$100 centipede CL score in Idaho

itetcboo

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Got a great deal on a centipede here in south east idaho. This is my first arcade machine that was not gutted (is original and complete) and it appears that its in pretty good shape. It was in use at BYU Idaho as I found a ricks college token (BYU-Idaho) in it from 1988. I also found a 1989 quarter and a 1990 penny so I am assuming that it seen most of its service prior to 1991. The inside is super clean which is a real plus and the artwork appears to be in good shape. The trackball was filthy it looked like someone had changed their oil and then played many a game of centipede. Seen it listed on craigslist for a garage sale and I emailed the guy and he said that if I could get there soon it was mine otherwise another guy wanted it. Luckily it all worked out and I got it that night. It is currently at my girlfriends house and I wont get it hauled up to my apartment for a week or two as I need to get a dolly and some people to help me lined up. I took apart the trackball and cleaned it up and lubed the bearing with 3 in 1 oil and it seems to be working quite smoothly although I may throw a rebuilt kit on it. I also plan to get a new control panel overlay to freshen up the look of it. It also needs a new light and or starter behind the marquee however the main problem I am having is the monitor does not look as good as I would like. The color is a bit off and the far left hand part of the sceen does not fill the whole screen. It also has some pretty good burn in. I seen inside of the cab this listing of parts that were replaced at some point I am assuming that they are monitor caps. I do not know if I should recap the monitor and keep my fingers crossed or if I should check into getting a new CRT. Its possible that this was done recently as the guy I got it from said he won it in a raffle and they may have had someone go through it before raffling it off. If you look at what the monitor looks like and what is written on the paper what would you do if you were me?
 

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more pics...

the CRT pics are one with intelligent flash and one wish flash off. The monitor is a G07-CBO if that helps.
 

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What I would do is be happy I got such a nice Centipede and play the hell out of it. I would replace any parts as needed or as I could (cap kit) and enjoy.
 
for a hundred bucks i say nice score for a working centi.

I spent 300 bucks on a centi cabinet that had been converted to an aero fighters. needless to say you are better with your money then I lol
 
Well, obviously you should multigame it ;)


But seriously, that's a crazy good deal for $100. Congratulations!

If it were me, I'd definitely replace the CPO and re-cap the monitor. Installing a new CPO aint no big thang, and the G07 is the easiest monitor there is to work on.

I'd only consider replacing the monitor entirely if the burn-in was REALLY bad (during play).
 
You think recapping the monitor will make that much of a difference?

Especially where it looks like someone has all ready done that. Although when it was done is hard to say. The colors just look a bit off. I am going to try to adjust it out. If I knew recapping it would make that much of a difference I would do it. Anyone have any before and after pics (picture wise) of monitor recaps?
 
Except for on a couple of pain-in-the-ass Wells Gardner 4600s (where a cap kit made no difference in some of the issues I was having), every monitor I've ever recapped has been made significantly better -- often looking good as new.

If your monitor is having some issues, recapping is a damn good start. There's no need to put it off, 'cause probably sooner than later, you're gonna have to do it anyways.

And honestly, if you're too worried about jumping in and getting the job done, then this may not be the best hobby to get into. ;)

But again, G07's are easy. Just consult the many docs and threads to be found on the net about working on monitors, and if you're careful and attentive, all should go well. :)
 
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I dont mind doing the work...

I am just concerned that maybe this was recently recapped and it still had problems due to a failing color gun or some other problem. Its the piece of paper in the cab that has all of the caps listed as being changed out on the monitor that has me wondering if it was done 3 years ago or 20 years ago. I suppose I could get the big kit with the flyback and spend a few hours soldering everything in and keep my fingers crossed that it will look better. I guess I would just be out $40 and a few hours time and effort.
 
I'd go ahead and install a new cap kit and reflow the header pins for the inputs along with those on the CRT socket on the neckboard. Then degauss it and adjust everything for a good picture.

With a game that's been serviced by someone else, you never know if they disabled the X-ray protection or used the correct values, or "what they happen to have on hand at the time". Re-capping it is easy and ups the safety factor and gives you a baseline to go from.

I wouldn't worry about weak guns on the tube until you've got everything else squared away; a little adjusting on the neckboard after a cap kit will probably produce a very nice picture.
 
I just sold one in similar condition for 4x that... nice find! Sure are a lot of Centipedes looking nice here in the Ho. I'll have another one ready to sell this weekend... and it won't be going for $100, that is for sure!
 
Except for on a couple of pain-in-the-ass Wells Gardner 4600s (where a cap kit made no difference in some of the issues I was having), every monitor I've ever recapped has been made significantly better -- often looking good as new.

If your monitor is having some issues, recapping is a damn good start. There's no need to put it off, 'cause probably sooner than later, you're gonna have to do it anyways.

And honestly, if you're too worried about jumping in and getting the job done, then this may not be the best hobby to get into. ;)

But again, G07's are easy. Just consult the many docs and threads to be found on the net about working on monitors, and if you're careful and attentive, all should go well. :)

I just recapped a 4600 and it didn't work right after the cap kit. The Horizontal Osc. needed to be adjusted. I only even saw the damn thing because I took the whole chassis apart during the cap kit. Anyway, it was better after the cap kit (less noise and fluctuation, but image was skewed across the screen multiple times), but looks really good after adjusting that damn thing. :D
 
Nice score! Centipede burn doesn't affect gameplay and usually isn't even noticeable once the game is turned on. I just happily paid $400 for mine which is in similar condition.

Wade
 
going to reseat some connections...

And see if I can adjust it out a bit. If that doesnt do it I will do a full blown recap with width coil and HOT and keep my fingers crossed. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the input.
 
good news...

I pulled the PCB and used a glass fiber contact cleaning pen to clean off all of the contacts. Then I reseated the edge connections several times and now the colors are what they should be. I also bought me a set of TV adjusting tools at the shack and have adjusted out the picture so that it fills the whole screen. I also bought a new starter for the marquee light and now thats up and going and lit. This thing is really turning out pretty darn nice so far. I do still get a slight curl at the top and bottom of the CRT. I am going to try to adjust that out using the width coil when i get a chance. Will post pics later at a later time.
 
Nice score. I picked up my Centipede, alittle nicer then that one, for $50.00.

Where do you guys find these.

WANTED:
Centipede in the same or better condition than jethrokiller....$5.00 :)

Really though, I would love to find a Centipede for $100 or less! Nice find!
 
takes ALOT of searching...

I basically check craigslist at least every other day. I should probably check every day cause if I did I wouldn't have just missed a Q*bert upright in good condition (didn't see it but he said it was) for just $300. This one was listed under garage sales and it was for the coming weekend. All it said was arcade machine so I took a shot and sent him a email thinking that it might not be a actual arcade machine and maybe something from the JC penny catalog. Luckily it turned out ok but just barely as some other guy nearly beat me to it the only way I got it was saying that I would buy it and that i had cash in hand and that I would remove it from his house immediately. Good deals are out there but they take some doing to find. I only had to drive 80 miles each direction for this one though and after cleaning it up an cleaning some contacts and the trackball and adjusting the monitor it is turning out REALLY nice so far. :) Where in Utah do you live? Around SLC there are always things coming up but i bet in a larger city you have just that much more competition. Keep checking though and after time good deals will come your way. :)
 
We found some good deals, but they seem to come in spurts. Then it's a matter of beating the other collectors in the area to the punch, now that is the real task. None of them nearly as good as that Centipede though.
 
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