Nothing like the night before a road trip

airlair

In Memoriam

Donor 2011
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To me there is nothing like the excitement of the night before a road trip. I thought my Sinistar would be the last piece to my arcade, but then yet another opportunity approached me. I just confirmed with the guy, so I can divulge some of the details. I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a 9 hour road trip to Michigan to pick up a Berzerk. The guy has owned it since the 80s. He said it played worked, then played blind, then died. I asked him to look for battery damage and he said he couldn't see any. He then made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and if I'm driving a total of 9 hours believe me when I say it's a good deal. The only thing I know for sure is that it has a replacement joystick and from the pictures I saw it is in good shape. I'll explain the rest and post the pics tomorrow. It's just nice to be looking forward to something besides a vacation plus being able to acquire another game I always wanted and played back in the day.
 
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Here, here!

I drove 18 hours to pick up the motorcycle I still ride. :D Another deal I couldn't pass up.

The drive back is what sucks! :rolleyes:

Too cool. Looking forward to pics.
 
I always like the trip home better. You've got the game, safe and sound and just need to get it home. Have fun and take some pics for us!
 
OK update and pictures

OK, I'll try not make this a novel. Plus I apologize for any incoherence in this post. I did a nine hour road trip, opened my bar, and met my wife at another bar so this should be interesting.

About three weeks to a month ago I was bored at work so I did my usual lunchtime Searchtempest scan around the area. I see a Berzerk in Grand Rapids, MI, so since it's a slow day I email about it. He's was asking $400 and said it didn't work. I said $400 is too much for a non working game and good luck, etc. So I totally forgot about it since I had two drill weekends in a row. Last week I get an email saying he needed it gone and come get it for $100. Before my next breath was out I replied 'Sold!'. Berzerk was one of the last of my most wanted games since I played it back in the day, and luckily didn't drop dead from a heart attack from what I've read.

So I made the trip leaving Cleveland around 0530 and got back around 1500. They guy was really nice and said he had to dump it because he lost his house. I felt bad and promised him if I ever sold it I'd call him first, but I told him his ass would come out to Cleveland to get it. He said he had the game since the 80s and that monitor went out and then the game stopped playing blind. He didn't seem to know too much about the game itself, so I didn't ask too many questions.

I dropped it off at my bar and gave it a good basic cleaning and a good looking over. Nothing appears broke or missing, but I hear these games are a pain in the ass. I fired it up and the bezel and coin door lit up, but nothing else really. The LED on the ZPU lights up, there is a loud beep followed by two quieter beeps, and the LED goes out. The monitor doesn't work and there is no neck glow at all. I'll check the manual out later. As the pictures show the inside is not so bad. And now the pics:

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Once I get a good look at it and scan the manual I'll post all of the issues in the appropriate section.
 
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That looks pretty clean for a 1-bill cab, nice job! ;) Hopefully it's just a fuse or something. Hehehe.
 
Awesome game, I picked my non-working Berzerk up a few weeks back and got it going just the other night 100% thanks to seinologist. Love that game. Nice work sir.
 
I just worked on one of these and got it running. I believe getting 3 beeps means the Zpu is good. It's failing on the VFB tests.

First thing I would do is remove that battery before it starts leaking.

Next clean all the pins on each board, and reseat all the interconnect cables. Be careful when removing them. Support the front, and back side of the cable. Those IDC connectors will break wires like crazy if you aren't careful.

The manual has a pretty decent TS guide, pointing you to the areas of most likely problem chips.

Sounds like the problem is in the VFB, like I said most likely those cables.
 
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