Author Topic: Reparing a Ms pac-man machine (Read 6344 times)

goukisama · « **on:** October 17, 2009, 06:06:53 pm »

Hello, My friend has Ms. Pac-man machine he had in storage for years. While it was in storage it was involved in a flood (Katrina). Well four years later he finally pulled it out and brought it to his house. When he plugged it up, the monitor came on, a loud buzz (which i know what it is) and all what was on the screen was just a few objects. Everytime he would plug it up different stuff would show up in different places. Now since i had been doing some research on the net i came across Twobits and they said they would check to see if the PCB is damaged which i think it was and how much it would cost to fix it. So since the monitor works, i was wondering what we would do about power for it since the transformers need to go. Now my question is if and when (if the board can still be used) i install a switching power supply how does the monitor gets its power and is it on the original power supply and would i need (found where we could get one) to replace the transformers at the bottom of the cabinet to get it powered? Any information would be appreciated.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:36:41 pm »

If you go with the switching power supply option the number one thing you will need to power the monitor is an isolation transformer.

All you need to know and then some..... http://www.therealbobroberts.net/acwiring.html

Don't try to troubleshoot the game pcb until you know you have a good power supply and wiring.

RayB · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2009, 11:58:46 pm »

Twobits is expensive.

goukisama · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2009, 03:59:41 am »

Is there a DIY on this somewhere? Bob just explains what it does and whats in it. I want to build this.

SirPeale · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2009, 07:26:58 am »

Quote from: goukisama on October 18, 2009, 03:59:41 am

Is there a DIY on this somewhere? Bob just explains what it does and whats in it. I want to build this.

Bob also sells the parts.

Mauzy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2009, 11:00:59 am »

Quote from: RayB on October 17, 2009, 11:58:46 pm

Twobits is expensive.

I sent in a particularly troublesome board to them a couple years ago for an estimate. They wanted $250 for the repair! I told them to ship it back. I turned around and bought a repair on ebay for $65 (I think...) and got it repaired AND modded..

Check out this place for some screen based trouble shooting. I've fixed a couple boards via this site: http://www.arcadegameover.com/pactrouble.html

goukisama · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2009, 01:27:58 pm »

Damn thats half the price of a new one. I seen this site but i did not see our problem on it. Well would you happen to have a list of the parts that is needed to build it (power supply unit)? i see the main parts but i just want to the smaller stuff like connectors and such.

goukisama · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2009, 04:12:01 pm »

Well i just got my estimate from Twobits and they said it would be $251. I would go ahead and get there diagnostics kit but since we dont have a working cabinet more than likely we are just going to go ahead and let them repair it.

SirPeale · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2009, 04:17:38 pm »

You can buy a tested working board for less than half that.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2009, 05:57:13 pm »

Quote from: SirPeale on October 19, 2009, 04:17:38 pm

You can buy a tested working board for less than half that.

DITTO !!
(and as three other people have referred to NOT go with a twobit repair)

And I also must still insist you square away the power supply first before concerning yourself with the boardset.

Quote from: goukisama on October 18, 2009, 03:59:41 am

Is there a DIY on this somewhere? Bob just explains what it does and whats in it. I want to build this.

Uh..... if you build it just like he shows you then that constitutes DIY. His tutorial includes the parts required, how they work, where they go and even pictures ...... I'm not sure I understand what more information you need in order to build it yourself.

goukisama · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:28:00 pm »

Quote from: Mauzy on October 18, 2009, 11:00:59 am

Quote from: RayB on October 17, 2009, 11:58:46 pm
Twobits is expensive.

I sent in a particularly troublesome board to them a couple years ago for an estimate. They wanted $250 for the repair! I told them to ship it back. I turned around and bought a repair on ebay for $65 (I think...) and got it repaired AND modded..

Did they give you any problems on when you wanted the board back? Even though they said on their website that is was FREE to do an estimate and if you did not like the price they would ship it back for FREE. I hope that they didn't do anything to the board as i had found company that would do an even exchange for 115 shipped.

goukisama · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:29:12 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Mullins on October 19, 2009, 05:57:13 pm

Quote from: SirPeale on October 19, 2009, 04:17:38 pm
You can buy a tested working board for less than half that.

DITTO !!
(and as three other people have referred to NOT go with a twobit repair)

And I also must still insist you square away the power supply first before concerning yourself with the boardset.

Quote from: goukisama on October 18, 2009, 03:59:41 am
Is there a DIY on this somewhere? Bob just explains what it does and whats in it. I want to build this.
Uh..... if you build it just like he shows you then that constitutes DIY. His tutorial includes the parts required, how they work, where they go and even pictures ...... I'm not sure I understand what more information you need in order to build it yourself.

Well thats ok he sells one assembled for $90. Also it was too late as i had already shipped it off before i was told about them.

Mauzy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2009, 10:59:19 pm »

Quote from: goukisama on October 19, 2009, 08:28:00 pm

Quote from: Mauzy on October 18, 2009, 11:00:59 am
Quote from: RayB on October 17, 2009, 11:58:46 pm
Twobits is expensive.

I sent in a particularly troublesome board to them a couple years ago for an estimate. They wanted $250 for the repair! I told them to ship it back. I turned around and bought a repair on ebay for $65 (I think...) and got it repaired AND modded..

Did they give you any problems on when you wanted the board back? Even though they said on their website that is was FREE to do an estimate and if you did not like the price they would ship it back for FREE. I hope that they didn't do anything to the board as i had found company that would do an even exchange for 115 shipped.

No they were pretty nice about it actually. I just flat out told the guy that I wasn't willing to pay that much for a board repair but that I appreciated his help. He just said no problem and I had my board back in about a week and a half just as I had sent it in. IIRC they paid return shipping.

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:04:26 pm »

All I know is if anyone wants to send me their boards and pay $251 I'll be sure to send them a working boardset back.

goukisama · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2009, 01:25:35 am »

Quote

No they were pretty nice about it actually. I just flat out told the guy that I wasn't willing to pay that much for a board repair but that I appreciated his help. He just said no problem and I had my board back in about a week and a half just as I had sent it in. IIRC they paid return shipping.

Well they got upset and told me that they would ship it back and hung up the phone. I had appreciated what they did but when they act like that, that tells me that they have bad business pratices.

Level42 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2009, 12:49:44 pm »

Somehow I have the feeling you were warned about them 3 times ....

goukisama · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2009, 05:25:08 pm »

Quote from: Level42 on October 21, 2009, 12:49:44 pm

Somehow I have the feeling you were warned about them 3 times ....

Yes i know but i had just found this site after the fact. It was too late to do anything about it. But dont worry i wont be dealing with those guys as i see now that there are just too damn high for stuff.

Level42 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2009, 05:01:11 am »

Ow I missed that

Sorry.

goukisama · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2009, 01:12:14 pm »

Well since we are waiting for the board to come back i tore into the cabinet last night at his house. Now are the two player wires connected to the bottom of the cabinet to a null connector or something? And when i go back with the new harness do i have to use another one since it was damaged in the flood?

Spyridon · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2009, 11:10:27 am »

Tested working boards are for sale all the time on KLOV for $85 - $100. Buy one of those then sell the old non-working one.

goukisama · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2009, 11:49:32 pm »

Quote from: Mauzy on October 19, 2009, 10:59:19 pm

Quote from: goukisama on October 19, 2009, 08:28:00 pm
Quote from: Mauzy on October 18, 2009, 11:00:59 am
Quote from: RayB on October 17, 2009, 11:58:46 pm
Twobits is expensive.

I sent in a particularly troublesome board to them a couple years ago for an estimate. They wanted $250 for the repair! I told them to ship it back. I turned around and bought a repair on ebay for $65 (I think...) and got it repaired AND modded..

Did they give you any problems on when you wanted the board back? Even though they said on their website that is was FREE to do an estimate and if you did not like the price they would ship it back for FREE. I hope that they didn't do anything to the board as i had found company that would do an even exchange for 115 shipped.

No they were pretty nice about it actually. I just flat out told the guy that I wasn't willing to pay that much for a board repair but that I appreciated his help. He just said no problem and I had my board back in about a week and a half just as I had sent it in. IIRC they paid return shipping.

Well thats great, they want me to pay a cod of $20 dollars for my board to get it back. Man Twobits are a bunch of scammers. I wish i would had found this forum before i went with them.

Mauzy · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:03:59 pm »

Hmm. Must have caught them on a good day. Sorry you're having a rough time with them.

goukisama · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2009, 12:32:26 am »

Yeah, that is pretty low down that they had to resort to this just to get a buck. Well i hope someone else sees this tread and learn from my mistake, i hope they go out of business.

Level42 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 25, 2009, 08:42:54 am »

In all fairness, it's not out of line to ask a small amount like that for handling, shipping back and examining the board. But they should have told you upfront if they would do so.

goukisama · « **Reply #24 on:** October 25, 2009, 08:39:56 pm »

Quote from: Level42 on October 25, 2009, 08:42:54 am

In all fairness, it's not out of line to ask a small amount like that for handling, shipping back and examining the board. But they should have told you upfront if they would do so.

Yeah exactly. Just VERY bad business practices on their part. I guess since i live far away from them they knew they could get away from this.

goukisama · « **Reply #25 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:04:45 pm »

Oh and here are the pics of the machine. I trying to figure out why there is a light and a resistor where the bulb starter for the marque light. Also you can see that all the wires have been pulled out and waiting for new ones. Will i need that yellow ground strap on the new setup i am going to put into it?

Kevin Mullins · « **Reply #26 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:14:13 pm »

Quote from: goukisama on October 26, 2009, 09:04:45 pm

I trying to figure out why there is a light and a resistor where the bulb starter for the marque light.

That's a starter out of it's casing.

Quote from: goukisama on October 26, 2009, 09:04:45 pm

Will i need that yellow ground strap on the new setup i am going to put into it?

Well, it's just that.... a ground strap.
Keeps people from getting shocked when touching such things as a metal coin door, a metal control panel, etc.

goukisama · « **Reply #27 on:** October 28, 2009, 08:30:06 pm »

Just got the board back from Twos**ts. Just like i thought they just threw everything back in the box and did not put everything back together. I could do it but i have no idea where the wire went. Well at this point since it is complete mikes arcade does a board exchange for 90 bucks if its not working. Now if you guys have another ideas, i am open to suggestions.

Mauzy · « **Reply #28 on:** October 28, 2009, 10:38:54 pm »

Quote from: goukisama on October 28, 2009, 08:30:06 pm

Just got the board back from Twos**ts. Just like i thought they just threw everything back in the box and did not put everything back together. I could do it but i have no idea where the wire went. Well at this point since it is complete mikes arcade does a board exchange for 90 bucks if its not working. Now if you guys have another ideas, i am open to suggestions.

Considering the look of three of those chips towards the bottom and the strange wire on one of the aux boards, I would definitely go for the board swap.

goukisama · « **Reply #29 on:** October 29, 2009, 01:53:02 am »

What do you think of this deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270393492951&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

channelmaniac · « **Reply #30 on:** October 29, 2009, 11:12:19 am »

Or there are forum members that do board repairs.

I'll be out a lot in November so I won't be the fastest around, but check my repair logs on Pac/Ms. Pac.

RJ


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