possible purchase, oppinions on value

cnyncrvr

New member
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
110
Reaction score
1
Location
Glendale, California
So I have the oppurtunity to purchase an Area 51 site 4 for $150.00 in what the seller says is an MK2 cabinet. The seller says that the game played fine with no issues before he transported it but when he got it home it had and I quote "Vertical Foldover" which looking at the picture actually looks like Vertical collapse.

Providing the game does play blind and the issue is only a monitor problem is this game worth the $150.00 and repairing the monitor?

I dont have any other details other than this picture the seller sent me. And wont be able to get any more details till I go to look at it tomorrow.

but my questions are:

1: Is this actually vertical collapse?

2: If this is the only problem is this machine worth the $150.00 asking price and the cost of repairing the monitor?
 

Attachments

  • 3Gf3Ic3J25Ed5Hb5Mccb489cdcf5c47d71ad2.jpg
    3Gf3Ic3J25Ed5Hb5Mccb489cdcf5c47d71ad2.jpg
    26.2 KB · Views: 31
So I have the oppurtunity to purchase an Area 51 site 4 for $150.00 in what the seller says is an MK2 cabinet. The seller says that the game played fine with no issues before he transported it but when he got it home it had and I quote "Vertical Foldover" which looking at the picture actually looks like Vertical collapse.

Providing the game does play blind and the issue is only a monitor problem is this game worth the $150.00 and repairing the monitor?

I dont have any other details other than this picture the seller sent me. And wont be able to get any more details till I go to look at it tomorrow.

but my questions are:

1: Is this actually vertical collapse?

2: If this is the only problem is this machine worth the $150.00 asking price and the cost of repairing the monitor?

You need to ask a monitor guy to be sure but yes that does look like vertical Collapse. The problem is usually a bad potentiometer but check with Buffett, Mods, other monitor guy to be sure.

Bad Pot is my guess though.
 
Yeah Im figuring on doing the standard tests and checks, make sure no fuses are blown, nothing is unplugged, checking voltages at the board, all the basics that dont require much more than a multimeter and screwdrivers.

like I said I just wanna make sure im not throwing good money after bad for a game that would be fun but I dont absolutely love!
 
Yes, it's vertical collapse. Cause will be dependent on the monitor chassis model, but if it worked before you moved it, you'd hope it's just a solder joint. But you can't be sure.

And I'd be sure the game works. Without a good picture you won't be able to test the guns.

And Site 4 is nowhere near as much fun as the original. After having it for a while, I wouldn't buy one. But $150 isn't a terrible price if the boards and guns work.

If you can't fix the monitor yourself, it'll cost you about $100 (with shipping) to get someone else to do it for you...
 
If it plays blind and all that's wrong is the monitor, I'd probably get it myself. Can you recap a monitor chassis? Probably something fairly simple like that or like kb0 says, a bad pot. Easy fixes depending on your tech level.
 
Collapse is usually caused by a bad transistor (or deflection IC) but I would start by checking for cracked solder joints as stated already.
 
Yes, it's vertical collapse. Cause will be dependent on the monitor chassis model, but if it worked before you moved it, you'd hope it's just a solder joint. But you can't be sure.

And I'd be sure the game works. Without a good picture you won't be able to test the guns.

And Site 4 is nowhere near as much fun as the original. After having it for a while, I wouldn't buy one. But $150 isn't a terrible price if the boards and guns work.

If you can't fix the monitor yourself, it'll cost you about $100 (with shipping) to get someone else to do it for you...

Thanks Mod. The real reason I'm interested in this is because for the last couple months I have been using my post 911 GI bill to attend college for my BS in electronics engineering technology and thought that something like this would make a good but simple home "Lab" in conjunction with my schooling, perhaps giving me a leg up in school with some hands on troubleshooting and repair.
 
If it plays blind and all that's wrong is the monitor, I'd probably get it myself. Can you recap a monitor chassis? Probably something fairly simple like that or like kb0 says, a bad pot. Easy fixes depending on your tech level.

Just talked to the seller, he says the monitor is a Hantarex Polo 25". I can do a cap kit no problem. I have all the tools and the desire to do the rapair this also would not be my first cap kit by any means. Im just not familiar with the polo chassis or Site 4 for that matter
 
Ugh. A Polo is not a good "first" chassis to learn on. Some experienced techs shy away from them...
 
Ugh. A Polo is not a good "first" chassis to learn on. Some experienced techs shy away from them...

I completely agree. This however is not my first chassis repair so I have at least a good starting knowledge.

I have the confidence in my self that if I take my time, do the research, and my due diligence that I can repair the monitor with minimal fuss.

I guess at this point I just want to make sure the machine is worth the purchase price and the parts cost if any for repairing the monitor?
 
Back
Top Bottom