View Full Version : Need help with fixing arcade machines.
Penguin
09-08-2007, 10:38 AM
Hey everyone, I just picked up a 1981 Donkey Kong arcade machine and a Pac-Man table arcade machine today, neither of them work, was just wondering if anyone knew much about repairing these or if anyone has any site links to a place that could be helpful, ill try and get some pictures of them uploaded tomorrow.
diskoboy
09-08-2007, 02:54 PM
Anything you need to know about pac-man (fixing a machine, history, ROM revisions, board variations, etc...) can be found @ Lawnmowerman's Toolshed.
http://users.adelphia.net/~68hc11/pacfile/pacfile.htm
Ninteno cabinets are a pain in the arse to fix, IMO. I have a DKjr. Cabinet that was converted into a Vs. cabinet - I hate making repairs on it.
Yeah, post the pics of what they do, and also some of the insides (especially around the board). If you're going to be repairing these, you gotta know your electronics safety (don't touch bare high voltage wires, discharge the monitors before removing the monitor chassis, don't play with the red wire going to the monitor tube, etc).
You should also learn how to use a multimeter if you don't already know how (and get one if you don't already have one :P ). You'll especially want to learn how to use the resistance (ohms) setting, and also the AC voltage and DC voltage. AC voltage is what goes to the monitor and power supplies, DC voltage is what comes out of the power supplies and runs the game logic (the power supply is built into the Pac Man board). Typically you want to check your DC voltages at the chips on the board, and AC voltage is less important unless a part seems totally dead, then you'll want to check the AC voltage to make sure it's getting power. You'll also want to use the resistance setting to test fuses (these should be tested with the game off and unplugged). If the fuse is good, it should test low resistance (less than 1 ohm), if it's bad, typically it'll test totally open (like you didn't even touch it with the meter).
For common Pac Man problems, check the fuses in the bottom of the cabinet, and clean the fuses and fuse holders. Also clean the edge connector and check for a burnt connector. For common DK problems, check the monitor... they typically need the capacitors replaced (you can order a cap kit for that type of monitor). The thing about the Nintendo cabs is that the sound is amplified through the monitor, so if the monitor is having problems, the game can seem totally dead.
If you need to order parts, I'd recommend www.therealbobroberts.net ... really nice guy, very helpful, has good prices, and has most of what you'd need.
DogP
Penguin
09-10-2007, 08:38 PM
Well After testing both of the arcade units, the Donkey Kong unit turns on, I can hear some buzzing sounds from the PCB and such but the sound/monitor does not work, I checked everything else and it seems to be getting power. The Pac-man table the monitor turns on and lights up and everything but the pac man board, which is missing 6 EPROMS which I have found on a arcade restoration website and am trying to order them right now. Heres some pictures of the stuff, let me know if you have any more suggestions.
First the Donkey Kong pictures
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/1561/dkpowersuphj6.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/829/dkjammafk0.jpg
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6681/dkcab2di2.jpg
And the Pac-man table
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2747/pactablevu2.jpg
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2230/pacinsidedg0.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/69/p9100164ih7.jpg
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1748/p9100163sw0.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/963/p9100162cc3.jpg
Yeah, definitely recap the DK monitor... that's a really common problem. Hopefully putting the ROMs back in the Pac will fix it, but I wouldn't count on it... usually people don't strip parts from boards unless those boards have other problems or are a totally worthless board (which Pac isn't).
DogP
Penguin
09-11-2007, 08:20 AM
Yeah, definitely recap the DK monitor... that's a really common problem. Hopefully putting the ROMs back in the Pac will fix it, but I wouldn't count on it... usually people don't strip parts from boards unless those boards have other problems or are a totally worthless board (which Pac isn't).
DogP
Well the reason they ROMS were removed was because a lot of the pins were broken off, I even have some of the ROMS they are just so corroded and most of the pins are missing so I ordered new ones.
The biggest problem I've found with Nintendo games is the power supplies. When they break, replace them with a standard switcher.
I've never had to replace a PS in a nintendo cab, but IIRC you can't easily replace them on a DK because it uses a lot of ECL chips, which require large amounts of current on the -5V line (much more than the typical .5A or whatever most switchers will do). You could probably wire up two of them, hooking the second up with +5V to GND and GND to -5V, but you'd have to make sure their grounds were totally seperated, and the setup well marked.
DogP