repair

Asteroids restoration...hit a snag

(1/4) > >>

tkat:
So i just got this asteroids upright from a guy off eBay.
the unit needs a new control panel, paint job and some loving on the side art but its not terrible.

biggest problem I have is the picture doesn't stay on for more than an hour.
I noticed at first it was just a bunch of what looked like dots that moved around (at least it looked that way) from left to right, about a pixel or two high...so imagine a thin line moving back and forth in the center of the screen.

but then when I was checking out the wire harness on the board with the brightness and contrast controls for the monitor I noticed a small spark and the picture came on bright as day...lasted this way for 3 hours.

then all of a sudden it went and now I cannot get it on again for more than 5 min.

what was the spark? I took off the board and every thing "looked" OK but I am not an electrician nor a vendor so this part of restoration is new to me.

I really want to get this machine up and running as its one of my favs.

if anyone can offer advice or help, I'm listening.

SirPeale:
Sounds like a broken or very loose connection.  I bet if you check where you saw the spark you'll see just that. 

tkat:
UPDATE - and before anyone says anything...I know what i did was terrible but I had to try everything.

I punched the games side this morning and the screen came on ...then it zoomed in so everything was blowing up in size and faded away.

seems everytime I tap or hit the side or the machine where that board is...the game comes on for a second

SUCH A TEASE...

is it a solder connection or a wire that is loose...if its a wire I can do this today...if its soldering ...I am in trouble as I stink on ice with soldering.

please anyone else if you can help, I really want to fix this but am terrified I may make it worse just prodding around.

I can pull the board out and take pictures if anyone thinks that will help

WunderCade:
A vid of what is happening or some pics or something visual would probably help you get better troubleshooting advice.

But double check every wire connection in the cab first of all.

SirPeale:
I was pretty specific about what you need to do.  But if you need it spelled out for you...USE YOUR EYES TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING OBVIOUSLY BROKEN. 

Seriously, how do WE tell if it's a broken wire or cracked solder joint?  You've got the machine.  Get a flashlight, open your eyes and start looking for anything that doesn't look right.

And if you're having difficulties soldering, get a circuit board that doesn't work and practice on it until you're proficient enough to fix whatever is wrong on your Asteroids.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page