Fixing a Zenith Monitor

[GamingGreg]

I bought and old Defender cabinet from a local nickel arcade recently.  The current game in there (ThunderJaws)functions but the monitor has some problems.  I'm trying to decide whether to fix it or to stick in a 19" TV that I already have.  

The standard resolution arcade monitor is a Rauland (Zenith) 19VMBP22.  It had a Williams serial # sticker on it so it may be the original Defender monitor back from 1981.  The machine has gone through two conversions, so I'm not exactly sure. The colors are pretty good, but it has a few problems:

1) It has an occasional vertical shake to it, which can get annoying.  

2) The picture is not centered horizontally on the screen. The diagram on the monitor shows a horizontal centering control on the signal interface board (69X1076-100), but the control (VBR I'm guessing) doesn't exist on that board. It might have been desoldered off.

3) The picture also bends in towards the middle of the screen, meaning that the left vertical edge is bowed in.  I've heard a cap kit might fix this, but I didn't see a kit for this specific monitor on Bob Robert's site (There was one for a different Zenith).

Anyway I'm looking for both advice on whether to keep it or not (probably a 20+ year old monitor), and whether it's even fixable.  Thoughts?

[paigeoliver]

Oh yeah dude that is way fixable. People regularly repair monitors that don't even work at all.

First start with a cap kit (always start with a cap kit).

Secondly, reflow solder on the neckboard and around the flyback and around anyplace wire headers plug in. This should take care of the vertical shake.

Thirdly. You may be able to recenter the monitor using other methods. There might be a set of 3 pins on the main monitor board, one of which has a wire leading on it. Move this wire to another pin to try to change the centering (not all monitors have this, but a few of mine do).

You don't HAVE to actually order a cap kit. You can also write down all the caps and go assemble one yourself, assuming your area has a decent electronics component place (not radio shack). Else, write down the list and send it to Bob Roberts. I have capped several monitors that don't have official kits available.

[GamingGreg]

Thanks,  I think I'll give it a try.  Now that you mention it, I believe I did see a set of  three pins with a wire leading on it.  I'll play with that.   Thanks again!