Fixing an Arcade Machine – Part 2

If you haven't alread read part one, check it out here.

With arcade monitors, the first thing to do is to replace all of the larger capacitors on the monitor board. Many companies sell kits which provide all of the necessary parts and directions. The second thing to look at is the flyback transformer. Make sure there is no arcing. If there is, then replace the flyback. If these two things don't fix the problem, then you need to start measuring the active parts - but that more complicated.

Luckily, there are some companies that can provide you with a replacement board for under $100. If the tube is blown, you can find a broken television with the right-size cathode ray tube (CRT) and get a board that will work with it for the same price. Once CRT TVs start disappearing, this may become more of a problem.

The third thing I've learned from fixing things is that a bad power supply can ruin your entire day. The power supplies for arcade machines provide 12 and 5 volts (V), both negative and positive. These switching supplies are fixable, but repairs aren't worth the effort. An old computer power supply is cheap and has all of the voltages you need. If you want to stick with the original parts, you can order a replacement supply.

The last and possibly hardest thing to fix is the processor board. One of the most common problems with these boards is not the electronics, but the connectors on them. As the boards age, the connectors become coated with an oxide layer, causing the resistance to increase. When this happens, the connectors get hot and can even melt. Often, cleaning the contacts and making sure they are in working order can restore the game. If you can't fix the problem with this approach, then things get a lot more complicated.

More often than not, performing these troubleshooting techniques will get a game working. If the problem is more complicated, then its time to decide whether the arcade machine is worth repairing. One popular approach with arcade machine cabinets is to build a RAGE (Real Arcade Game Emulator) or MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator). RAGE and MAME allow you to emulate the original game, along with many more.

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