Is this fixable ?

Infa Red

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Hi, I was wondering by just looking at some pics if it is possible to detect if a monitor is fixable or not. Or course I wouldn't hold anyone to their word, lol but just in general I know some things/problems are easy signs of usually one thing tell tale sign, etc.. and others are more round about, as in could be a million and one things. My main concern here is, would the monitor need to be replaced ? Or is this fixable and if fixable is it hard to fix ?

Now I want to say this, the seller claims he had a tech look at it, and the tech diagnosed it as a "Bad Yoke". And I want to believe that as he seems like a honest guy. The issue is, what if the diagnosis was wrong ?

Anyway, anyone knowledgable in this field, please let me know - And thanks in advance for all your time.

Here are pics of the problem. Attached.
 

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That's really not a lot to go on, that kind of looks like a game issue, not really a monitor.

Do some simple troubleshooting. Eliminate the large possibilities; is it a PCB issue? Try to use the monitor with another source, a game PCB or test pattern generator.

If the line/distortion is still present with another source, then it's a tube or chassis issue.


Any issue is fixable, it's just a question of time/money/skill/etc.
 
Yea I agree DuffCon, but unfortunately I am not with it and it is a seller I am talking to. I mentioned similar things to what you said, and he stands behind what the tech told him.
Any issue is fixable, it's just a question of time/money/skill/etc.
True, and thats why I want to know approx what people think out there over this, as IMO it would reflect in my offer to him. And I want to get educated first, as I am kinda new to this.
 
yeah without a video of it. can't tell. if it's an og setup, could be the ntsc-decoder card issue (not that likely) or monitor chassis issue, some sort of disc issue (depending on if its a physical disc defect). monitor output itself looks fine with what information is playing on screen. could also be a flaky bnc cable. need more data:

is it the same scene, all the scenes? if its the same scene, could be a disc defect, if the latter it is probably a player or anything else above.

super easy on any laser game, just hook up the video out to a tv and see if it has the same issue. you may need a bnc to > rca adaptor of course. or hack one up from a rca cable set. you could also free play a LD movie in there and force it to start.

edit - also to answer your question on the post title - Everything is fixable.
 
Good questions advans13. I guess I forgot to tell you guys what I do know about the machine as a whole. It is a DL/Space Ace multi thing running Dexter and Swoods stuff. Other than that, 100% all original stuff inside and out. Says even serial numbers match on stuff. Comes with the original disc and LD too. Basically other than the Dexter thing he was pretty meticulous about originality and taking care of it. I can tell. Don't know if any of this info helps.
 
ah if thats the case, i would ping @swood and see if it is in any of his logs. i guess that narrows it down to a chassis, dexter or connection issue. that plus og stuff included(disc and player) as long as the price is right i would buy it and diagnose it after, then you can negotiate a lower price knowing you would take on the work to make it 100%.

secret arcade buying rule. never fix or diagnose something prior to the sale or at the sale(if you were goin to do that anyways). everyone here or local can help. edit: oh and uh...yeah of course it is good to ask and know what you're getting into here first.
 
I've seen a bad yoke make the image separate like that (it stretches out a few lines) but since it's a laserdisc game like the others say I'd immediately suspect the player or the disc....

Since it's diagonal though and follows the angle of a retrace line.... hmmm.... may very well be something on the monitor.
 
i agree with everyone as it could be a yoke or it may not, but the big question is do you really want the game and is it priced appropriately for the worse case scenario that the problem could be and if so buy it and it can be fixed. the only issue is cost and if you buy it right then there shouldn't be any issue.
 
Monitors are also dirt cheap. Wouldnt let that get away at a decent price if that is what it is as i said.
 
I'd like to add that the seller admits he did a cap kit on the monitor. It's possible that he got a part wrong, and now the vertical height is off, and the retrace is showing. That data at the very top of the screen is the laserdisc frame number information which should never be visible.
 
Wow, the love here is just amazing. Thanks to everyone chiming in and helping. Yes swood brings up good point, and I forgot to add that part. lol I was assuming he had a pro re-cap it. In either case I also agree with you all, I want it, but as you all said, "decent price" go for it - well, thats the problem IMO its not a decent price and I'd like the bargaining chip to get it right and work out a fair deal to us both. I am not asking to take advantage of anything, I just want fair deal to us both.

I also want to correct something I said. As I am just learning about these things (the possibilities of things) - but I am not sure if dude has the swood card, or if he has the Disc Images from Dexter as his games. The way he words it is more likely that he has the "licenses" for the games on Dexter. Not like it matters, but now that stood is here, I wanna clear that up.

Again, thanks everyone - I'm a go for this if he accepts my fair offer.
 
Prob a go7 or k4900 right? Anyways good luck with the purchase. That aint a pro cap job. Seems if it was they brushed against some pots and got it outta adj. usually you would dial that in after investing in a redoing the chassis.


Have him take off 20-40 for parts (cap kit). And a hundred ish for labor dialing in monitor. Which you should do and learn yourself. Just ask here and learn. You cant sell a game at a premium unless the game is presentable and in a good playable state. Thats your bargaining chip, it wont be much because its already a game that commands more nowadays and its a relatively easy fix.
 
You've left out the most important information: make and model of monitor in question!
Yea you are right. Sorry bout that. I honestly do not know. He saying it is the original most likely, but he is not original owner.

Prob a go7 or k4900 right? Anyways good luck with the purchase. That aint a pro cap job. Seems if it was they brushed against some pots and got it outta adj. usually you would dial that in after investing in a redoing the chassis.
Thanks man !

Have him take off 20-40 for parts (cap kit). And a hundred ish for labor dialing in monitor. Which you should do and learn yourself. Just ask here and learn. You cant sell a game at a premium unless the game is presentable and in a good playable state. Thats your bargaining chip, it wont be much because its already a game that commands more nowadays and its a relatively easy fix.
I agree. Thanks for all the help and advice guys. Apparently this guy is a little firm on the ridiculous price for now. But lets see.

Again, thanks to everyone.
 
Ok guys I have a little more info. Only for those interested at this point. As the original question is no longer my concern and has been answered. I know I want the cab, but I will have to wait until the seller realizes he will never get what he is asking, lol. Till then, its fun to know and try to figure out what more is going on and why, etc.. So..

First off - The monitor in there now (with the issue) is a WG K4900. So I guess that is my new question, is that the monitor used by Cinematronics when releasing these things ?

Next, some more info - He has had the arcade for 20 years - Laserdisc stopped working at some point, put Dexter in. Since then he only played DL, as the others (Space Ace and DLII) do not work due to not having the rom cards/only the Thumbdrive. So he purchased Dexter and the Thumbdrive for 3 games from Matt, but didn't realize he needed the Rom cards to finalize the set up. (lol) So its sits as that now. Machine plays, but scoreboard does not keep score correctly.

After installing Dexter, (2+ years ago) monitor had those lines and also horizontal blue lines every inch. Decided to sell it - but wanted to fix it first, so took it to a arcade repair place. Sat for 2 years waiting on Yoke (feels the guy was jerking him). Upset on the timing, picked it up in same condition it was dropped off at. Did a cap kit replacement himself. That fixed the blue lines, but not what else we see.
 
Yes, that is the original monitor (WG4921 to be exact).

Dexter and the thumbdrive of disc images is a common mistake, so it doesn't surprise me that it only plays Dragon's Lair. The good news is that you only need to add the Merlin board to get the complete set of games.

I can see the frame number data that is encoded into laserdisc video showing at the top of the screen. These boxy lines are not normally supposed to be visible, so the either the vertical size, or vertical position is off.
In either case, it's probably not too serious to fix.
 
Ok guys I have a little more info. Only for those interested at this point. As the original question is no longer my concern and has been answered. I know I want the cab, but I will have to wait until the seller realizes he will never get what he is asking, lol. Till then, its fun to know and try to figure out what more is going on and why, etc.. So..

First off - The monitor in there now (with the issue) is a WG K4900. So I guess that is my new question, is that the monitor used by Cinematronics when releasing these things ?

Next, some more info - He has had the arcade for 20 years - Laserdisc stopped working at some point, put Dexter in. Since then he only played DL, as the others (Space Ace and DLII) do not work due to not having the rom cards/only the Thumbdrive. So he purchased Dexter and the Thumbdrive for 3 games from Matt, but didn't realize he needed the Rom cards to finalize the set up. (lol) So its sits as that now. Machine plays, but scoreboard does not keep score correctly.

After installing Dexter, (2+ years ago) monitor had those lines and also horizontal blue lines every inch. Decided to sell it - but wanted to fix it first, so took it to a arcade repair place. Sat for 2 years waiting on Yoke (feels the guy was jerking him). Upset on the timing, picked it up in same condition it was dropped off at. Did a cap kit replacement himself. That fixed the blue lines, but not what else we see.
Yup k4900 or go7. Wonder who the "repair" guy was. Too bad they chucked the laser that is the preferred way to play instead of the fake bullshit.

he could have fixed it instantly just throwing a different tube in even a tv with a 2$ adaport instead of springing hundreds on a dexter
 
Thanks guys. Ok, so at least we got one thing out of the way, the monitor is original. Or at least a original replacement.

I can see the frame number data that is encoded into laserdisc video showing at the top of the screen. These boxy lines are not normally supposed to be visible, so the either the vertical size, or vertical position is off.
That would be funny if that's all it is.

And yea, this "repair" guy doesn't sound that great. Kept machine for 2 years and literally didn't do a thing. Supposedly waiting on a Yoke, which would be easier to find than 2 years. And possibly gave the issue a wrong diagnosis on top of all that. lol
 
K4900 monitors are plentiful, so the two years is beyond ridiculous. With little work any K49xx can be used. Even if the yoke is bad, there are so many out there, including from damaged and severely burned tunes.

Scott C.
 
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