Arcade machine questions (technical)

[jezzace]

My dads moving house soon and he's going through all our junk and figuring out what to chuck away. Well, he's pretty much decided that he's going to chuck away my 1984 Gauntlet arcade cabinet, with original atari joysticks and original side stickers!! I'm pleading with him not to but his reasons are that he says I never play it anymore (which I don't, but thats not why I'm keeping it, I'm keeping it because its historical!) and that its in really bad condition (which it is). So if I can fix it I might be able to keep it.

To cut a long story short (too late) I need to fix some major screen burn. Whats the best way to do this? Its in the state where it needs to warm up and even then you can only play it in the dark. Would it be easier to get a whole new monitor for it or is it fixable. If I need a new monitor where would I get one and is it wise me installing it or should I get an expert in?

Thanks for any help and don't forget to join the save gauntlet appeal.

[Pij]

If its physically burned into the screen i dont think theres alot you can do but replace the screen, i dont know what size screen it uses but it should be easy enough to replace (ive never worked on a gauntlet cab) but its normally a case of replacing the monitor and a couple of wires.

Try asking on UKVAC, someone there will be able to help.

[pcb_revival]

Wizard now has extra shot speed.

Like Ion says, if the image is burned into the monitor glass ( an image still visable when monitor not powered ) then the best course of action is a new/second hand monitor.

Otherwise you can install a cap kit. Which is a collection of all the capacitors specific to your monitor make and model. The cap kit will restore colour, brightness and image stability plus its cheap at just a few quid.

Check out

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php

The monitor forum has helpful members that can answer any further questions you may have.

Just be careful when inspecting your monitor as there are HIGH voltages stored there, even if the machine has not been powered for months.

[MD]

Gauntlet has a common problem of screen burn, especially on the right hand side of the monitor. If you can get a sheet of coloured filter and stick this to the glass it will hide the screen burn better.

The monitor if I remember is a 19" Well Gardner 4900 series, 19" monitors aren't the easiest things to find.

It is quite easy to replace the Caps, however the caps do hold high voltages for a period of time and it's very easy to get a shock off them and you have to make sure you discharge the tube as well and make sure the machine is completely unplugged. If your unsure then get someone else to do it.

Before you do this you might want to turn the Screen brightness and brightness controls up a bit. If i remmber correct the two pots on the right as you look at the board are Brightness and Contrast and Screen Brightness is the one at the bottom attached to a large plastic block... ^_^;

If unsure don't touch.