Centipede Monitor issue

[bcd42]

Hi, I just got a Centipede game and when I power it on all I get is a big blue screen and then it goes to a thin vertical line running down the middle of the monitor. It seems like the monitor powers off and on every few seconds and makes a pop/click noise. I can't tell what type of chassis it is as there is no model# visible and I can't figure out how to take it out to look, I don't want to yank real hard and mess it up even worse. The guy I bought it off said it worked but when he pulled the back off one time he pulled some wires out of the harness that's connected to the main pcb. Sure enough there were some wires pulled out when I opened it up. I have another Centipede so I took the wiring harness from it and connected everything with it. Could there be a difference in the harnesses? Or does it sound like a chassis problem or something else? I have included some pics, hopefully someone can make sense of this. Thanks for any help you all can give.

[D_Zoot]

Sounds like you have a couple of problems.

First, the thin line:   You have a Wells Gardner K4600 monitor.  It's a pain in the arse to work on these monitors, but will reward you with a great picture once running.  It is very very common to have bad solder joints with these.  The header pins where the daughter cards seat onto the main board are a common area for solder joint problems and this can cause deflection problems.   First thing I'd do is pull the chassis and touch up all of the connector/pin solder joints and anything else that looked sketchy.  Might as well chuck a cap kit in it while it's out.


Blue screen:  Can you coin up the game and get game sounds? No game sounds and blue screens usually mean the game board isn't running.  Any number of things can cause that.  Start with going over the wiring again and crack out the volt meter and check the power feeds to the game board, make sure the board is getting proper voltages.  If the board has all of the correct voltages and no game sounds or picture then it's a board level problem. 


Good luck!
D

[bcd42]

Only problem is I can't figure out how to get the da*n chassis out! I see no screws to take out. It looks like it pushes up and off some tabs but if so that sucker is in there TIGHT as I have tried and I don't want to break something trying to force it. But I'll give it another go. I thought it might be a WG but was not sure if it was a 4600 or 4900, thanks for clearing that part up. As for the game board, no sound and no coin up.  I have another working Centipede so I pulled that  board and put this one in and it came up just fine so the board seems to be good. I didn't leave it on or try and coin it up but I'll see if it does. I don't know what else it could be. I have reached the limits of my, admittedly limited, arcade game repair knowledge. Thanks for the help 

[SirPeale]

Only problem is I can't figure out how to get the da*n chassis out! I see no screws to take out.

You'll have to pull the whole monitor.  Sorry.

[Level42]

You have to remove the monitor from the FRONT on a Centipede. At least, that's what the service manual that came with my Centipede says......

[bcd42]

Great    Thanks for the info. I probably would have ended up taking a hammer or something with a bunch of cc's to it

[Level42]

Here's a pic from the manual.

Or download the full manual here:

http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Arcade_Atari_Kee/Centipede/Centipede_TM-182_6th_Printing.pdf

Page 21 explains Monitor removal....

Good luck !

P.S. Be careful with the cardboard bezel. You need to remove all the staples carefully or you may tear the bezel !!