Daytona USA owners....a few questions

JASaxman

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So I'm looking to buy a Twin Daytona USA setup for the game room. For those of you that own one, I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind.

- Once you take off the Top marquee, the cabs do separate, correct?
- Once separated, how heavy is each cab?
- How hard is it for two men to carry up a set of stairs?
- As far as reliability goes, what's the most common thing that seems to die on you?
- What do you think is a fair price to pay for a twin setup?

I've usually stayed away from racers due to the size and price of replacement parts, but have decided that I just have to have one. If there's anything else you think I should know, feel free to say. Thanks.
 
1. - yes they seperate
2. - a TON. approaching 600 pounds per side. Heaviest game ever.
3. - nearly impossible. If it's the metal kind with the 1 piece metal base, forget about it. Impossible.
4. - Daytonas had U5000 monitors in them. Worst monitor design Wells ever released.


Won't comment on price. The game is probably one of the greatest of all time.
 
600 a side.....ouch!

I thought I read somewhere they were 350 a side. Although that might have been for the newer Sega GT, Daytona 2 looking cabs. Hummmm... I may have to rethink my purchase.

In that case, anyone have any experience with the Model 3 cabs (Sega Super GT, Daytona 2)? Same questions.
 
All I know is I can't pick the back of one of them up, or the Daytona 2's up. I can easily pick up the back of a Golden Tee which is the heaviest cab besides that one that I've ever moved. I had to pick some Daytona 2's in the metal cab up onto my liftgate (3 inches) once, and COULDNT. I'm 6'1 200 pounds.

The wood ones seem to be lighter, plus you can take the seat off.
 
I'm looking at the Daytona 2 flyer, it says the twin weighs 1150 pounds. I can just say from personal experience there is no way 2 men could carry one side up a flight of steps.
 
Yeah, I was just looking at those. I found a thread from 2010 about someone needing to do the same thing with the Daytona Twin. They managed to get it taken almost completely apart to move it. I'm probably going to have to go this route, although now I'm worried about the floor strength of my game room. (20x12 outbuilding using 2x8 with 23/32 ply)

Looks like it's time for me to do some reinforcing. Sometimes I hate this addiction. :0(
 
Not only do they separate,
but you can also split the seat section from the monitor/CP section.
(...although this makes the monitor section very un-stable )

I'm "guessing" that the seat section weighs about 200lbs,
and the monitor/CP section weighs about 400lbs.

Still a very heavy S-O-B,
but a bit easier to maneuver in stairs this way.

Good luck.

Steph
 
Daytona is one of the heaviest machines that I've ever owned...600 lbs seems about right. I've had one for quite some time & it never gets old. Great playing game & is always occupied at parties. I have the single version...I'd get the twin (they're for sale EVERYWHERE it seems) but, man I can't move these things anymore! I recently passed on a great deal on a twin..something like 300.00 and working, too. It was about a 2 hour drive from home which is well within my limit. I just don't want to move them anymore! I'm wondering if this is why you can pick them up fairly cheap~
Jay
 
Is ole Randy at K&K gonna hook you up on his set??????????? lol

Btw i have personally seen the whole section that holds the monitor break off the base on those cabs atleast 3 times that I can remember... used to be a thing of beauty watching namco managers get them hung up going in and out of mall back doors with those beasts......check the back of them right below the door that gives access to the monitors for cracks..
 
I forgot all about the one he had. The last time i saw it though he had it in a million pieces looking less than enthused about getting it working.

Thanks for the heads up on looking for the cracks though. That would be just my luck.


Is ole Randy at K&K gonna hook you up on his set??????????? lol

Btw i have personally seen the whole section that holds the monitor break off the base on those cabs atleast 3 times that I can remember... used to be a thing of beauty watching namco managers get them hung up going in and out of mall back doors with those beasts......check the back of them right below the door that gives access to the monitors for cracks..
 
While it's already been echoed here.... I have the classic Twin and while you can separate it down to each seat and each monitor/steering section... it's *still* horrible to move.

If you are trying to get it up stairs my reaction would be to be very, very careful.
 
I'll have a slightly different opinion than most here, seemingly.. but although it's a heavy game, it is quite easy to take apart; you can break it enough to easily carry up tight stairs.

Split the cabs in half at the coin box, remove the CPs, monitors (this is the annoying part since you gotta pull out the speaker grills & sometimes the bezel glass frame), then pull the wood cab off the metal base. remove the seats if you can't hand truck them down that way.. Everything is easily carried by 2 people.

I've done it a couple times and it takes me about 30 mins to break down a twin as I'm familiar with them. YMMV. When you mate the wood with the metal base again, use a 2x4 or 4x4 under the front of the wood cab to hold it up for the bolt alignment. you'll understand why when you get there.. or you can also do this if you wanna remove the cabs while leaving the monitors installed (awkward).

as for reliability.. Most of the USA twins & URs use Nanao MS8 monitors, which are fantastic & reliable. Some USA twins have WG U5000s which have a lot of issues. Japanese twins (plastic & metal cabs - orange seatbacks) only have Nanao. I've owned around a dozen twins, worked on countless more, and I've only seen one that had the WGs, thankfully. If you're unfamiliar with the monitors, they are easily distinguished as the MS8 mounts the chassis remotely, below the tube and outside of the frame.

SE & LE sit-down singles have WGs.

The main concern is that the main boards work, since they cost $300-$450+ to replace. If they operate but have graphics glitches, it's likely just a solder reflow issue. Drive and amp/sound boards commonly fail from drink spills, so this is likely less of an issue once you own it. irepairsega.com is your savior.

If you need to move a twin, rent a u-haul ramp trailer for $24. piece of cake.
 
My two cents

I am Ken at Advanced Repair Center formerly Tech Service Dept Sup at Sega USA before Sammy takeover. I've repaired over 4000 Daytona Game Bds so far to date so I've seen everything on these. They are definitely worth getting as its one of the best drivers ever made. I still get a couple of these in a week for repair. Most common issues are corrosion from liquid damage, RAM failure on Video Bd, opens on large QFPs at IC27 & 34 of Video Bd. Other than that pretty much anything goes. Average cost of repair per pcb issue is around $112.50. Truly depends on issues they have. I have an extensive database of everything I've touched so if you want to verify if pcbs have been in before I can look them up for you and give you any history they have. Also regarding the Twins coming apart, its been many years since I saw a twin cab of had to assemble or disassemble but I could swear the Cash Box is attached with bolts between halves. I have had a lot of customers move these up and down stairs with no issues but be warned, don't drop them. Wood sides of cabs tend to shatter with monitor section falling into seat. Not pretty. Having 3 strong or better yet 4 guys (2 on each end) to move them should be adequate.
 
I'd mention that we had some on location and they ran like champs. Make sure the fans are all working properly to negate heat issue, good to go.
 
I took mine to a show last summer. It did take 3 guys to push it up a ramp into a truck, but I can comfortably move it around one the ground by myself (built in casters). I can also lift the billboard onto the top of the cabs by myself so it's not ultra heavy or anything just cumbersome.

Problems i've had during my ownership-
-clutch pulley breaking resulting in belt falling off and loss of force feedback, fixed with NOS clutch pulley.
-transformer that went bad, resulted in RAM errors, graphics glitching out and disappearing, also the fans on the bottom went out. cleared out ram and replaced transformer, fixed everything.
-loose connections to filter board that caused random RAM errors and graphic glitches- keep those connections tight!
-steering not calibrated so it would shake and pull while driving straight. fine tune VR on steering to fix.
-dirty fiber optic cables causing link problems
-brakes didnt work for one player, had to replace brake pedal VR
-sound amp blew a voltage regulator (with bad transformer)

Its a fantastic game, gets tons of play at events, just a bit of a beast to upkeep, always something going wrong on it. I fired up last week and I had a set of speakers out, gotta figure out what broke still.
 
Old post, but am considering picking up 2 Daytona USA cabs tomorrow. One in working condition with a video from the owner to prove it, the other they can't get to work. She tells me her husband thinks the wires in the picture need some solder. I'm not sure about because I don't want a huge project on my hands. I really don't quite have the room for the cabs as it is and really don't have room for a big ol cabinet to be worked on. They were nice enough to send me some pics and I'm hopeful to get some advice on this one, to pick-up or keep looking for another option. Would love to add a duel racer to our gameroom and I understand I could even add two more later on...we are a family of 4 so that could be very fun. I'm not set on Daytona USA although I think it's pretty cool and this is price reasonable IMO. Thanks for any help in deciding!
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I can't tell you about the game itself, but I have 2 Rush 2049 cabs linked. Totally worth it. I had 3, but no space for the 3rd. If I could have 4 I would, especiallyfor a family of 4. It's played the most. It's also the one that needs to most attention for repairs because when something goes it gets noticed right away.
 
1. - yes they seperate
2. - a TON. approaching 600 pounds per side. Heaviest game ever.
3. - nearly impossible. If it's the metal kind with the 1 piece metal base, forget about it. Impossible.
4. - Daytonas had U5000 monitors in them. Worst monitor design Wells ever released.


Won't comment on price. The game is probably one of the greatest of all time.
they were either Nanao MSwhatevers (MS8? MS9?) or K8000s. the U5000 didn't exist yet. to your point however you're still right, the K8000 was in fact the worst ever.
 
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