Blasteroids Video Out of Center

[blasteroid]

Hi Guys. New to forum, just signed up yesterday. Take it easy on me as I know NOTHING. I bought a Blasteroids machine off of Ebay about 2 years ago and it was in cherry condition. My daughter knew how to add credits but her friends did not. I told her when people are over to use quarters but they did not. When I got home from work, after having the machine run flawlessly for 2 years, the horizontal and vertical settings were messed up and the picture is off center. I am assuming there are two dials to put this back and someone probably moved them trying to add credits. I know NOTHING about electronics and even tho I read the post about naming the monitor in the post, I have no idea what model it is. I am going to assume it's original if anyone knows where to get that information from. If not, I will need specific instructions on how to identify the monitor. I know it's frustrating to help someone with no experience in this field, but I'd rather let it unplugged than pay someone to come out to fix it. Can someone please help me?

[SirPeale]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62016.msg615586#msg615586

Check the sites referenced in this post.  Compare the images you see to the chassis you have.

Though most monitors like that have their controls on the monitor itself, there could be a remote board mounted in the coin door area.  Check in there for it.

[blasteroid]

kind sir, you are implying I know what a chassis is.....LOL.

[Ummon]

kind sir, you are implying I know what a chassis is.....LOL.

No, we're kinda hoping you know basic search techniques.

[blasteroid]

Wow. I got really busy with another project and this got buried in my inbox. My apologies. i read what you guys suggested and thanks I did look up chassis....lol. i took the cabinet apart last night and did some noodling around. I took 3 pictures so hopefully that will help. the pictures are of the monitor label, what appers to be the controls for video and what the screen looks like as it. The monitor is a SHARP 4F 510YWB22 (SYN). I tested the control for H-Center with someone watching the screen and it appears to do NOTHING. I can turn it either way and the image doesnt move. The image is also "squashed" from its origianl height. When I turn the V Size control the image begins to spin and flash. Thats the least of the problems. If I can get it back to center I would be happy. Like I said before, this game worked flawlessly until one day my daughter had frineds over and they were adding credits without coins. From what I can see on those boards they could access - there is no way they could change the alignment.....but i could be wrong about that. The monitor also has 3 knob controls that arent labeled. Any help would be greatly appreciated...I can take more pictures or try to answer anything to help.

[SirPeale]

It's /very/ unlikely your kids did anything, and more likely that your monitor finally requires service.

The monitor should be recapped right away.

[grantspain]

i reckon either you have a plug not in place,dry solder joint or you are adjusting the wrong controls and your kids have messed with the control pots-if they are accessible through the coin door then thats the most likely explanation

[blasteroid]

could you describe what "recapped" means. question: you suggest maybe i'm adjusting the wrong controls. the one i'm turning is labeled "h cen". wouldnt that be it? i dont see anything in the coin door area with dials. also - there is a plug that is hanging loose in the monitor area. its white/red connected to a female plug and hanging loose. on a casual look, i see nothing on the board to plug it into.

does that help at all? more pictures? how much would recapping cost?

thanks guys - i really appreciate the help. this is a superb forum that I should start reading more regularly, especially since i'd like to add other games ot my collection.

[SirPeale]

Try adjusting the "H Hold" knob.

[blasteroid]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I finally solved the issue. The control knobs for video adj seemed to be off by one so when i was turning what i thought was h-center it was really turning something else. it was hard to detect this working by myself. i finally got a mirror to assist me so i could see the screen as i was turning different knobs. the one knob seemed to do nothing when turned to its limits. a friend of mine suggested turning it past a limit until it clicked. i did that while on the convergence test screen and it was like another world opened up. i resized, recentered and it looks better than ever. again, thanks for answering and suggeting things so quickly.