View Full Version : PLEASE HELP If you have an asteroids cocktail (or have knowlege)
bohproper
09-11-2010, 03:09 AM
hey guys i came upon an offer for an asteroids cocktail cabinet in pretty good shape that, according to the owner, has a bad or damaged board ever since he moved about a month ago. i know nothing about arcade cabinets but was in need of understanding of what the time and cost may be on the road ahead and what problems are common (he also swears the the monitor works fine and it does power on with sound)
thanks
Troubleshooting arcade games is a very step-by-step process. If it actually did work before moving, I'd check all the connectors, wires, interlock switches, etc. first... and determine what the game does and doesn't do (does the monitor do anything, can you hear the game play, do the start buttons light up, etc). From there, expect to pull some boards and inspect for bad solder joints.
Once you're sure the interconnections between boards are good, then you'll want to check things like verifying voltages are good (you'll need to know how to use a multimeter). The most important one is the +5V at the main board (look for test points labeled +5V and GND, and measure w/ the multimeter). It should be about 5.1VDC. Put it in test mode and watch the screen and listen for beeps.
And definitely check out this page: http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/asteroidtech/asteroidsrepair.html .
Do this stuff and report back with more details and we can probably help you troubleshoot further.
DogP
bohproper
09-11-2010, 04:19 AM
thanks DogP i get back on here tomorrow afternoon
CRTGAMER
09-11-2010, 03:02 PM
A great find!
Be careful HIGH VOLTAGE around the monitor even when unplugged. I suspect the first thing that could fail on the PCB are the capacitors. But maybe try unplugging and replugging all the connectors.
If the repairs prove too costly, a less desirable fix is to Mame that table.
bohproper
09-11-2010, 03:27 PM
hmm we'll give it a try. im so excited this will be my first cabinet and i LOVE vector graphics. its kind of a dream come true for me lol
Arcade Antics
09-11-2010, 04:16 PM
If the repairs prove too costly, a less desirable fix is to Mame that table.
lolno.
Restoring it will be inexpensive unless the monitor tube is cracked. And it most likely isn't cracked based on his description. DogP knows his stuff, take his advice and you'll be fine. It could be as simple as the edge connector not making proper contact.
CRTGAMER
09-11-2010, 05:47 PM
lolno.
Restoring it will be inexpensive unless the monitor tube is cracked. And it most likely isn't cracked based on his description. DogP knows his stuff, take his advice and you'll be fine. It could be as simple as the edge connector not making proper contact.
I hate it when my quote gets edited like that. I think if you read and quoted my WHOLE response I just wrote about checking all the connector's. Restoring can be expensive when trying to track down an obsolete part. Maybe a simple connector or a bad corroded capacitor, maybe not. Could even be that Vector monitor. The Mame route is just another option.
bohproper
09-11-2010, 06:00 PM
i decided to buy it, the monitor still comes on but the lines are all squiggly and random he he said if its the monitor he'll give me my money back. i paid $170 is that a fair price? (sorry for being a noob haha) also it powers on in every way sound, gameplay the picture is the only visible problem
$170 sounds very fair... those are very nice looking cocktails IMO. The squiggly/random lines is typical for PCB related issues (bad PCB, connector, voltage, etc). Check out those connectors, test the voltage, and try test mode. Hopefully you'll find something in all that.
DogP
Arcade Antics
09-12-2010, 10:37 PM
I hate it when my quote gets edited like that.
It wasn't edited, I only quoted the part that didn't make sense. He's not familiar with games to begin with and you're suggesting something that's pretty complicated as he'd have to swap monitors and the wiring harness.
I think if you read and quoted my WHOLE response I just wrote about checking all the connector's. Restoring can be expensive when trying to track down an obsolete part. Maybe a simple connector or a bad corroded capacitor, maybe not. Could even be that Vector monitor. The Mame route is just another option.
I did read it, the rest wasn't anything new. DogP already recommended checking all the connectors and the other initial troubleshooting steps. Asteroids, as previously mentioned, is not expensive to fix. It's a super common game with a huge fanbase and tons of technical repair info, parts, and help all over the place. If the monitor tube is cracked, it would be costly to get a new monitor. Repairing an existing one is neither expensive nor difficult.
bohproper
09-15-2010, 05:15 AM
well i finally got it home XD and now it wont turn on :( im pretty sure its just a blown fuse or two, i still cant wait to hear that old chuggy heartbeat once i get it running
Arcade Antics
09-15-2010, 11:46 AM
well i finally got it home XD and now it wont turn on :( im pretty sure its just a blown fuse or two
Check the kill switch at the back door.