Got a Star Wars for $60 at Garage Sale. Can you help me bring it to life?

Jakobud

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Got a Star Wars for $60 at Garage Sale. Can you help me bring it to life?

My cousin scored a Star Wars cabinet today at a garage sale for $60. The lady selling it didn't know much about it. She said that she thought a bunch of stuff was missing from it, like the PCBs for example, but I could clearly see that they were there (but I didn't say anything...). I'm not sure if there is anything else missing from it. Take a look at the following pictures of it:

http://imgur.com/a/sPAQ1#0

Can anyone tell me if everything is there? Does it appear to be complete? There were several cable connections that were disconnected. It wasn't difficult to figure out where they go.

There was this one cable that appeared to be some sort of coiled cord that wrapped around the monitor and the end of the cable had a molex connector that I could not see where it went. There didn't appear to be anyplace that it fit. Here is that cable:

http://imgur.com/jk57w,8pmoB,UpKSh,xDeua,8FfHb,JsQyF,SAF0W,Ppubm,pkS5Q,7Vdle,uuu9n,yLSoz#2

You can see that it wraps up around the monitor. I dunno if this is some sort of cable for degaussing the monitor or what...

Everything is pretty dirty and dusty and it needs a cleaning.

The monitor suction cup thing (I can't remember the name of it, but I know its dangerous to mess with) was disconnected. Also the white round connector that connected directly to the back of the monitor was disconnected. We went ahead and connected both of these. Regarding the suction cup thing, we just snapped it into place... I have a feeling that something else needs to be done to that thing to get it installed right? I dunno...

We went ahead and fired it up just to see if it would work at all. We got the familiar buzz and hum. There was a recurring, cycling hum that seemed to get louder and faster over the period of 60 seconds or so... not sure if that was the fan below the PCB speeding up or what. I know it's probably super dusty. We did not get any image on the screen. No flicker or anything. I could hear some static when adjusting the volume but no music or sound effects. Messed around with the dip switch (and some other switch) in the coin door but it didn't do anything.

So my questions:

1. Was $60 a good deal (even if it takes a small amount of investment to get it running good)?
2. According to the pictures, does the cabinet appear complete? If not, what is missing and do you have any links to part numbers that we need to get?
3. Judging from my description of turning on the game, can anyone point us in any direction on what could be wrong with it?
4. Does anyone have links to PDFs for the original game manual w/ schematics and other information?

Thanks, everyone!
 
that connector that you don't know where it goes looks like the AC power connection to the monitor chassis or possibly a fan.

I just read further and realized you said the anode cap and the connection to the neck of the tube is there so I imagine you have the monitor chassis. Since I don't see the monitor chassis in the pic then I imagine the monitor in there is an ampliphone and not a wg6100. Yeah you made a hell of a deal at $60 even if it is non working.

Things I would immediately look and listen for would be neck glow on the tube and chatter from the monitor chassis. Vectors are different in that not seeing an image on the screen may either be a monitor or a board issue or some combination of the two. Generally on a non vector game if the monitor works you will get some image from even a bad board. this is not necessarily true on a vector.
 
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I'm not familiar with it either, but for that loose molex, look where the Anode cup (suction cup for monitor) goes back to that's the monitor chassis. As it seems it's placed on the side of the cab. It might fit on that somewhere.

Did you see any type of neck glow in the tube when powered on? The white round connector, is called the Neck Board. Make sure that's on securely, but don't force it!

Once you plugged it in and turned it on, did you try coining the machine up? I know a few machines don't make a sound until it coins up.

The initial investment of $60 is well worth it in my opinion. As I'm sure most of the problems can be fixed. If not, you can easily sell the parts and make more then your investment back.
 
staar

its complete game, likey just needs monitor service
 
Yes, it has an amp monitor. There are guys on here who would give their left nut for one of those. Great pickup. Bummer about the cabinet damage.
 
Yes, it has an amp monitor. There are guys on here who would give their left nut for one of those. Great pickup. Bummer about the cabinet damage.

You forgot to mention that he overpaid jehuie. Taking it easy on the newbies eh?
 
Yeah we aren't too concerned about the body damage. A couple spots could use some bondo. The bad spot in the picture could be fixed with some reinforcement on the inside, some putty/bondo and some sanding and painting (or new vinyl) but it would require new sideart on that side, which isn't too big of a deal but would be a bummer cause the sideart is in excellent condition except for that one spot.

Good to know about the monitor. We will investigate it some more and get back with the results. I believe I did see some orange glow on the tube at the back of the monitor but I'd have to double check. We didn't try to coin it up, will try that.

Thanks everyone
 
The investment to get it going could possibly be very big, not small.

However if you don't want to do it yourself you could likely get someone to easily deliver you a very nice fully working game in trade for it since people like Star Wars that much.

Star wars can be a bit of a nightmare since as often as not both the boards and the monitor will both simultaneously be broken in one or more ways. Best to try to hook up with someone local with a working setup to test your boards and monitor.
 
That plug looks like the degausing plug and it goes on the deflection board( big square board with the heat sink) but it looks like your plug on the deflection board is missing. Look at the board on the right side that has a couple of plugs going to it now. Look in the top left corner where the little black thing ( it's called a posister) is. Look just to the right of it and see if you have two empty holes marked J104. That is where the plug should be.
You have the old red HV transformer too.

That monitor needs some love for sure. Too bad you are so far away or I could get that game working for you.
 
It worth about $350-$450 without messing with it. If it plays blind, then +$75.

Spending about $250 will probably get it working and make the game worth about $650-$750. So if you decide you want to invest and fix it, you might not lose money doing it. If you don't care for the game, you should sell it to someone who does.
 
Awesome score! If you decide to get the monitor boards serviced, I can't recommend ArcRevival (who posted earlier) enough. Knock on wood my SW has been running rock solid since he bullet-proofed mine. You can look him up in the positive feedback section too.
 
Nice pick-up! I vote you put in a LCD monitor and 60-1 board then flip it for a quick $700!

;-)


No, no - he needs to take it back to the garage sale and ask the lady if she can store it while he tries to sell it for $500 :D

Nice score, though. Sixty bucks for a SW with an Amp is a great deal.
 
No, no - he needs to take it back to the garage sale and ask the lady if she can store it while he tries to sell it for $500 :D

I knew that was coming:D, You have a nice macnine there for $60, another amp found and saved hopefully...good stuff
 
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