WG 4600 problem any suggestions

[littleanimal]

I have a Zaxxon machine with some monitor trouble.  The image appears as a swirling double helix.  I have done a cap kit. This didn't fix it. I swapped out the two cards on the monitor board from another working monitor.  This didn't fix it.  I went through all of the monitor boards and  re-soldered all of the circuits,  this didn't fix it.  I'm at a loss. 

[Kevin Mullins]

Now that is cool ..... well, not for you I'm sure.

Do you have another monitor you can temporarily connect to that game?
You mentioned another 4600, but can you get it close enough to hook it up?
(even if it sits on a chair or something)

I've personally never seen anything like that, makes me initially wonder about the game boards. Especially after all you have already done to that monitor.

[SirPeale]

I've seen that once before.  I never got to dig into it because the game that died was declared "non-essential" and was just swapped out on location.

Almost looks like something's going on with the yoke.

[littleanimal]

The other monitor is in a 100% working centipede cabinet that is next to it.  I thought about hooking the broken one up to the working one but didn't want to do any additional damage to either.  How would I do this just? Remove the board from the Zaxxon and hook it up to the centipede monitor? That would further trouble shoot the monitor board.  Is there a way to just run the Zaxxon game board into the centipede monitor , so if it works I can see Zaxxon on the Centipede and still us the Zaxxon controls? Or is this just over complicating it. 

Thanks for the help.

[Kevin Mullins]

Is there a way to just run the Zaxxon game board into the centipede monitor , so if it works I can see Zaxxon on the Centipede and still us the Zaxxon controls?

That's actually what I would do for starters.
You only have to move the video input cable over to the Centipede if it'll reach.
Then turn both cabinets on.

[qrz]

the first time i encountered this symptom , it was on a 9" tv/vcr combo.
once i found the culprit ( took awhile)  , it made the next encounters a snap.

with VERY good lighting , and magnification, inspect the vert yoke windings for a wire break.

vert windings have 2 identical coils wired in parallel.

when one side is open , what you see is what u get.

u may be able to solder the wire - or yoke replacement will be required

good luck

qrz

[littleanimal]

I found two broken wires on the yoke.  Do I have to solder them back to the wires they broke off of or can I just solder them back down against the rest of the coil? If this doesn't work do you have any good leads on a new yoke?

[SirPeale]

Yes, you must solder those wires back where they broke from.  And insulate them as best as possible.

[littleanimal]

How should I insulate these wires?

[SirPeale]

Silicone would work.  You just need to make sure the solder points never touch.

[littleanimal]

Can I use a jumper wire and what would happen if I cross the wires or the solder points touch.  Is it worth trying to fix or should I just try to find a replacement.

[qrz]

a jumper won't add enough inductance to cause any effect.
if all points touch , depending how much inductance is shorted out , it may cause a keystoned pic...
similar may happen if the wrong pair is connected ...

look VERY closely at the break.  the way the copper seperated may be quite apparent under high magnification.
the breaks should be mirror images.....even if cut.

good luck


qrz