Robotron 2084

[Sparkolicious]

About a decade ago I found a complete Robotron in the garbage. I scooped it up with every intention of restoring it, but then I got distracted with lots of other stuff. Here's a link back to my original post about the game. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,18964.0.html

My neighbor shows up at the door a few weeks ago and is like hey.. I am going to restore a video game machine. Actually he went uber crazy and bought Centipede, Pacman, Gorf, Space Invaders, and Gyruss!!! I'm thinking man wtf? lol! From never restoring a game to having 5 projects!! SURELY I can restore this damn robotron! So.. away I go!  I already had the boards tested, so I know they should all work. I check some wiring.. jingle some jangles.. boom.. robotron 2084 fires up.. all systems go! fun! excitement! CHEER!

Now for the hard work.. rebuilding Wico joysticks, replacing CP overlay, Cabinet repair (REALLY rough on the bottom), change locks, clean stuff up. Here are some WIP pics.

[yotsuya]

Good luck on that! Don't worry about the bottom - everything's repairable!



to

[Sparkolicious]

first order of business, remove all of the damaged wood.. (I hate MDF.. H A T E it... DO NOT WANT) anyway.. the front of this machine is MDF.. unfortunately over the past few years the garage flooded twice and the broken feet on the cab allowed water to contact the MDF and it soaked it up good. Out with the skilsaw!

[yotsuya]

Looks good so far! 

[Sparkolicious]

a few runs through the table saw, and some chisel work.. boom... front patched.

[Sparkolicious]

That's where I am at so far.. I have several parts on the way to repair the joysticks, replace lights on buttons and coin door, replace locks, etc.. Coin mechs aren't working correctly. Will need to get on that. Everything else works, so I am I just going to clean up the boards, and leave everything as is, though I am considering battery conversion.

For the sides, I plan to lap joint the patches.  I'll probably have that done this evening.  I think I am going to re build the back door. The top piece is missing already, and the bottom is MDF and dogged out.

[Sparkolicious]

Good luck on that! Don't worry about the bottom - everything's repairable!



to

damn son! lol! I may have started from scratch!! Real nice patch work!

[yotsuya]

Thanks, bro. I love what you're doing so far. Subscribed! 

[Sparkolicious]

so... routing the cab and my router decided to die. Weird.. power switch wire just broke loose. Weird because it really has no way of moving around in the top of the case, but it did. Unfortunately my other 2 routers were not at my house so I decided to get on cleaning the monitor and wiring harness. I took the board off of the chassis, sprayed it down with some 409, and then thoroughly rinsed it. It came out pretty good. Before and after photos...

 

[Sparkolicious]

I did a first run of polishing on the joystick shafts. They had a lot of rust/patina. They look better now. Not really going for perfection, but I'll spend a little more time polishing them .

[Sparkolicious]

before the router stopped.. probably taking to big of a bite, but I was going very slowly. Still.. when I should probably relax and make a couple passes.

[Sparkolicious]

Replaced router switch and I am back in action... sort of.. between renovating a house and building a dining room table there's not much time left for arcade restoration. Anyway.. some progress photos..

Bottom patch cut to fit. Thickness is off, but bondo will make it all good. Joysticks are rebuilt and installed. Replacing switches on the coin door. Hopefully I will be able to invest a little more time to the project in the next couple weeks.

[Sparkolicious]

been a while.. Got married.. finished a house, a custom fishing rod, dozens of model airplane, and now finally back to finishing this up! About to put on the red stencil and attach the feet. Props to Twisted Quarter.. feet delivered before I had a chance to put the card back in my wallet!

[Sparkolicious]

cleaned up main board and did battery conversion. Cleaned up power supply and wiring. Replaced janky pink power cord.

[Sparkolicious]

coin door and money door finished and ready to go in. Cleaned up the Marquee.. looks good enough to reuse, but I may have to do a little touch up work. Got the feet on and the black painted... Kind of pissed with the finish, but at this point I am just going to let it roll...

[RetroGreg]

Amazing work on the cabinet repair  . I'll definitely be checking back in on this one.

[Sparkolicious]

so it is finally, mostly done... I have a lot of touch ups to do, and a LOT of adhesive from the last stencil to clean off.. next time I do this kind of resto, I will not use oil based paint out of a sprayer.. it was kind of a nightmare, and the result is just okay. It is what it is, and it looks good in the front room!

[opt2not]

Look at that sexy beast. 

Nice job on this resto. I have a Robotron Cabaret just waiting for the same treatment, and this thread is really inspiring me to get off ---my bottom---. Maybe next year...

But great job on this man, I hope it gives you and yours all the joy and frustration it has brought to countless others.

Robotron giveth, and taketh away.

[bulbousbeard]

That looks absolutely fantastic.