Bought my first machine (mkII) help me modify it

jcar302

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Donor 2011, 2024
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Well, bought my first game today, Original (or at least i think so, but i'm no expert) mortal kombat II.
Came with the keys, book and seems to be in above average condition, again but what the hell do i know.
I'll post some pics when i take some.
Needs a couple short pieces or red t molding and a little black paint for some touch up.

Paid $300, not sure if that's good or bad, but works 100%
Much bigger than i pictured in my head.

As my typical self i modify everything, so...

I'd like to make it into a MKIII ultimate.

So through searches i need a mkIIIU pcb, 2 new buttons and a kick harness? Is it really that simple?
Also looks like it could use a new control panel art (or maybe i can take the plexi off and clean underneath?, can i do ultimate art on that?

Thanks for any insight,
Joe
 
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If you could do me a favor.... i'm about to grab a dedicated MKII cabinet and I can't find out of the CP comes completely off. and if it does, what the depth would be. not sure if I can fit it in the house lol and yes, pics! grats on the score
 
pics or it didn't happen

I forget you arcade guys are like car guys, and need pics, unfortunately the machine is not where i'm posting from at the moment.

Can we assume just for a day that it does exist and looks like every other original mkII?
 
the CP is on there pretty good, the top hinged part comes off easily, but the wooden base is pretty attached. it might add 2 inches to the width of the cab.
 
I forget you arcade guys are like car guys, and need pics, unfortunately the machine is not where i'm posting from at the moment.

Can we assume just for a day that it does exist and looks like every other original mkII?


nope, I refuse to believe it :D
 
Nice score, IMO MkII is the best out of the series! I have MKII in a beat up ass conversion cab that I kind of use for my learning tool. Eventually some day I'll pop it in a proper cabinet.
 
If you could do me a favor.... i'm about to grab a dedicated MKII cabinet and I can't find out of the CP comes completely off. and if it does, what the depth would be. not sure if I can fit it in the house lol and yes, pics! grats on the score

Whats CP short for, lol?
I know this, my new machine was on the bottom level of a Bi-level house.
Owner took the inside garage door off and 2 of us easily rolled it out.
Dimensions he sent me before i went were 73 high, 28 wide and 39 deep.
Fit in my work van on it's back (screen up) and i have about 32 between the shelves, left at least an inch on each side.
Honestly, it was easier to move than i expected, especially since the manual says it's like 406lbs.

As for the cp, i'll check but i won't be back to where i put the machine for at least a day or two.

If the cp is control panel, owner said it comes up pretty easy because he replaced one joystick.
 
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haha yeah sorry, CP is Control Panel. hmm...39 deep, manual says 41. i'm just worried about the landing at the bottom of the stairs...not sure if I can rotate it 90 degrees into the room it needs to go into. we shall see...
 
control panel comes off, it's 3-4 bolts and disconnect the harness and cab ground.

Mostlikely the Plexi on the OP's is dirty and soda could have gotten under it. you can replace it fairly easy and clean the existing CP with windex and a paper towel.

yes putting UMK3 in that machine is just that easy, honestly i would save your original CP and leave it the way it is. while if your good with wood and tools you can clone it and add the extra buttons, then put a $30-$40 overlay on it, get a zbracket and hinge from a member here, some sticks and buttons ect.....

Or maybe you know someone local that has a already coverted cp that has all the hardware and maybe just needs a new overlay.

I use molex connectors on my non original kick harnesses and cp harness (if yours is dedicated you could get a harness from someone here making wiring easier)

you can do whatever you like, as long as your happy with it.

If the cab and side art are in good condition, it's dedicated, and the monitor is clear and working $300 is a good deal.
 
control panel comes off, it's 3-4 bolts and disconnect the harness and cab ground.

Mostlikely the Plexi on the OP's is dirty and soda could have gotten under it. you can replace it fairly easy and clean the existing CP with windex and a paper towel.

yes putting UMK3 in that machine is just that easy, honestly i would save your original CP and leave it the way it is. while if your good with wood and tools you can clone it and add the extra buttons, then put a $30-$40 overlay on it, get a zbracket and hinge from a member here, some sticks and buttons ect.....

Or maybe you know someone local that has a already coverted cp that has all the hardware and maybe just needs a new overlay.

I use molex connectors on my non original kick harnesses and cp harness (if yours is dedicated you could get a harness from someone here making wiring easier)

you can do whatever you like, as long as your happy with it.

If the cab and side art are in good condition, it's dedicated, and the monitor is clear and working $300 is a good deal.

Thanks, the artwork seems to be in really good condition, on the right of the control panel (side) there is some wood chipping and for some reason there is about a foots worth of black t molding, when the rest is red.

Is modding an mkII control panel on the don't do list?
I have a ban saw with a wood blade i got for free that i've never used, i guess i could attempt to build a cp, but i wasn't really planning on it, i though i'd just drill holes for the new buttons.

I'm guessing i'll learn what a zbracket and hinge looks like when i start working on it?
 
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Thanks, the artwork seems to be in really good condition, on the right of the control panel (side) there is some wood chipping and for some reason there is about a foots worth of black t molding, when the rest is red.

Is modding an mkII control panel on the don't do list?
I have a ban saw with a wood blade i got for free that i've never used, i guess i could attempt to build a cp, but i wasn't really planning on it, i though i'd just drill holes for the new buttons.

I'm guessing i'll learn what a zbracket and hinge looks like when i start working on it?

the reason i say don't mod the existing one is if it's in ok shape there's no good in drilling thru the metal plate that covers the wood panel. perfect metal overlays are hard to find.

you'd need a router and hole saw ect if you wanted to make your own, I had a friend cut me one for $20.

the hinge holds the top panel (one that has the buttons/sticks) to the control panel box. and the zbracket sits between the top of the control panel and the monitor (just fills the gap).
 
the reason i say don't mod the existing one is if it's in ok shape there's no good in drilling thru the metal plate that covers the wood panel. perfect metal overlays are hard to find.

you'd need a router and hole saw ect if you wanted to make your own, I had a friend cut me one for $20.

the hinge holds the top panel (one that has the buttons/sticks) to the control panel box. and the zbracket sits between the top of the control panel and the monitor (just fills the gap).

So if i put up a "wanted" post, i'll be asking for a zbracket and hinge for a MK cab, then the harness i'm looking for is an original mk3 or mk4 kick harness, does is come on anything else?

Where do i get the buttons, joystick and overlay?
 
So if i put up a "wanted" post, i'll be asking for a zbracket and hinge for a MK cab, then the harness i'm looking for is an original mk3 or mk4 kick harness, does is come on anything else?

Where do i get the buttons, joystick and overlay?

correct mk3/umk3/mk4 harness, zbracket you can get from any mk and the hinge you can get from mk2/3/4 (prolly some others)....

happ competition joysticks from just about anywhere, same with buttons. and the overlay you can get from http://www.gameongrafix.com/
 
Yeah keep the metal CP plate undrilled. Someone will pay you for it or you can turn the game back original. You can just replace the part of the CP that the buttons and joysticks are on. Just cut a rectangle piece of wood and get a new piece of plexi to match it then drill away. You can just add the single wires for run right into the existing harnesses under the CP. My MK2 CP was converted to UMK3 when i got it and I just recently completely restored it back to MK2. Better game in my book.
 
Yeah keep the metal CP plate undrilled. Someone will pay you for it or you can turn the game back original. You can just replace the part of the CP that the buttons and joysticks are on. Just cut a rectangle piece of wood and get a new piece of plexi to match it then drill away. You can just add the single wires for run right into the existing harnesses under the CP. My MK2 CP was converted to UMK3 when i got it and I just recently completely restored it back to MK2. Better game in my book.

Basically what you are saying is remove the existing top plate completely wood and metal and store it for the future.
Then i can re-use the z bracket hinge and buttons?

Question, can't seem to find any details on it, is the mkIII and the UmkIII control panel art the same, because they were just conversions?

What color is the extra button supposed to be, as i look through pics, seems some are yellow, some green and some red.
 
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How about NO...

Leave it alone, find a UMK3 or MK3, and sell this one. Why wreck a good machine that is original.

If it is in good shape leave it as it is, of you want something to modify go buy a cheap ass dynamo cabinet, buy a UMK3 PCB and have a field day.
 
How about NO...

Leave it alone, find a UMK3 or MK3, and sell this one. Why wreck a good machine that is original.

If it is in good shape leave it as it is, of you want something to modify go buy a cheap ass dynamo cabinet, buy a UMK3 PCB and have a field day.

So, by changing the game board, making a new control panel i'm ruining this machine in your opinion?
I've already decided to take the other guys advice and not drill out the control panel, that's not good enough for you?


I'm not doing anything un reversible and i'm not throwing out the parts. Doesn't seem like that much of an abomination to me.

I've yet to see any Mk3's period by me. After some searches it almost seems like a dedicated 3 is made of unobtainium.
In fact i've barely seen any games that i'd consider cheap.
 
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It's no use discusing it jcar302, what I've discovered in the other thread is that anything not completely original is shunned in the eyes of the collectors on these forums.*

I though, agree with you that as long as the thing looks nice and plays well that's all I care about... but keep these two things in mind:

a) If you try to sell it later the collectors WILL shun a modified machine, so it will drastically hurt your resale value.

b) Be careful if you get an MK3 Ultimate... I have heard that certain versions of the board have bugs such as the "choose your destiny" screen being mesed up or Scorpions "get over here" sound being clipped off.



*P.S. Again not saying that the collector mentality is wrong, but it does differ from my gamer mentality.
 
It's no use discusing it jcar302, what I've discovered in the other thread is that anything not completely original is shunned in the eyes of the collectors on these forums.*

I though, agree with you that as long as the thing looks nice and plays well that's all I care about... but keep these two things in mind:

a) If you try to sell it later the collectors WILL shun a modified machine, so it will drastically hurt your resale value.

b) Be careful if you get an MK3 Ultimate... I have heard that certain versions of the board have bugs such as the "choose your destiny" screen being mesed up or Scorpions "get over here" sound being clipped off.



*P.S. Again not saying that the collector mentality is wrong, but it does differ from my gamer mentality.

What i don't get is that his sig says he has 5 games in his mortal kombat cab, so i'm ruining a game by changing the computer and making a new control panel (keeping the originals for possible return to original) but he's ok adding 4 extra games and whatever it takes to run them?
Seems kinda hypocritical to me.
To have collector value wouldn't we both need to remove parts to make it original again?

I'm not in this to make money or be a collector, i'm in it to enjoy working on the games and maybe have some fun when friends come over.
 
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