Original Rampage Cabinet....fix or MAME? How do I trouble shoot?

[tightwad]

I picked up a fairly unmolested Rampage cabinet.  The game is complete, but doesn't work.  The marquee comes on, and the screen flashes white when powered down, but no noise is made and nothing is seen on the screen.

At first I was going to gut it for a MAME project, but now I am having second thoughts.  How do I troubleshoot what the problem could be?

It also looks like it spend some time in a shed or outdoors...lots of mud-dobber nests inside, and rust on the exposed bolt heads and the power supply grated cover deal.  The joysticks don't move real smooth...is there supposed to be a bearing under them?  If so, the balls are missing which may explain the slop and jerky movement.  Someone converted it to free play as well...two external buttons were added.  One looks like it is for a coin in, but I am not sure what the other does..it is connected to fairly large wires...one blue and one white I think.  The coin mechs are there and work, one 25 cent light is missing some wire...not sure why.  Both of those bulbs are burned out...what do they take?  The coin slots would need knew feeder covers...not sure the right name.

Do I get crucified if I strip this original cab apart and MAME it?  Is Rampage a sought after game?  If changing it would be a travesty, I could also fix it and sell it to fund another purchase...it is complete.

[XtraSmiley]

I'd like to have a dedicated one myself, so I say don't strip it, just do what I did with my Super Pacman, MAME it, but make it so it is reversible.  That's the best way to MAME a dedicated cab, make it so it's nothing permanent.

[Necro]

Couple of thoughts.
1. If you didn't get it, there's a very good chance it would have been trashed.  No matter what you do, it's better than that.
2. Rampage has an oddball CP layout.  You're going to have to remake it completely - or destroy it - to make a halfway decent 'MAME' CP.  Otherwise you have a 3p 8-way 2 button control panel
3. When, ever, once you MAME it, are you going to sell the cab to someone to remake? 

Because of this, this is my suggestion.

Go with 2.  Keep the original CP on the side so you can 'fake' a Rampage using MAME if you want.  Build another CP and don't mod the cab at all except as absolutely required.  Repurpose the already modded in buttons for something that doesn't work as well on a CP (coin ins, exit, admin, etc.).  I would then use the Rampage art on your new CPs.  Just make it fit with your MAME CP or CPs if you do swappables.  For all purposes, you will have a Rampage looking cab (and not a mis-mash one) and it will be MAME'd and look good.

Caveat: I'm doing this with an OmegaRace, so I kind of lean this way in how to MAME things. 

[tightwad]

I rather like the "odd" layout...and it would be fairly simple to make a different CP box that hinges the same, and this would allow all sorts of layouts.  Of course this means the "other" CPs have to be stored.  My original plan was a modular setup, but with the cabinet in hand I have to modify my plans.

I still wonder about what is wrong with the current hardware...are there any indepth trouble shooting guides out there?

[XtraSmiley]

I rather like the "odd" layout...and it would be fairly simple to make a different CP box that hinges the same, and this would allow all sorts of layouts.  Of course this means the "other" CPs have to be stored.  My original plan was a modular setup, but with the cabinet in hand I have to modify my plans.

I still wonder about what is wrong with the current hardware...are there any indepth trouble shooting guides out there?

I've gotten help here with original hardware, but you are probably better off at the klov.com forums for help.

[tightwad]

Through some preliminary testing I think my power supply is bad.  I get 150V into it, but nothing out of it.  I can hear the monitor buzzing, and the marquee light works, but no sound or lights elsewhere.  I think I will look around for options to fix/replace it cheap...then I will MAME it out.  I would probably MAME it first but getting it working intrigues me, plus I don't have a computer I am ready to use yet....gotta figure out what I need vs what I can afford vs what I already have.

[Koolbrez67]

If you need some parts I have some for sale. I have a Rampage PCB and Power supply for sale. I already sold the Bezel and Marquee to another guy on here who is restoring his Rampage cab. Let me know if you want them.

[TOK]

My first MAME project was a gutted Power Drive. Same cab as Rampage. The main reason I chose it back then was because I thought the art was pretty cool, though deciding not to hack the monitor shelf and staying with the original bezel limited me to a 19" monitor.

The panel is two pieces. I took the wooden top off and traced it to make a template for the new control panel. I made a plexiglass overlay for it painted from the back to mimic the original side art and pull it all together. These make nice, roomy 2 player panels with extra controls since they were originally 3 player cabinets.

I kept all the original parts (though a lot were missing) and didn't hack any of the cab, so this is totally reversible even though I can't foresee ever getting rid of it. I hate that the flash caught the PC speaker in this picture, but its the best side view pic I have.

[XtraSmiley]

And THAT ^ is how you do a dedicated cab into MAME.  Way to go, looks great!

[tightwad]

My first MAME project was a gutted Power Drive. Same cab as Rampage. The main reason I chose it back then was because I thought the art was pretty cool, though deciding not to hack the monitor shelf and staying with the original bezel limited me to a 19" monitor.

The panel is two pieces. I took the wooden top off and traced it to make a template for the new control panel. I made a plexiglass overlay for it painted from the back to mimic the original side art and pull it all together. These make nice, roomy 2 player panels with extra controls since they were originally 3 player cabinets.

I kept all the original parts (though a lot were missing) and didn't hack any of the cab, so this is totally reversible even though I can't foresee ever getting rid of it. I hate that the flash caught the PC speaker in this picture, but its the best side view pic I have.

I like this a LOT!  I may borrow your idea for the CP painting.  I wish my cab was as nice on the sides, but they aren't terrible.

[TOK]

They couldn't be much worse than mine. It was full of scratches and chips.
Basically the only thing you see which isn't touched is the art itself. I masked it off and repainted the sides, then went back and touched up the stripes and logo.

Everywhere you see Bondo was busted edges.

[redfivexw]

Hey Koolbreeze,
I havent gotten my package yet, but you had said you were including the PCB for me to have as backup,
"if you want I can still send you the PCB , Sound card and the Bezel and the Marquee all for 75.00 but you pay for the shipping. That is a great deal and you will have extra parts."  Did you forget to include the PCB?  I was kind of counting on it as the condition of mine is questionable. 

[Koolbrez67]

Hey Koolbreeze,
I havent gotten my package yet, but you had said you were including the PCB for me to have as backup,
"if you want I can still send you the PCB , Sound card and the Bezel and the Marquee all for 75.00 but you pay for the shipping. That is a great deal and you will have extra parts."  Did you forget to include the PCB?  I was kind of counting on it as the condition of mine is questionable. 

This is what you sent me.
Hi,
thanks for posting on the rampage stuff.  I just need the bezel and marquee.  How about $75 shipped for those 2 pieces?  Please advise.

I said I would send 2 for 50.00 you pay the shipping.

You sent me this.

PS- if you have a working soundboard, i would be willing to add another $25 to it.  I would not mind having a backup on that.

I sent you a message saying you could have the PCB and the Power supply everything for a 100. You said it's a deal and only sent me 75 bucks. I talked to you on the phone at the packing place and said I dropped in the MONO board for free . So I cut you a deal and you didn't want the Power supply and The PCB. I have all the e-mails so do you, look over them again. You should be getting your package tomorrow as it will be monday.

If you still want the PCB and the Power supply. I can still give you the same deal you will have to send me 25 more dollars and pay for the shipping. I have not miss led you in anyway my friend and I had the stuff at shipping place within 1hr of getting the money.

If you still want to the PCB and the power supply let me know.

[redfivexw]

You are taking me the wrong way, i appreciate all you did, and you did get it right out.  But you are mistaken about the $100 for everything. I made you several offers before we agreed on a final deal.  Here is your EXACT final post before i sent you payment:
"Re: rampage
« Sent to: redfivexw on: February 05, 2010, 10:52:20 PM »
« You have forwarded or responded to this message. » Quote Reply Remove   

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if you want I can still send you the PCB , Sound card and the Bezel and the Marquee all for 75.00 but you pay for the shipping. That is a great deal and you will have extra parts."

So, you see, you did tell me that i was getting those 4 items for $75.00.  I was hesitant to pay the $85.00 extra for shipping at first, but then i thought that i was getting the pcb included, i figured it was worth it.  I am sure it was just an oversight on your part, but i do think you should send me the pcb as agreed.  Check your Messages, you will see i am telling the truth.

[TOK]

This is the thread hijack from hell. 

[redfivexw]

Sorry about that TOK, i was just reading the posts and saw that you were being offered a part I already paid for.  I needed to get it posted asap! 

[redfivexw]

David,
I got your message, i am at work right now and cannot call back, but i did forward the 2 messages i got from you (we never got that high on pricing, check and you will see).  As you can see, your offer was for all 4 items for $75.  It was your offer, i did not ask you for it.  I think you are confusing me with someone else.   When i emailed you, i was only looking for the bezel and marquee.  I made an offer of $50 for those 2 items.  Then i said that if you had a working sound card that i would pay another 25 for that, which you responded that you would include the PCB and sound card for the same $75 so i would have the extra parts.  I felt this was a good deal, so i agreed and sent you the money.  I have the proof right here in my messages folder, which i have forwarded to you.  You seemed like a pretty good guy, you took care of mailing the items right away and I appreciate that.  I dont want any hard feelings, however, a deal is a deal.  Tell you what, i am willing to pay for the postage on the PCB, but not that overpriced place you took the other stuff to.  You should be able to put that pcb in a box and mail it USPS parcel post for about $15.  If you want i can paypal you another $15 to cover that.  I am trying to be fair on this, but honestly the board should have been packed with everything else so really i should not have to pay anything more.   
Here is your last message again:
Koolbrez67
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   Re: rampage
« Sent to: redfivexw on: February 05, 2010, 10:52:20 PM »
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if you want I can still send you the PCB , Sound card and the Bezel and the Marquee all for 75.00 but you pay for the shipping. That is a great deal and you will have extra parts.

[Koolbrez67]

I will drop the PCB off at the shipping place tomorrow. I will call and leave you the number to call the shipping place. You can make your arrangements on shipping. It was a learning exp. I will make sure if I ever do this again to send a list of everything that will be purchased to the sender first before payment takes place. I hope there is no hard feelings. As you said a deal is a deal and we did agree on you paying for shipping. I would hope that you would leave me good feed back as I've made my amends.

[tightwad]

well, I converted a PC power supply for my cab....cheap way to go to play with it until I MAME it.  Sound doesn't seem to work on the right side, but otherwise is plays good after replacing the joysticks...the old ones need a rebuild badly, and they were originally soldered so I had to snip the wires.  Kids are having fun!

[redfivexw]

thanks for the update, thanks for taking care of it for me.  My rampage also thanks you.