Electrohome G07 problems in a Galaga machine.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

So the Galaga machine I got seems to have some monitor problems. The picture shakes horizontally after the machine is on for 5 minutes or so. At first it only shakes when you're pressing the button which causes the machine to vibrate a bit. Eventually it's just shaking non stop. I've looked over several monitor repair faqs and haven't seen this described in any of them. So instead of mucking around with everything in there, what do you guys think of purchasing one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6166859052

Not super cheap, but just replacing everythign in one go instead of messing around over many days is worth it to me. Any other suggestions?

[MoreEbolaForYou]

Ah, I guess I spoke too soon. I found a pdf trouble shooting chart that was a broken link last time I clicked it. Looks like the problem can be fixed with a cap kit. Anyone that can confirm that?

[AlanD]

Personally if the machine is original, I would do a cap kit regardless. I do one to every machine I plan on keeping. It is amazing the difference when you recap a 15-20 year old monitor.

The problem doesn't really sound so much like a cap kit as a cold solder joint since you see evidence by vibration (at least initially). I would consider the cap kit anyway since you would have the board out to look for a bad solder joint.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

Alright, I will try the cap kit then. Would you suspect the cold solder joint being on one of the connector pins? If that was the case though, shouldn't the picture only shake when the machine was jostled? Regardless, I'll try out the cap kit and see what happens. Maybe just the act of taking it apart and reassembling it will clear it up. That's pretty much all I did to get my mk2 cab working.

[tholly]

i dont know much about monitors, but my G07 had a vertical roll problem

everything lead me to believe a cap kit would work...it didnt
then more info lead me to believe changing the Vertical POT would work...it didnt
then more info lead me to believe changing an IC would work....it didnt

eventually it ended up being a wire needed to be jumpered to 2 pins on the connector that went to the monitor....so, it could have been fixed with one piece of wire and no extra purchases....so, before spending the $60, see if a new chasis would really help you

[shawnbo42]

Alright, I will try the cap kit then. Would you suspect the cold solder joint being on one of the connector pins? If that was the case though, shouldn't the picture only shake when the machine was jostled? Regardless, I'll try out the cap kit and see what happens. Maybe just the act of taking it apart and reassembling it will clear it up. That's pretty much all I did to get my mk2 cab working.

Cap kit shouldn't be all that expensive. However, if you haven't put it on already, your cap kit should come with a warning message. One of the caps has the polarity mis-marked on the board. I don't know which one offhand, but I can find out for you if need be. Basically, it is no big deal to correct it, you just put the cap in the other way from what the PCB says. Also, in my experience, I have found that when you do a cap kit, you should also replace the flyback. BUT, use caution when doing this. The joints have a good amount of solder on them, so it takes a little work to remove it to the point where you can get the pins loose. Also, it is possible to crack the board when removing the flyback (I have done this) so be gentle. I find that the cap kit/flyback combo usually gives you another 10 or 15 years of good life on your monitor. Typically, the GO7 is not very prone to failure. Another thing you can try to correct your problem is to clean the adjustment pots. Use some spray contact cleaner (blue shower or the like), spray each one down, roate the pot the full spectrum both 3ways with an adjustment tool or a #0 Philips screwdriver usually works too. Sometimes you can have adjustment problems with these monitors due to dirt/corrosion just due to the age of the boards. That's about all I can think of.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

Well, I got the cap kit, and set to it today. This was to be my first cap kit installation. I got everything apart pretty easily, but when I sat down to start soldering the capacitors, I noticed none of the identifications for the capacitors on the board matched what I had in my kit. Then it was obvious, my Galaga machine didn't have an Electrohome G07 in it. So I swore a little, put everything back together hoping everything would somehow magically fix itself, crossed my fingers, and turned it on. It still fired up, but now things were just worse. The screen still shakes, and now it's folded over on the right for some reason. None of the controls could fix the folding.

After doing some research, I've narrowed the monitor down to being a Wells Gardner K4600. Get a cap kit for this and start over? Suggestions?

[Sylentwulf]

Personally I think cap kits are overrated, and the 2 main people supplying them aren't the greatest..... I have a manual for my monitor, which lists all of the caps and loc's. I bought the cap kit for my monitor model from the 2 people selling them..


I ended up with 3 completely different lists of cap value's for the exact same monitor (one from each of the suppliers, and the manual I had from online) I would say a good 30-40% of the caps listed were completely different on all 3 sets. Not impressed. Even bob roberts couldn't figure out wth was going on when I asked him for help.

[Peale]

Different ratings as in voltage, or the uF rating?

Voltage can vary, as long as it isn't *below* the initial rating. The pF rating, however, must be right on.

[MoreEbolaForYou]

Well, the cap kit is the only idea I have, short of just getting a new monitor. What other option could there be?

[shawnbo42]

I have found in my experience that when you have problems with a 4600 board, it really is easier to just take the whole monitor (tube and all) and toss it. Save the brackets because they will mount to either a G07 or a Wells-Gardner K7000 monitor. You should be able to get a 7000 monitor complete new for probably 150 bucks or so. I suggest this for several reasons.
1. You are getting a BRAND NEW complete monitor. Should be good for the rest of your life (or as long as you care to own the machine)
2. 7000's are a *LOT* easier to diagnose problems on (should you have any)
3. 7000 parts are much more readily available than the obsolete 4600.
4. Let's say you actually get your 4600 board repaired and working. How long will it last before you have the next issue? And, once again, it's time to rip out the ENTIRE monitor (pain in the you-know-what), fix it AGAIN, etc.
I have a Joust that had problems with a 4600 monitor. Tore the thing out, threw it away, put in a 7000, looks incredible. Pic is so juicy it is unbelievabe, it's like new. Also, I have installed a 7000 monitor into a pac man cab,(converted machine) so I know the monitor mounts into the cabinet framework no problem. The only thing I'd look into is the sync connections. The 7000 chassis has both + and - sync for horizontal and vertical, an well as comp. sync, so you SHOULD be able to get your machine to run with a 7000 monitor. Barring that, I *KNOW* for fact that a G07 monitor is compatible with Galaga, so you can always pursue that route. And, a G07 is much easier to take out the cabinet for repair (you don't need to remove the picture tube), and generally much more reliable than a 4600. Anyways, this is all sheer conjecture, with a little experience thrown in LOL. Anyone else have any info to add to this?

[MoreEbolaForYou]

well, if the cap kit doesn't work for me, i actually was looking into the wg k7000. the cheapest i've seen them for is around 200 though. where have you seen them for 150? anyone else have any other suggestions?

[shawnbo42]

First of all, I wouldn't even bother with the cap kit for the 4600. I toss 4600's in the trash dumpster every chance I get, and replace it with either a G07 or a 7000. For the pain it is to fix that monitor when it breaks, it is not even worth it to keep for a spare monitor. As to the price, I have not necessarily "seen" a 7000 for exactly $150, which is why I said you could pick up one for $150 or so. $200 to me sounds a little high. You could look around and probably find one for like $169 or $179. Even if you were to buy a used monitor with a 7000 chassis on it for like $100, it still is worth it for the lack of headache you will have when you need to get it repaired. My suggestion to you is this. See if you have a local operator in your area, try and get them on the phone, and ask if they would sell you a 19" 7000 monitor.
1.You will be dealing with somebody local.
2. You don't pay shipping.
3. You can see your monitor work before purchase (if the operator has a bench testing unit set up)
4. You will know where to go to get it repaired in the future, if you choose not to repair it yourself.
Who knows, you might get a really good price on a monitor. Most operators now very rarely, if ever, deal with 19" monitors, being as most cabinets an operator would have would be 25 or 27" or larger monitors. You might be able to score a 19" cheap locally. If your operator doesn't have, or doesn't want to sell you a 7000, your next bet would be to ask them for a G07. Admittedly, it is an old monitor, most likely with screen burn. However, you should be able to buy that even cheaper than the 7000, it will mount in your cab. and really it doesn't matter how much screen burn is in that thing for two reasons.
1. Galaga usually has that tinted plastic cover over the monitor under the glass bezel, which makes the monitor darker, and
2. Galaga has really nothing on the screen to display at any time where you would even notice screen burn. Basically, your image is stars and relatively small characters. Now, if you had a monitor with MASSIVE Pac-Man burn, and you wanted to play, say, Dig Dug on that monitor, of course you will see the Pac-Man image burned into the monitor. But, with Galaga, you can get away with most any screen burn, and you won't even notice it is there. There, I've put my two cents' in (again) LOL

[shawnbo42]

One thing I forgot to mention, I don't know if they'd sell to a private person or not, but Betson has their Imperial 19" monitor somewhere in the neighborhood of $175 or so, I think. Supposed to be comparable to a 7000, but I've never used one.

[Sylentwulf]

This place has your cap kit for $10.
Also has some 19" new monitors for pretty cheap, don't know how their selection has changed over the past year, looks like they only have 2 generic monitors now, they used to have a lot more:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Monitors

[MoreEbolaForYou]

I've already ordered the cap kit. I can see what you're saying with not even bothering trying to fix it, but I enjoy messing around with games like this, so it's not really an issue. If the cap kit doesn't work, then I'm going to be purchasing a new monitor. Thanks for all the advice.