Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Restorations & repair => Topic started by: jcroach on May 23, 2011, 09:44:30 am

Title: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: jcroach on May 23, 2011, 09:44:30 am
Picked it up this weekend at a garage sale. $75. Described as not working, but with one splice of a speaker cable I got it working in about 10 minutes! Some body damage and it needs some monitor work, but it was $75! This is my first cabinet. Wish me luck in the restoration! I'll be posting lots of pictures and questions. Any other web site you'd recommend for tips? coinopspace.com? Vintage Arcade Preservation Society?
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: lloydclinton on May 23, 2011, 07:19:59 pm
Good luck!  Looks like you got a great buy for $75!!!
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: IG-88 on May 23, 2011, 08:46:16 pm
$75 bucks!! You can't even find a CP around here for that price. Nice find!
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: Ground_Gainer on May 23, 2011, 09:55:10 pm
Very nice!  Looks like it is in great shape!
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: Woodshop Flunky on May 23, 2011, 10:08:44 pm
WOW!  Awsome find... I'd be smiling too.  Even your kid knows its a steal of a deal!  :applaud:
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: jcroach on May 24, 2011, 08:49:55 am
Thanks everyone. I made my second repair last night. Got one of the coin mechs unjammed.

Right now I'm working on the "low hanging fruit."


Then move on to the major mechanical issue, the monitor.  I'm hoping I just need to re-cap it. I'm a little nervous about discharging the monitor and I've never worked with a soldering iron before, but I'm up to try it.

After it's working well, then I'll move on to the cabinet itself.  There's some body damage that need to be repair, probably build a new base, prime the outside and inside to get rid of the smell, sandblast and repair the metal parts, try to find an alternative way to mount the monitor chassis to get rid of the exterior bolts, repaint, new t-molding and side art!

Where do people usually post specific restoration questions? In their restoration thread or somewhere else on the forum?

Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: astroone on May 24, 2011, 03:53:22 pm
Awesome Find wish I could find one for that price the pcb itself is worth over that
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: astroone on May 24, 2011, 03:58:04 pm
klov is a good site with some restoration's but so is this one
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: lloydclinton on May 24, 2011, 07:21:26 pm
I need to figure out where all these garage sales are at that everyone is going to!  I can't find any semi working cabs in my area for less than half of what a new unit would cost!
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: astroone on May 24, 2011, 09:54:53 pm
I need to figure out where all these garage sales are at that everyone is going to!  I can't find any semi working cabs in my area for less than half of what a new unit would cost!

I agree with you on that one I need part's for my Donkey Kong sure would like to find a damaged cab with working part's
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: Spyridon on May 27, 2011, 09:59:55 am
Nice score.  You got a great deal on that one.  Looking forward to seeing the restore.


Where do people usually post specific restoration questions? In their restoration thread or somewhere else on the forum?


Post them right in this thread.  People here are very helpful and full of good information.  DK is a very common game so you shouldn't have a problem getting the answers you need.

Go ahead and get the D2K high score kit for that game.  It's worth the money.  High score saves plus the addition of being able to play D2K as well.
Title: Re: My first cabinet/restoration project! Donkey Kong
Post by: hatrick on May 27, 2011, 12:19:02 pm
Nice find! I picked my DK up at a grage sale a few years ago for $70, but it was in much worse shape.

Quote
try to find an alternative way to mount the monitor chassis to get rid of the exterior bolts

I wouldn't do this. They came from the factory with the mounting bolts on the side, so I'd leave it as it is.

Good luck, it will be a fun project. A DK was my first full restore and I had a lot of fun doing it.