To fix or not to fix??

vader1979

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Donor 2021, 2023
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So i picked up a Defender cabinet when I went to pick up a Centipede cab. I wasn't planning on getting it when i went there. It was complete but not working. Cab is solid. Monitor has slight burn, but not bad at all with bezel over it. I got it for $100. It came with 2 pcbs. One was not working for sure, as the owner told me. He got the second pcb but never had a chance to test it. I only got it because the cab was slightly in better shape than mine. Figured if anything I could make 1 good game from 2.
So I just got done taking each component out one at a time and tested them in my working cabinet. The monitor works and looks good. Better than my current monitor I have. But then i tested the main pcb, rom pcb, sound pcb, and power supply. All 4 components didnt work. Only the interface pcb and monitor worked. Only thing I haven't tested is the power brick on bottom of the cab.
So now my question is what to do with this Cab? Do i fix all 4 components and sell as a working machine? I'm not sure how much it is going to cost to fix all 4 components, plus a cap kit for the monitor chassis. Or do I say screw it, swap out all the better condition parts from it and put on my working cab, and sell it as a non-working but complete game? What would you do?
Here are a few pics of the game in question for reference. It does have all the parts. They are just removed at time of these pics
 

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100% Fix it.
100% Save it.
100% Preserve it.
100% Play it.
100% It will kick your ass.
100% Classic.
100% Williams.

:D
 
Don't worry, I don't plan on stripping it for parts or anything if I wouldn't fix it. I would sell it as a complete game, just with non-working parts. I don't need 2 Defenders, so that is why i am wondering what to do. If i do fix it and get it working, will the cost of repairs be more expensive than what I could get for it selling as a complete, working game, but not restored cosmetically at all?
 
Yes, this is about time and money.
Either way, you're doing the right thing. (even if not completely restoring it as is our KLOV way of protecting the games)

If you can repair the PCBs yourself, then you save $$ but lose time.
Yet the time spent will bring satisfaction IF you fix it.
If you have no confidence in fixing the PCBs, then just sell it as non-working (for less $$) and move on. (there's always other projects to do)

Simple decision to make, no?

(If it was my machine, I'd fix it)
 
What I hear I don't have a passion for repairing this arcade machine..

You might want to consider finding someone who does have the passion to repair and keep the arcade machine.

Or you may consider using the game as part of a repair party. Can't have a repair party if you don't have machines to repair..

Or you may decide to keep the machine for a while until you feel like fixing it..
 
Yes, this is about time and money.
Either way, you're doing the right thing. (even if not completely restoring it as is our KLOV way of protecting the games)

If you can repair the PCBs yourself, then you save $$ but lose time.
Yet the time spent will bring satisfaction IF you fix it.
If you have no confidence in fixing the PCBs, then just sell it as non-working (for less $$) and move on. (there's always other projects to do)

Simple decision to make, no?

(If it was my machine, I'd fix it)

That is my issue. I don't know how to repair these boards. I know how to do the diagnostics, but that's as far as I take it. My speciality is in the cosmetic restoration of the machine. I will take any game and strip it down to the bone and build it back up with new art, parts, powder coated metal, new buttons, joysticks, and on and on to make it mint. But when it comes to the electronics, I leave that to the professionals! So yes, I would have to pay someone to fix all the boards for me. That is why i am concerned it would cost more for me to fix and sell, or just leave as non-working but complete. I paid $100 for it. I just dont know the total cost of what it would be to repair those 4 boards to make it work? I don't want to restore the cab, as i already have one to restore, and one is enough! I don't want to put all that time into restoring the game just to turn around and sell it for maybe a little bit more than what I have in it. To me that's just not worth it. Best would be I am doing a favor to the next guy by getting everything working for them, and all they have to do is the cosmetic restoration of the game
 
Swap to put yours in best shape, sell the second as complete/but non-working.

I think this is the best advice.

You paid $100 to 'upgrade' your machine with better parts.
Swap the other stuff back into the donor machine and sell it and be done.

No use for a 2nd Defender, but it could be a jrok multi or something.

You will have done no harm by flipping it back out to someone that wants to put some work into it.
 
No use for a 2nd Defender, but it could be a jrok multi or something.

You will have done no harm by flipping it back out to someone that wants to put some work into it.

As someone who struggled with Defender board sets, I'd tell you go with a JROK and walk away...
 
As someone who struggled with Defender board sets, I'd tell you go with a JROK and walk away...

Though I have a working WMS boardset in my Stargate, I chose to "add in" a JROK board. More to have a dual game (Defender and Stargate) than to make it "working and/or more reliable".

I believe the JROK board has that advantage going for it while maintaining correct gameplay etc.
 
Having worked on these, sell the boardsets or ur pld cab with thrm. If you aell use that $ for a jrok
 
Huh? I don't know what you said coco.

I'd swap the prettiest parts over into your Defender and sell the other one as a complete, non-working game as suggested above.
 
Yea i cracked the screen protector on my phone lol

Swap cabs and sell a nonworking defender. And get a jrok to make a multi.

It took me 2 years to find a joust... So who knows how long to find all on that multi board.
 
At least you know what you like. I'm on the other end - I like fixing, not restoring.

So, I agree, swap the boards to the better cabinet, and sell off the other one as non-working.
 
Yes, looks like swapping good parts and selling as non-working is the way to go. Thanks for the info to help me make my decision! Monitor, coin door, and back door are ehat I will be swapping out. Rest will stay with the game. May keep one pcb to repair so i have a spare just in case!
 
I would probably take all the best parts and make a single dedicated defender, then I would sell the non working boards in a non working condition, and then make a multi williams out of all the other parts... and then agonize over rather I should sell the multi williams at a premium, or keep it for myself because who doesn't like joust and robotron.
 
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