Just bought a used cab!!!

[traknfieldSUPAstar]

Well it's been awhile since my last post here but I finally managed to get a used cab for an awesome price (well at least I think so).

It's a 2-player tatio cab converted to jamma. It came with a 19" monitor, an tmnt pcb, coin door, joysticks, and buttons intact. The monitor doesn't power up (it appears dead, is this fixable?) but you can hear the TMNT music in the background when you plug it in (he wanted $80 for it but I got it for $60, good deal,yes?)...

My only problem is that the wood edges around the t-molding seem pretty bad and the bottom pedastal is really torn up. Is there a guide out there to restoring (i.e. using wood filler, sanding, and/or replacing the wood)? Is it even worth it?... I know i can probably make back my purchase price by selling parts invidivually, but I want to use as much of the parts as possible... I'll post pics as soons as I can

[DarkKobold]

The monitor repair is probably do-able, but difficult and dangerous, depending on what is wrong.
1st step is to learn why it is dangerous so you don't kill yourself. Yes, no exhaggeration, handling a monitor incorrectly can actually literally kill you.
2nd step is to determine which monitor you have. If you do a search for the Randy Fromm technical page, there are WONDERFUL flow charts to help you determine what is wrong with each specific monitor. A basic understanding of EE may be neccessary.
3rd step is to buy the parts and fix it.

Anyway, the TMNT pcb is probably worth 80% of the purchase price to begin with. Good ol' Craigslist, eh?

[traknfieldSUPAstar]

lol yeah craigslist is pretty nice... I actually called the guy who posted it 10 minutes after it was up... guess I got lucky... also, after taking look inside I found about $2.75 in quarters so my actually purchase price was $57.25 

as for the monitor, if it wasn't "fixable" and i wanted to replace it (actually i'd prefer not to mess with it at all), how would I get rid of the old one? I dont' want it sitting around my house where my kids could get to it. Would I have to bring it to a recycling center (or would it be possible to sell a non-working monitor to another mame/arcade guy with more guts than me to try and fix it)?

[DarkKobold]

You might be able to work it into a trade + money for a working monitor. Unfortunately, dead monitors are quite common. If you know the specs, it helps, and also how bad the burnin is. If it is burned in really bad, you might as well trash it. That is my idea. Post on RGVAC and see if anyone is willing to do a trade or at least sell you a monitor in your area.

[RayB]

Keep me posted too if you know how to dispose of a dead monitor. I've always wondered myself.

[RetroJames]

lol yeah craigslist is pretty nice... I actually called the guy who posted it 10 minutes after it was up... guess I got lucky... also, after taking look inside I found about $2.75 in quarters so my actually purchase price was $57.25

[crashwg]

What you should do with the old monitor is smash it up into little pieces and add few at a time to your "regular" garbage.  It'll be gone in no time. 

[quarterback]

What you should do with the old monitor is smash it up into little pieces and add few at a time to your "regular" garbage.

[danny_galaga]

handling a monitor incorrectly can actually literally kill you.

as opposed to figuratively, or maybe metaphorically killing you? sorry, couldn't help myself. literally...

[DarkKobold]

handling a monitor incorrectly can actually literally kill you.

as opposed to figuratively, or maybe metaphorically killing you? sorry, couldn't help myself. literally...

Well, in the sense that Taco Bell kills me, that is figurative!

I just didn't want him to think that I was exahagerrating in any way shape or form. 

As for disposing the monitor, drive by a dumpster in a parking lot, and drop it in. That is what I'd do! Legal? Not really. Anyone gonna say anything? Not really.

[Wade]

Wow, I was thinking we weren't supposed to do that.  But I have sat countless monitors out on the curb and the trash guys always take them away.

Wade

[MoonDog]

i thought monitors had quite a bit of lead in them.  not the best thing to be putting into a landfill.   

[quarterback]

i thought monitors had quite a bit of lead in them.

[Flack]

The way I disposed of my last dead monitor was by posting on RGVAC and saying, "free dead monitor, you come and pick up, will not ship." I had half a dozen e-mails within the hour, and the first responder came and took the monitor the next day.