my first post...and my first project HELLO!

Corvus

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my first post...and my first project HELLO! (PIX ADDED)

Hello guys!
So this being my first post AND my first restoration, I figured I'd take a minute to introduce myself before talking about my.....fixerupper (putting it nicely lol).

I'm Justin, I'm 20 and I live in Northern Michigan. I am a full time student, but I make my money in the professional wrestling industry. I live with my lovely parental units (as most college students would lol) and have a decent life...until this darn machine came along lol. I have little actual experience in this field (I played an arcade game once lol) so I hope to make some friends and hopefully learn a bit.

I saw an ad for a WWF Wrestle Fest on Craigslist and picked it up...figured since it was less than 200 it would be worth a shot, atleast I could fix it up....what a pile lol

No pix yet (it's in the garage with bad lighting lol), but let me tell you...whoever built this was a (insert your own explicative lol) moron. They did use a 4 controller jamma case...but for some reason they only wired it for 2 controllers and plugged up the others...the buttons..aren't even the same on each side lol The only thing this game has going for it is it runs (well...it did).

So heres my problem...somehow in moving it...now I dont have technical terms or pix right this second so I will have to describe it...the connector that links the game to the monitor popped off. Like the back of the monitor has these prongs sticking out in a circle that plug into another circle, that popped off...only problem...for the life of me I cant get them to go back together....I'm terrified I'm going to make the problems worse.

It was running fine before we loaded it up, so I'm 99% sure that's the only technical problem with it. I'm going to drill the back lock out sometime this week (we just moved so I have to get the tools out of storeage), but I can still access this part of the monitor through a hole...any help would be greatly appreciated guys...I'm terrified I may have just trashed 150 bucks.

I hope we all get to have some thrilling conversations on this topic lol plenty of pix will be coming as soon as it stops raining and I can open the garage up lol

Thanks for having me!
 
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welcome!

that connector should just push back on, just line up the pins correctly, and don't damage them (hopefully their not already damaged).

Wait untill you get the lock drilled out, don't plug it in (waiting till you can get full access will make it much easier and safer for both you and the monitor).

Fun game.
 
gracias broski, I intend on doing a full restore to this thing (the wirings solid it just needs a lot of body work). Does anyone know of any good resources to use to find parts, pics, etc? I literally just sort of stumbled into this hobby so I'm still trying to get my bearings.

Also, can you tell me if this is common? The wiring that the monitor was connected to is actually ATTACHED to the back of the machine. Like literally there is a cut out section in the back board where this wired board is so you can open the cabinet up without tearing up the wiring. This seemed weird to me (IDK if it is or not).

Right now I just wanna get her into working order before I deside how much work I'm going to do to her...I'm trying to decide between doing her original, or doing her up special the way I want her. I have no intention of selling her, but being a video game fan as well as a wrestler myself, I can't bare to see her like this. *tears up* SHE DOESNT EVEN HAVE REAL ARTWORK MAN! *bawls* lol
 
Dude, you've got alot of reading to do...

therealbobroberts.net is one of your biggest resources.

Read all of his articles. Buy parts from him.
Search, read, ask questions....

welcome to the addiction, you will probably get more where this came from...
 
Hey welcome to the forum, Taking pictures of what you have is important because we can give you better advice. Most plugs are keyed meaning. they plug in only one way. If you took a picture we could tell you how to line up the plug and socket.

If you don't know, just ask. Most are willing to give help here.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby.
 
Hey welcome to the forum, Taking pictures of what you have is important because we can give you better advice. Most plugs are keyed meaning. they plug in only one way. If you took a picture we could tell you how to line up the plug and socket.

If you don't know, just ask. Most are willing to give help here.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

Pictures should be coming later today (its 3 am now lol), its just been raining for about a week streight, and the only way to get good lighting on it is with the garage open lol Now, if any of those prongs are messed up, is that repairable, or would I need a whole new monitor?
 
We are talking about where the wires that plug into the game board to the monitor.

There is a Smaller board that plugs on to the glass tube. If you break those pins or break the tube you will need a new tube.

see picture. The small board I am talking about is circled in red.

Those pins are at the end of the tube are easy to break.
 

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yup that's the pins/connector i was speaking of, if those pins break off it's time for a new tube :( if they get bent a little you might be able to bend them back super carefully without breaking them or anything else).
 
yup that's the pins/connector i was speaking of, if those pins break off it's time for a new tube :( if they get bent a little you might be able to bend them back super carefully without breaking them or anything else).

.....yey? lol whats a new monitor generally go for (like I said, no knowledge or concept when it comes to this kind of thing). Also, does anyone have any resources when it comes to detailed pictures of games? I'd like to see more of what this looks like, but google images only has small pictures and they arent very good. I'm still trying to decide how I wanna go about restoring this. Thanks all!
 
Replacement monitors aren't really cheap as they're getting harder to find especially when it comes to a tube with 0 burn in. I wouldn't worry about it just yet but your looking at somewhere between free and $300 i know that's a large spread but that's between getting lucky and brand new (figure minimum 50-75$ max 300).

I'm betting the neckboard just fell off in transit and hopefully nothing was damaged, if so it should push right on and you'll be good to go. this site and google and the main database have some great pictures, but sometimes there aren't pictures of exactly what your looking for.

Use the search fuction of this site, and if you don't find what your looking for i'd make a post and maybe someone will be nice enough to take some pictures of their machine (once we figure out what your machine is like cabinet style/dedicated/not). People on this forum are extremely helpful and knowledgeable (and some are down right hilarious). Just be patient, get some pictures of your game when you can and post them up.
 
Replacement monitors aren't really cheap as they're getting harder to find especially when it comes to a tube with 0 burn in. I wouldn't worry about it just yet but your looking at somewhere between free and $300 i know that's a large spread but that's between getting lucky and brand new (figure minimum 50-75$ max 300).

I'm betting the neckboard just fell off in transit and hopefully nothing was damaged, if so it should push right on and you'll be good to go. this site and google and the main database have some great pictures, but sometimes there aren't pictures of exactly what your looking for.

Use the search fuction of this site, and if you don't find what your looking for i'd make a post and maybe someone will be nice enough to take some pictures of their machine (once we figure out what your machine is like cabinet style/dedicated/not). People on this forum are extremely helpful and knowledgeable (and some are down right hilarious). Just be patient, get some pictures of your game when you can and post them up.

I assume figuring out if its dedicated or not can befigured with pictures? Cause right now its...bizarre...the cabinet (to my untrained eye anway) LOOKS to be in the style of the WWF Wrestle Fest...but someone decided to plug two controller ports and make a 4 player game...into two players...not sure why you'd do that...but thats what it seems to be (and the coin door has 4 slots, another sign?) Like I said, after class today (Weather permitting) I'll take some pix. Thanks guys!
 
These are the pins on a crt that Broodwich is talking about the large square piece of plastic is the key you have to line up..
 

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These are the pins on a crt that Broodwich is talking about the large square piece of plastic is the key you have to line up..

....oh *insert explicative*...I was looking at the wiring last night...and that...that glass part for lack of a better term...i think is broken (If what I see in my machine and what you have there are the same), I'll take some pix later today...now I'm scared lol
 
Buttons are replaceable so are joysticks. I think adding player 3 and 4 is just more buttons and wires and flipping a switch. You should look for a manual on your game and make sure.
 
Buttons are replaceable so are joysticks. I think adding player 3 and 4 is just more buttons and wires and flipping a switch. You should look for a manual on your game and make sure.

I did, I'm pretty sure mechanically thats all that needs done...well that and this...possibly broken monitor lol if the glass is broken...is that...bad? lol
 
If the CRT is broken there are fixes for that.
There are board to convert the signal to VGA ( Typical Computer monitor )
You can buy the whole thing of just the glass tube.

There are always options.
 
If the CRT is broken there are fixes for that.
There are board to convert the signal to VGA ( Typical Computer monitor )
You can buy the whole thing of just the glass tube.

There are always options.

Ok good good, I'll get some pics up after class (I get out around 3 oclockish). I dont want to put a computer monitor in there, I like it old school! :p lol
 
Hello guys!
So this being my first post AND my first restoration, I figured I'd take a minute to introduce myself before talking about my.....fixerupper (putting it nicely lol).

I'm Justin, I'm 20 and I live in Northern Michigan. I am a full time student

20 years old? Damn, I am feeling ancient. I have games older than 20 years old.:p Sorry, could not resist.

Seriously, welcome to the hobby. And get prepared to get addicted and spend some money.:) There are some very nice restorations on this forum to browse also.

Any time I find a game, say on craigslist, in unknown condition, is not turn it on. I like to do a thorough inspection inside the game before powering up, especially after moving the game around. Checking for loose connectors, an undamaged power cord is installed, making sure monitors are connected to an isolation transformer, inspecting the power supply area that it is clear of foreign objects, etc.

And before working on monitors, learn how to discharge it properly. Or you may be rudely welcomed to a big surprise.:eek:
 
Any time I find a game, say on craigslist, in unknown condition, is not turn it on. I like to do a thorough inspection inside the game before powering up, especially after moving the game around. Checking for loose connectors, an undamaged power cord is installed, making sure monitors are connected to an isolation transformer, inspecting the power supply area that it is clear of foreign objects, etc.

also keep your eye out for rogue tokens/quarters/coins as they can get behind things or bridge two connections resulting in bad things :D
 
thanks guys, discharging the monitor has been made very clear to me dont worry lol here's pics of the unit as a whole (sorry they arent good, its still raining so i didnt have uch light to work with) along with the area where my problem is.
DSC_1434.jpg

DSC_1435.jpg

DSC_1436.jpg

DSC_1437.jpg

the instructions seem so...not like the machine...would this be on a dedicated one or would they be different?
DSC_1438.jpg
 
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