Paperboy Restoration - Any Ideas?

[deathbot]

Greetings Gamers,

I just picked up a Paperboy cab for $65. The cab is in okay shape.... the usual wear and tear. The former owner said it takes a while to "warm up", but until then the screen is jumbled and the the speakers hum. I plugged it in and sure enough. I'm going to leave in on a few hours to see if it starts working. I opened up the back and someone had disconnected the fan. I hope the heat didn't damage the board. Anyway, since I am new at all of this, any thoughts on what my first task should be? Someone on another thread mentioned pulling the chips off and cleaning the contacts with alcohol and a q-tip.

Thanks in advance,
deathbot  

[SirPeale]

I'd start with capping the monitor.  That may be part of the reason for the crappy picture.

[deathbot]

I thought about recapping (and I still might do it), but I think it's something else. If it were just the monitor, the sound would be fine and I I get is a hum.

deathbot

[ChadTower]

I'd start with capping the monitor.  That may be part of the reason for the crappy picture.

Tighten and clean all connectors first to eliminate variables.  Then check power supply... after that, if both are reasonable, cap the monitor.  The monitor likely does need to be capped but if the first two are bad the cap job won't fix much.

[RayB]

We need photos. This: "the screen is jumbled and the the speakers hum." could be interpreted many ways:

1. The monitor is fine, but the game board is outputting "garbage" graphics.

2. The monitor sync is off until it warms up (game board could be fine).

3. Both are wonky. This is not likely though, since the monitor is powered from the AC isolation block, while the game boards are powered from the regulator board and big blue, etc...

Show us pics!

[ChadTower]

We need photos. This: "the screen is jumbled and the the speakers hum." could be interpreted many ways:

1. The monitor is fine, but the game board is outputting "garbage" graphics.

2. The monitor sync is off until it warms up (game board could be fine).

3. Both are wonky. This is not likely though, since the monitor is powered from the AC isolation block, while the game boards are powered from the regulator board and big blue, etc...

4.  Ground fault anywhere in either loop. 

5.  Dead power supply filter caps -> AC ripple.

6. (most likely)  Badly corroded or broken connectors, both on the boards and the harnesses, because nearly every Atari cabinet I've ever worked on had to have these refurbed or completely replaced before being anything close to reliable.  Note that this can directly cause 1, 2, 3, and 4 or any combination of them.

[deathbot]

Okay. Here is a pic of the screen at power up. Sorry it took so long. I need a new camera. BTW, it never "warms up" as the seller said. It pretty much stays like this, Although the screen eventually stops the ripple effect that you see.

Any ideas?

deathbot

[SirPeale]

Board issue of some kind.   Start by verifying voltages on the PCB.  If they're off, you need to get that working first.  If there are other things going on, you won't know until this is satisfied at the very least.

[deathbot]

Okay,

I am sure someone posted somewhere in here, but I can't find it. What is the best way to clean the connections? Alcohol and q-tip? Compressed air? Also, as far as re-capping the monitor goes, I don't see a name on it, but there is a serial number that begins with WG. I assume that is Wells Gardner. Would that mean I could just order a WG recap kit? Does anyone know if it comes with instructions?

Thanks again for the feedback guys,
deathbot

[cw]

you can start with a pencil eraser... then move to alcohol if needed. 

Getting a pic of the chassis on the monitor would solve the monitor id problem..

[SirPeale]

you can start with a pencil eraser... then move to alcohol if needed. 

Getting a pic of the chassis on the monitor would solve the monitor id problem..

and make sure to rub in the direction of the metal finger, not against it.  You can lift them that way.  And I'd wipe it down with alcohol afterward just because.

[ChadTower]

I've never seen an Atari cab where just cleaning the connectors did much good for more than the very short term.  Clean off the edge connectors and then re-tin them.  Replace the pins in the harness connectors if you want the game reliable again.

[2600]

System2 boards like Paperboy don't have your typical edge connectors.  Power and everything is done via headers.  The only edge connector is to connect the CPU to the Video board.

I wouldn't worry about a cap kit until you get something working.  Where are you located?

[deathbot]

I'm in Central Florida.  I have been out of town, but I am back and ready to get back on track with this project. I should be able to post some pics tomorrow, just so I can get some feedback and support from the community.

deathbot