

#Arcade machine repair manual#
Also, use your manual to make sure that they are the correct fuses for their location. Using your multimeter check each fuse for continuity. If you’re experiencing issues with your arcade game machine a good place to start is with the arcade game fuses.
#Arcade machine repair how to#
Learn how to check for continuity with your meter and begin by checking your fuses! There are plenty of online resources for familiarizing yourself with multmeter operation and functionality. Some of the issues that might come up with arcade games are virtually impossible to find without a multimeter. Mulitmeters are essential for testing various electronic components in your game. A typical multimeter can measure voltage, current, and resistance. Purchase a multimeter for testing components. You don’t want to do further damage to your game because you wanted to save $10 on the soldering iron. It is worth it to buy a better-than-average soldering iron because cheaper irons won’t get hot enough to properly remove and replace components. Soldering will allow you to perform your own repairs on printed circuit boards, replace video game controls as well as installing and removing the majority of the components in your machine. Soldering isn’t hard to do but it’s hard to do well, so some research, practice and patience will be needed. If you’re going to be performing your own video game repairs you’re going to want to learn how to solder. A dirty arcade game can lead to issues but some of these issues can be solved with just a little elbow grease and attention to detail. (There are various sources with materials you can use to clean contacts like pencil erasers etc., but I’d stick to contact cleaner.) Use a paint brush to sweep away the dust and debris from boards. Buy and use contact cleaner to clean connectors and other components. Clean the PCB and inspect the solder for bridges, breaks or other solder abnormalities.

Dust and dirt can get into the board and connections creating issues. The best way to start inspecting your arcade video game is with a clean machine and components. Trouble shooting an arcade game can be infinitely easier with a manual and ordering a specific part is nearly impossible without the part number.Ĭlean your unit the best you can. This can sometimes be the only solution to finding specific parts for your game. Please research this process and proceed with extreme caution when performing this task. Many CRT monitors need to be discharged before being worked on because they retain an electrical charge. This is meant to be a money-saving article and a trip to the emergency room is never cheap! (Never mind the thought of going to the great game room in the sky!)Įven with the power unplugged some components can still retain enough electrical charge to be fatal. (This is supposed to be fun!)ĭo not perform any maintenance on your arcade video game before unplugging the unit first. Remember that this is just a hobby and that you aren’t on a deadline to fix your game. If things get too frustrating and you simply can’t figure out whatever problem you’re working on, walk way. The term ‘ghost in the machine’ has crossed my mind on more than a few repairs and there have been some machines that have kept us scratching our heads for days. This can be a very trying and frustrating hobby with games not wanting work even though you’ve done everything possible to fix the issues. Patience is key with arcade video game repair. So we’ve made a list of tips and general advice to get you started on repairing your arcade game without breaking the bank! It’s easy to see why people collect and repair arcade game cabinets, but if you’ve ever tried to have any work done on one, you know that it can get really expensive, really quickly.

Old school arcade games are just plain fun! All the classics like Pac-Man and Galaga have basic controls, easy game concepts and wicked-awesome cabinet art that make them great features to have in your bar or home game room. Tips to Repair Your Arcade Game on a Budget
