A funny thing happened on the way to the Dollar store...

What is everyone talking about? This thing is in great condition! Except for missing the top... and the bottom falling off... and the back door looking like it went through a meat grinder... and 40 pounds of dust... a bit of moisture damage... the t-molding crumbling off... several hundred dings, scratches and cracks... loose coin mechs... torn shroud... severe discoloration...

You know what... nevermind... take Ol' Yeller out back and put it out of it's misery. :D



Just kidding, I'm sure you'll get it like new eventually... It's the sentimental value that matters anyway. :)
 
LOL! Nah, I'm not looking to make it look new..... it's always going to have some discolouration due to the fire.... but at least it's almost clean now.

It's funny, though... the connection between the harness and PCB seems pretty solid. I'm still going to do the wiring hack, just to be sure.

Anyone got any advice on what to use to replace the old battery? I'm going to use the same "hack" on this, that I've used on my Amiga computers before. Off the board, and in a medicine bottle.
 
I love these back from the dead Arcade machine posts. And I also, still have that dream of stumbling upon an old building with machines in it, waiting to be salvaged.
 
Reading back on this, getting just one does seem a bit anti-climactic.... but that's balanced out by the fact that it actually IS one that I played on back in the day, and the sole survivor of what really was a traumatic event in my life.

I'm not the best "restoration" guy on the planet(more like a pimple faced teenage beginner), but I am going to have a go at this one with a pretty high level of passion. When I put my mind to something, there isn't much I can't accomplish. My first goal is to get it clean, I'm about 75% done there. Then get it working. Final step is restoring the cabinet to being "in one piece".

It's not getting painted, or new side-art, or new CPO.... what's there tells the story of what it's been through. The fact that I was there when it happened(well, except for the spilled red paint, that is) just adds to the nostalgia of it.

I'm honestly surprised it's not in worse condition than it is, and it looks worse in the pictures than the reality. Even the "back door page" is mostly intact, if discoloured and slightly torn.

I do have a feeling I'm going to have to replace the shroud around the monitor... or at least, the top part of it. I can't get it to not sag too low and block part of the monitor.
 
LOL! Nah, I'm not looking to make it look new..... it's always going to have some discolouration due to the fire.... but at least it's almost clean now.

It's funny, though... the connection between the harness and PCB seems pretty solid. I'm still going to do the wiring hack, just to be sure.

Anyone got any advice on what to use to replace the old battery? I'm going to use the same "hack" on this, that I've used on my Amiga computers before. Off the board, and in a medicine bottle.

No need for the remote medicine bottle battery. Just get a Dallas NVRAM.
 
Get her a Ms.Pacman to make her happy!!!
All down to the wife's rules. :) Can't picture too many wives that would put up with us. LoL

My wife always rolls her eyes of course, has recently limited my use of her vehicle to transport machines (I put a small scratch/dent in the fender), but she's itching to get a Ms. Pacman, Ladybug, and authorized/pushed me to purchase the Tron that is the most recent machine I've obtained.

Tim
 
Put a dallas ram chip in it or a memory cap should work as well...

Anyone got any advice on what to use to replace the old battery? I'm going to use the same "hack" on this, that I've used on my Amiga computers before. Off the board, and in a medicine bottle.
 
Glue a stick or really stiff cardboard to the shroud to keep it from sagging...On the back side so you don't see it...
Reading back on this, getting just one does seem a bit anti-climactic.... but that's balanced out by the fact that it actually IS one that I played on back in the day, and the sole survivor of what really was a traumatic event in my life.

I'm not the best "restoration" guy on the planet(more like a pimple faced teenage beginner), but I am going to have a go at this one with a pretty high level of passion. When I put my mind to something, there isn't much I can't accomplish. My first goal is to get it clean, I'm about 75% done there. Then get it working. Final step is restoring the cabinet to being "in one piece".

It's not getting painted, or new side-art, or new CPO.... what's there tells the story of what it's been through. The fact that I was there when it happened(well, except for the spilled red paint, that is) just adds to the nostalgia of it.

I'm honestly surprised it's not in worse condition than it is, and it looks worse in the pictures than the reality. Even the "back door page" is mostly intact, if discoloured and slightly torn.

I do have a feeling I'm going to have to replace the shroud around the monitor... or at least, the top part of it. I can't get it to not sag too low and block part of the monitor.
 
Okay, I'll give the "stick" idea a try.... worse that can happen is I have to replace that top part. The rest of the shroud is a little rough, but still usable.

My main "chore" around the house today is laundry.... so that will leave me spare time to work on this thing. As soon as my meds kick in, I'm getting to work.

Question on the NVRAM, where do you get it, and where does it go on the motherboard? Is it cheaper in the short term to do that, or a battery hack like I mentioned? Funds are pretty low at the moment(story of my life)...... but I can probably make something work here. I still need to get some 18 gauge wire for the PCB power hack.

I'm going to check the settings for the game, but they should still be set for "factory".
 
iankellogg.com has the Dallas Ram chip for 6 bones.

Cool! I'll have a look at his site about that. Thanks!

You can do it, Iggy!

I've found out that the bottom isn't in as bad of a shape as it looks. The slanted part with the wheels Is only off on one side. The lower back panel that the back door sits on is sitting loose, and the back door itself is in bad shape, buuuuuuuuut, I think some wood hardener would do wonders.

Aside from those issues, the main bottom is fine. So, yeah, I got this. I already have a parts list to make it functional, it's just going to take some work.
 
This would make a great documentary. Fire, pills, sex, Atari... an epic* tale of triumph from the worst place in the America... an admirable portrait of integrity, a lessor man may have traded pills for a new cabinet.... BE SAFE and good luck with the project. I love it!!! P.S. don't get shot!















*doucheproofuse
 
How is this thing going? Before you started did you say "We can rebuild him. We have the technology."?
 
I just saw that this thread had been bumped...

It's funny you ask, though. It got LOTS of play today! One of my oldest(most long time friends) came by today with his wife and kids. They had never seen arcade games like this before, especially in someone's home. It was great!

I recapped the monitor, and made a few adjustments, and while it still needs a little bit of work, it's playing great!
 
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