"Is this exciting? Do you guys like this?" (referencing to checking the games at the Hanger). YES! This is a side to arcade collecting that your general audience hasn't seen before. It's fascinating!
Spread the word, John's channel here is top notch. I don't know why he doesn't have a million+ subscribers. Keep the nostalgia alive! John, thank you! Looking forward to more videos.
Hi John. I remember my first ever location. It was a children's activity centre called Crazy Clowns. I had two cocktail cabinets, one with Superman installed, that two players could play together on the one side because I modified the control panel. The other cocktail cabinet had the game Rush and crash installed, but I had to make a modification to the cabinet to accommodate the PCB. Anyway to cut a long story short, my dad told me he had a pole position in an old location that was closed for many years and had recently been reopened, and this was back in the day when he had 30 locations, and the game was forgotten about. So I was all excited to retrieve the pole position,but when I got there I was told it was dumped just a month before I arrived 😨 and in a ditch not to far away, and exposed to the Irish weather. So I don't have to tell you how that ended.. Anyway I wish you the best of luck with your new location 😊
Hi John ! Regarding your hantarex monitor problem, did you check the B+ on pin 3 of the flyback (+138v ref value) before replacing the HOT ? Cause if the B+ is out of specs and super high it might bring a surge to the HOT base and take it away when powering up. In case you have already performed those tests, you might also consider testing the horizontal yoke coils (with a proper yoke coil tester and not a multimeter) as if a short occured in one of them, it would blow the HOT in a split of seconds as soon as the power supply is switched on.
Dangit. I have a monitor that has this EXACT PROBLEM. I'm also stumped exactly where you are. I was really hoping you'd solve it this week so I could try and replicate it on my machine.
Hangar move is brilliant. John deserves to to actually make money with his public arcade. John will be able to use this test as a blueprint to sell in the future for others who want to go pro with their collection. Great job John hope you have huge success with it.
Great video John! Love the Hanger : ) When jumping with a component lead, keep the lead long and solder it up and then cut it after it's in place. Keep your eye on the $ 'cause at the end of the day, that's the purpose of the whole hanger venture
A lot of the problems with coin mechanisms is that when they were originally designed at the time, the currency was heavier in weight, now currency is slightly lighter, therefore won't fall through the mechanism easily. My guess to fix the mechanism is to loosen up the tension on the spring somehow, if that is even possible.
I just weighed two quarters, one from 1971 and one from 2016. The one from 2016 is 0.05 grams heavier (5.68g vs. 5.63g), which could be explained by the amount of wear on the old coin. I have no doubt that the 1971 quarter weighed the same as a current quarter when it was new (and even now, the 1/20th of a gram difference is negligible). The official weight of a U.S. quarter is 5.67 grams by the way. The 90% silver quarters (1932 - 1964) were a little heavier (official weight was 6.25 grams), but that was long before 1980s arcade machine coin mechanisms were designed.
Maybe stick Centipede on Freeplay for a day or two and see if you can kickstart some interest in it? Though admittedly, that's a really tough crowd that it's hanging with.
Power drift! Haven't seen one since around '90 man! Cool memories of being the only tech across 5 sites! Hard work in the summer season back in the day here in South coast U.K. !
Did you used to fix the Data East Simpsons Pinball at some caravan park in Devon? It was always getting balls stuck so I bet the tech was always there fixing it and then it would break again! It seemed an unreliable machine.
I enjoyed this video and the Hangar is a nice add on to these videos. I agree a tripod on wheels would help. It is great to see these games back in action after all these years.
Considering the potential crowds in there and John was mentioning about keeping the camera on the 'down low', a tripod on wheels may be far too much of a problem. In this situation, he really needs a camera guy to film him as he narrates and works. I'd also say that a 'sneak cam' might be better. Alas, those never have great resolution. Or, given that this is an arrangement with the owner of The Hanger, maybe it would be possible to have a series of ceiling globe cameras in place, so John can always get a wide view on what he is doing without fidgeting with the personal camera for everything. Alas...more cameras means more editing and work...is it even worth the extra shots? Getting a bit of a 'behind the scenes' moment is amazing. That place looks massive. Or at least felt like it was.
Loving the Hangar videos! It's neat to see you guys working in a live arcade and the different troubles you're having (even if it's just coin mechs). I'd be interested to see if Centipede would earn more if you moved it to a different spot... maybe Super Mario and Ms. Pac are drawing attention away from it?
From the last video's comments, we were talking about that very cringe worthy issue. Just not a whole lot of answers to offer, aside from some kind of mug holder attachments. Ugh...Joe Q. Public...
I think you need to finish off that TMNT and get it to the bar. That one will definitely earn you some cash, John. You also mentioned that you wanted to get Xenophobe in there, which might be a mistake. Another project you could take on would be a Turtles in Time. That's another game that would be popular at the bar.
The draw isn't 3 player, necessarily. The theme is everything. People are going to be looking for something that is immediately fun to play, or is familiar, and Xenophobe might not do it.
Hi John, I just wanted to comment on the coin mechs your using that just accept the one coin. what I found, for location purposes is that by changing the coin door and installing a mars electronic coin mech would save you a lot of bother. I find it so much easier to install the mars mechs and credit board so the customer can put any coin denomination into the machine without going looking for change, and your coins won't stick, hence you won't be called out so often. Im not trying to tell you what to do by any means, but I myself found it easier to have machines on location and not get that late call just before I Sat down to relax and all of a sudden the phone rings ☺ Anyway keep up the great work, your fans the Heavey family from Ireland.
I really like what you're doing with this part of the show and hope to see more of it. You've taken it to a whole new level of authenticity working on the games in a live, wild, arcade setting. Thanks for letting us peek at the weekend take ;)
They're your games, you can do what you want with them. You're an ace repairman and any issues and wear they receive will be patched up post haste by obsessive John. I wish you the best in this endeavor. Goodluck!
Mac Donalds Shotgunning is a great way to save tons of time. You know I've been trying to understand more and more what is wrong. I've been trying to test parts as I remove them. I want to know what's good or bad. Shotgunning is easy but it's not the most informed way to fix stuff.
Hey John! Been watching your videos for a long time, keep up the good work! PLEASE finish the MKII cabinet, I'm currently working on one too and would love to see yours complete to help me along. Thanks again!!
These games belong in bars or arcades, not in private basements where they're played once every 2 months. Love it like this when everyone can enjoy them :)
Must say, I had a few games in my own gameroom, but nobody played them really. When I had friends over they played these machines -with great fun- for only like 5 min. I loved these moments, thats why Id like to see them being used a bit more though :D
Hey John, for the games in your collection at home; do you have a means of keeping track and organizing the keys so they don't get damaged if left in the locks. I'd suggest a key lock box and keep an inventory log so you'd know what key is for what machine. This could be beneficial if you manage spare keys or replace locks. I remember you mentioned in your restoration videos that you use a package of keyed alike locks; one thing to keep in mind is that not every batch would use the same number as your previous package. So it wouldn't hurt to have a means of organizing them if you haven't done so already.
If you want to remove the black paint on the side of the cabinet use goof off graffiti remover it works good I have UMK3 but underneath the black paint was MK2
The first video showing life as an arcade operator! I'd love to see more Hangar videos. Bring a small tripod, maybe? Might not be feasible with everybody wandering around, but hey. It's so interesting that you're having mech problems now that it's not a personal free play arcade and those guts are seeing heavy use.
I have sprayed some CLP on the coin mechs and then ran the same quarter through about 10 times and then just clean off the excess (leave a little). Cleans up sticky junk and lets the coins slide through faster and not hang up. and may help with coins being lighter now? And more hanger footage is great! Your vids have been a huge help! Thanks.
enjoyed the video. Coin mechanisms are a pain. had same problem when I had games on location. hope the new mechanisms fix the problems. shouldn't have all problems I had. no kids in your bar. the one I had games in served food during day. kids are hard on games. Games look good. good luck!
Very cool, interesting seeing how these games fare in 2016 at the Hangar, I didn't realize coin mechs were so finicky lol, maybe the moving parts just need to be oiled?
i love the hanger and trying to watch you fix the coin mechs. so far so good yes a tripod would be helpful to you i would think...lol keep on keepin on!!!!..
John is planning on continuing Mk2 restore but that will come after Atari Cloak & Dagger Arcade Restore is down which is in two weeks. the MK2 restore is #SOON
I'm an ex arcade operator. Get used to carrying a little folding pocket knife in your pocket. No, not for defense. A small knife is AMAZING for dislodging coin jams without taking anything apart. The blade can fit into the coin chute and work coins (and foreign objects) free, usually without even removing the mech.
Thanks for another great video. Good luck getting that monitor working. It looks very frustrating. Also, thanks for the advice on the Qbert search. I'll keep looking and try some of the things you mentioned. I like the idea of the Jrock board, but I want to try to have as close to original hardware as possible to fall back on.
I do agree the monitor stuff is definitely maddening! anyway hoping you get it figured out. Also hope to see new updates on TMNT! I do think the 'beercade' intermissions are a nice change of pace from being in the garage and the basement it does mix things up a little bit!
Hanger video footage is great! I can't believe that Centipede is a flop. That's a current fav of mine. Will have to check out the vids on Twitter. Good luck with MK2!
I think you need to get an NES Playchoice 10 there. With how popular the NES Classic is at the moment I have a feeling that game may do a lot of business in a place like that with the 30-40 age group.
I'd suspect the opposite. Why would you pay to play playchoice 10 if you have a NES classic? Unless maybe you load it with games that AREN'T on the nes classic, like Contra. But then, VS Mario, Punchout and Donkey Kong(s) are all right there., and they're better than the Playchoice versions.
I'd use the working Midway monitor in the MKII and save solving the hantarex for sometime in the new year. Also n'thing what everyone says about getting Turtles in the beercade. That thing is a quarter-sucker and it'll earn like crazy!
Hi, John. I enjoy all your videos and see you been working hard on getting that monitor working for that Mortl Kombat II. My advice to you is to get a Wells Gardener 7000 and get rid of the Polo Hantarex, I have a pile of those not working :) I hope one day you can come and visit my Arcade in California. Keep it up John!!
I'm sure that you'll figure out how to juggle the camera and the work at The Hanger in time. Definitely a change of pace. When you check the coin mech validators, do you leave the extra credits on the machine for people to 'discover' or not? My local arcade does leave extra credits in play and it's a nice discovery for a few free games...especially on titles I'd never otherwise play. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a Centipede in the wild for quite some time. Quite possible that nobody cares for the game, anymore. Though, I have seen a Missile Command in the last ten years. Yea...the Xenomorph with it's three players interface may do well. Bet that Turtles would do even better. People do love the Turtles. Or...maybe even that football board.
Can you do tutorial about the -5 volts setup for the PSU for the MK games ? I am unsure if you are supposed to hook up the +5 and -5 and also the +12 V to the PSU / or just the -5 and +12V ? Thanks !
You go John, I have always wanted to shop some of my games. I would not get another Ghost Busters, You still own it and can always play it at the BarCade, get something else that is cool.
Being an op now, do you think it'll change what games you buy? Things like Quantum and Journey are interesting for collectors due to rarity but I imagine unwanted by ops, compared to things you don't usually go for like 90's fighting games etc. Actually I suppose that, dirty word, Jamma cabs would be useful to keep the game list fresh.
I think the basement will always be heavy with the collector type games and the Hangar will be a place with games the general public are looking to play. Two totally different worlds for sure!
do you plan to continue this restore there has not been a new video for the restore for 4 months I have been watching this over 3 times wanting a new part 7
Christmas party coming up. Fill your holes, sir! You mentioned Bronco and *maybe* MKII, but at least throw a Christmas tree in a gap so it doesn't look like missing teeth down there. :D
"Looks like I need to order a baker's dozen of HOT'S" haha!!!. Hey John check diode D18, read on the forums that that was causing someone else the same problem. Good luck with the fix.
i can't wait for some random youtube arcade guy to visit the Hangar and do a walkthrough & commentary, pointing out repro cpos and wrong joysticks. what goes around... :)
John Good for you ...you finally hit the Big Arcade Time and you deserve it..its so much fun to watch and learn ..try to learn most times...lol you have a great show and i just sent you a message on one of your recent shows.. about im waiting on a Medeval Madness remake pin...ive paid in full just waiting on the shaker motor and its installation and delivery...YAWN...its taking forever lol....i will support your cause anyway i can ...very cool show!!!! i have a pinball question and wondered if you might know anything about it...its a GoldenBall..is it worth a purchace in your opinion or would you pass.. at first i thought cool then i was a little reluctant..lol.. its in 'very good' condition thanks for doing what you do and hope to see more shows in the future JohnQ
Love the on location videos! Will you ever get into details of licensing for arcades (if that's still even done) and how one has to figure taxes on vending income?
Your Berzerk is not technically on Freeplay. It playing like Freeplay because it still has trash in memory (the FF at the bottom where credits should be). Clear the memory in settings, or unplug the battery on the ZPU for a while to clear that. Those boards are bad about that. For some reason when they get trash in memory, they read it as a credit.
Could be... I use NV RAM on my Berzerk and Frenzy boards. They work amazingly well. Just remember when you go to do the battery, it was designed for a rechargeable battery so it does get +5 volts to the + side of the battery. So, you will need to install a quick switching Schottky diode to block out that voltage if you do a lithium 2025 style battery mod. Make sure you use a Schottky diode also. Using a regular diode will drain that new battery fast. But easiest fix is the NVRAM.
Cool to see what it's like to be an arcade operator, must be kind of a pain to keep checking to see everything is working right. Sucks your still stuck wi that shitty monitor I would ditch that thing and try a different one if I was you.
I would think that once the initial hurdle of testing, testing, testing is over, John can get a good feel for what's reliable and what's being a problem. Right now, those coin mechs were in light use for home display. Hard to know the good from the lemons until the same ten units keep jamming, day in and day out. That little foam piece was most certainly unexpected. But, possibly hasn't been slammed by the pinball all so much, over the years. The Hanger really made out well in this arrangement. To get operators that are dedicated to keeping the machines cherry. After all, I've seen a couple barcades that stuff dying machines onto the floor. No care just lowers the reflection on the place with machines that are on their final leg with nearly dead monitors, no sound, bad controls and coin mechs that went bad, years ago.
John, where did you get the flyback? FWIW, just because its new doesnt mean its good. I have not been following along so I might ask a few questions that you have already answered. Have you tested any of the poly caps in and around the high voltage section? Something of size is taking out that HOT. Its got to be something like the FB, a bad poly cap, a shorted diode.....
I just looked at a flow chart and it doesnt cover all the bases. You should check all of those poly caps in and around the flyback and HOT, no matter the size. Diodes too. Do you have another working polo? Perhaps stealing its FBT and trying it on this chassis will shed some light on the situation. If you dont want to break another one to try to fix this one I totally understand. Hantarex monitors have always been a pain in the backside and I've been fixing games since 1984 so that should tell you something.
What about a T2 and or The Simpsons for the basement? Are those pins expensive? (EDIT: LOL I just remembered you had a The Simpsons pin and you got rid of it.)
John, I think it's time to take that monitor out to the backyard and apply the technicians permanent fix, a five pound sledge right in the middle of it. For the amount of time and money you have dumped into that monitor, you probably could have gone and bought a used replacement monitor for it, I think it's time that you go and get a replacement and not worry about it, the aggravation is not worth it.
John's Arcade Game Reviews & Tech I don't blame you....but sometimes you have to weigh the cost of one's efforts, to the cost of simply replacing the unit outright. Believe me, when I was an operator, I'd get into the same mindset that you are in with that monitor, that I wouldn't let it beat me, but sometimes you just can't win battles like that, and it's best to concede and do what is necessary to save ones sanity. As for your coin mech issues, I suggest that you take the all metal ones that don't work, and give them a through hose down with brake cleaner(inside and out), and let them fully dry. Then lube the hinges and pivot points with a very fine machine oil (DO NOT USE WD-40 OR 3-in-1 OIL, IT WILL GUM UP!!), and check the functionality with new quarters (newer quarters are slightly lighter than ones from 10 or more years ago).
Burn down the Polo monitor Haha Buy a new one and be done. JK! looking forward to you fixing it, cause I'm sure a lot of us out there will have the same problem at some point. It will be nice to have a go to video! Keep up the great work 🤘
Yes, to a degree. I had the heater running before working in the garage in this video. Works great. BUT, if it gets too cold, it is not very effective.
Yes John show more Hanger videos. Since Centipede isn't making money maybe you should replace it with another game. Let's say Tapper or Tron ? I know man it's a tough choice. Keep it coming 👍
"Is this exciting? Do you guys like this?" (referencing to checking the games at the Hanger). YES! This is a side to arcade collecting that your general audience hasn't seen before. It's fascinating!
Sweet! Thanks. :) There will be more!
Spread the word, John's channel here is top notch. I don't know why he doesn't have a million+ subscribers. Keep the nostalgia alive! John, thank you! Looking forward to more videos.
Thanks, pal!
Hi John.
I remember my first ever location.
It was a children's activity centre called Crazy Clowns.
I had two cocktail cabinets, one with Superman installed, that two players could play together on the one side because I modified the control panel.
The other cocktail cabinet had the game Rush and crash installed, but I had to make a modification to the cabinet to accommodate the PCB.
Anyway to cut a long story short, my dad told me he had a pole position in an old location that was closed for many years and had recently been reopened, and this was back in the day when he had 30 locations, and the game was forgotten about.
So I was all excited to retrieve the pole position,but when I got there I was told it was dumped just a month before I arrived 😨 and in a ditch not to far away, and exposed to the Irish weather.
So I don't have to tell you how that ended..
Anyway I wish you the best of luck with your new location 😊
Hi John ! Regarding your hantarex monitor problem, did you check the B+ on pin 3 of the flyback (+138v ref value) before replacing the HOT ? Cause if the B+ is out of specs and super high it might bring a surge to the HOT base and take it away when powering up.
In case you have already performed those tests, you might also consider testing the horizontal yoke coils (with a proper yoke coil tester and not a multimeter) as if a short occured in one of them, it would blow the HOT in a split of seconds as soon as the power supply is switched on.
This.
Dangit. I have a monitor that has this EXACT PROBLEM. I'm also stumped exactly where you are. I was really hoping you'd solve it this week so I could try and replicate it on my machine.
Hangar move is brilliant. John deserves to to actually make money with his public arcade. John will be able to use this test as a blueprint to sell in the future for others who want to go pro with their collection. Great job John hope you have huge success with it.
The MK II cabintet looks great, brings back so many memories
thats so exciting that john and jay have an arcade in a swanky ol brewery!!! this put a smile on my face :)
Great video John! Love the Hanger : ) When jumping with a component lead, keep the lead long and solder it up and then cut it after it's in place. Keep your eye on the $ 'cause at the end of the day, that's the purpose of the whole hanger venture
A lot of the problems with coin mechanisms is that when they were originally designed at the time, the currency was heavier in weight, now currency is slightly lighter, therefore won't fall through the mechanism easily. My guess to fix the mechanism is to loosen up the tension on the spring somehow, if that is even possible.
Interesting theory!
I notice the new coins are lighter then the old ones so yeah check the coin mechanisms weight.
I just weighed two quarters, one from 1971 and one from 2016. The one from 2016 is 0.05 grams heavier (5.68g vs. 5.63g), which could be explained by the amount of wear on the old coin. I have no doubt that the 1971 quarter weighed the same as a current quarter when it was new (and even now, the 1/20th of a gram difference is negligible). The official weight of a U.S. quarter is 5.67 grams by the way.
The 90% silver quarters (1932 - 1964) were a little heavier (official weight was 6.25 grams), but that was long before 1980s arcade machine coin mechanisms were designed.
MaximRecoil but at the time quarters from the 60s were very very common that would like be finding a quarter from the 90s
Hey John, been flicking through this whole restore series, you have the patience of a saint dealing with that monitor!
Maybe stick Centipede on Freeplay for a day or two and see if you can kickstart some interest in it? Though admittedly, that's a really tough crowd that it's hanging with.
Power drift! Haven't seen one since around '90 man! Cool memories of being the only tech across 5 sites! Hard work in the summer season back in the day here in South coast U.K. !
Did you used to fix the Data East Simpsons Pinball at some caravan park in Devon? It was always getting balls stuck so I bet the tech was always there fixing it and then it would break again! It seemed an unreliable machine.
Knuckles the Echidna.I'm the south east corner buddy, I was more the pinbot,space shuttle type era! left the business the same year it came out
I was just saying to my wife that your show is the new "This Old House". Well done John!
I enjoyed this video and the Hangar is a nice add on to these videos. I agree a tripod on wheels would help. It is great to see these games back in action after all these years.
Considering the potential crowds in there and John was mentioning about keeping the camera on the 'down low', a tripod on wheels may be far too much of a problem. In this situation, he really needs a camera guy to film him as he narrates and works.
I'd also say that a 'sneak cam' might be better. Alas, those never have great resolution. Or, given that this is an arrangement with the owner of The Hanger, maybe it would be possible to have a series of ceiling globe cameras in place, so John can always get a wide view on what he is doing without fidgeting with the personal camera for everything. Alas...more cameras means more editing and work...is it even worth the extra shots?
Getting a bit of a 'behind the scenes' moment is amazing. That place looks massive. Or at least felt like it was.
Loving the Hangar videos! It's neat to see you guys working in a live arcade and the different troubles you're having (even if it's just coin mechs). I'd be interested to see if Centipede would earn more if you moved it to a different spot... maybe Super Mario and Ms. Pac are drawing attention away from it?
Yes, we might move Centipede tomorrow. We'll see....
The guy with his beer sitting on top of Monster Bash!!!
I was just going to post about that!!
I cringed so hard when I saw that...Ugh.
From the last video's comments, we were talking about that very cringe worthy issue. Just not a whole lot of answers to offer, aside from some kind of mug holder attachments.
Ugh...Joe Q. Public...
Well, there are tables EVERYWHERE
John, will they not let put signs up asking customers to NOT put drinks on the games...?
I think you need to finish off that TMNT and get it to the bar. That one will definitely earn you some cash, John. You also mentioned that you wanted to get Xenophobe in there, which might be a mistake. Another project you could take on would be a Turtles in Time. That's another game that would be popular at the bar.
Xenophobe might do ok? 3 player game?
The draw isn't 3 player, necessarily. The theme is everything. People are going to be looking for something that is immediately fun to play, or is familiar, and Xenophobe might not do it.
Hi John, I just wanted to comment on the coin mechs your using that just accept the one coin.
what I found, for location purposes is that by changing the coin door and installing a mars electronic coin mech would save you a lot of bother.
I find it so much easier to install the mars mechs and credit board so the customer can put any coin denomination into the machine without going looking for change, and your coins won't stick, hence you won't be called out so often.
Im not trying to tell you what to do by any means, but I myself found it easier to have machines on location and not get that late call just before I Sat down to relax and all of a sudden the phone rings ☺
Anyway keep up the great work, your fans the Heavey family from Ireland.
I hope it's a quick commute time to the Hangar. I could see it being a real pain if you need to maintenance the games too often.
I really like what you're doing with this part of the show and hope to see more of it. You've taken it to a whole new level of authenticity working on the games in a live, wild, arcade setting. Thanks for letting us peek at the weekend take ;)
They're your games, you can do what you want with them. You're an ace repairman and any issues and wear they receive will be patched up post haste by obsessive John. I wish you the best in this endeavor. Goodluck!
Thanks, pal! Glad you are enjoying it.
Mac Donalds Shotgunning is a great way to save tons of time. You know I've been trying to understand more and more what is wrong. I've been trying to test parts as I remove them. I want to know what's good or bad. Shotgunning is easy but it's not the most informed way to fix stuff.
Hey John! Been watching your videos for a long time, keep up the good work! PLEASE finish the MKII cabinet, I'm currently working on one too and would love to see yours complete to help me along. Thanks again!!
These games belong in bars or arcades, not in private basements where they're played once every 2 months. Love it like this when everyone can enjoy them :)
I am with the Kong.
Must say, I had a few games in my own gameroom, but nobody played them really. When I had friends over they played these machines -with great fun- for only like 5 min. I loved these moments, thats why Id like to see them being used a bit more though :D
The Kong how did you do that strike through?
www.trishtech.com/2016/10/how-to-format-text-in-youtube-comments/ :D
The Kong thank you :-)
Thanks for taking us along! NIce addition to your channel
Hey John, for the games in your collection at home; do you have a means of keeping track and organizing the keys so they don't get damaged if left in the locks. I'd suggest a key lock box and keep an inventory log so you'd know what key is for what machine. This could be beneficial if you manage spare keys or replace locks. I remember you mentioned in your restoration videos that you use a package of keyed alike locks; one thing to keep in mind is that not every batch would use the same number as your previous package. So it wouldn't hurt to have a means of organizing them if you haven't done so already.
If you want to remove the black paint on the side of the cabinet use goof off graffiti remover it works good I have UMK3 but underneath the black paint was MK2
The first video showing life as an arcade operator! I'd love to see more Hangar videos. Bring a small tripod, maybe? Might not be feasible with everybody wandering around, but hey. It's so interesting that you're having mech problems now that it's not a personal free play arcade and those guts are seeing heavy use.
I have sprayed some CLP on the coin mechs and then ran the same quarter through about 10 times and then just clean off the excess (leave a little). Cleans up sticky junk and lets the coins slide through faster and not hang up. and may help with coins being lighter now? And more hanger footage is great! Your vids have been a huge help! Thanks.
Would you be able to compile a list of mechs to games? I've love to run tokens in my games, but I'm not sure what mechs to run. Thanks John!
enjoyed the video. Coin mechanisms are a pain. had same problem when I had games on location. hope the new mechanisms fix the problems. shouldn't have all problems I had. no kids in your bar. the one I had games in served food during day. kids are hard on games. Games look good. good luck!
Hey john you finally fix that pole chassis
Very cool, interesting seeing how these games fare in 2016 at the Hangar, I didn't realize coin mechs were so finicky lol, maybe the moving parts just need to be oiled?
Coin mechs suck. :)
i love the hanger and trying to watch you fix the coin mechs. so far so good yes a tripod would be helpful to you i would think...lol keep on keepin on!!!!..
AND YES I want to see more Hangar. I'm 2 hours away and may take a ride up!
Sweet!
John, Did you get my comment on the Polo?
Interesting seeing your new life as an operator, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Brian!
Hope my Polo never goes wrong!
Hi John,
Are there anymore MK2 videos?
Any plans to continue the MK2 restore soon? Part 6 was Five months ago.
John is planning on continuing Mk2 restore but that will come after Atari Cloak & Dagger Arcade Restore is down which is in two weeks. the MK2 restore is #SOON
More Hangar videos!!!!
Ok. :)
Yes more Hangar videos indeed. :)
I concur
I'm an ex arcade operator. Get used to carrying a little folding pocket knife in your pocket. No, not for defense. A small knife is AMAZING for dislodging coin jams without taking anything apart. The blade can fit into the coin chute and work coins (and foreign objects) free, usually without even removing the mech.
Monitors are definitely my weak point. Loving the MKII monitor videos. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for another great video. Good luck getting that monitor working. It looks very frustrating. Also, thanks for the advice on the Qbert search. I'll keep looking and try some of the things you mentioned. I like the idea of the Jrock board, but I want to try to have as close to original hardware as possible to fall back on.
I do agree the monitor stuff is definitely maddening! anyway hoping you get it figured out. Also hope to see new updates on TMNT! I do think the 'beercade' intermissions are a nice change of pace from being in the garage and the basement it does mix things up a little bit!
Thanks!
If the hanger get shocked by lightning all your games are going to be fried
Hanger video footage is great! I can't believe that Centipede is a flop. That's a current fav of mine. Will have to check out the vids on Twitter.
Good luck with MK2!
Dude just realized the hangar is not far from me! I may visit if the arcades are still going
Can't wait John,when you tell me what camera you use.This is so awesome
I think you need to get an NES Playchoice 10 there. With how popular the NES Classic is at the moment I have a feeling that game may do a lot of business in a place like that with the 30-40 age group.
I'd suspect the opposite. Why would you pay to play playchoice 10 if you have a NES classic?
Unless maybe you load it with games that AREN'T on the nes classic, like Contra.
But then, VS Mario, Punchout and Donkey Kong(s) are all right there., and they're better than the Playchoice versions.
Man I really want one of those Nintendo Tech Support shirts!
I'd use the working Midway monitor in the MKII and save solving the hantarex for sometime in the new year. Also n'thing what everyone says about getting Turtles in the beercade. That thing is a quarter-sucker and it'll earn like crazy!
Loving the hanger project, but how far is the hanger from the basement? How much of your free time is it going to take up?
Hi, John. I enjoy all your videos and see you been working hard on getting that monitor working for that Mortl Kombat II. My advice to you is to get a Wells Gardener 7000 and get rid of the Polo Hantarex, I have a pile of those not working :) I hope one day you can come and visit my Arcade in California. Keep it up John!!
John, Chad @ Arcadecup...the guy is an arcade CRT chassis master!
Agreed. Chad is great.
real world arcade footage, awesome!!
Best soldering iron in the world. Good stuff.
Looks like more trouble than It's worth john.
LOVE THE SKATE STICKERS ON THE TOOL BOX, BUT THE "MUIRSKATE" ONE IS REALLY INTERESTING, IT SOUNDS KINDA FAMILIAR, BUT NOT TOO LOL
Muir Skate is a great Longboard shop.
I'm sure that you'll figure out how to juggle the camera and the work at The Hanger in time. Definitely a change of pace.
When you check the coin mech validators, do you leave the extra credits on the machine for people to 'discover' or not? My local arcade does leave extra credits in play and it's a nice discovery for a few free games...especially on titles I'd never otherwise play.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen a Centipede in the wild for quite some time. Quite possible that nobody cares for the game, anymore. Though, I have seen a Missile Command in the last ten years.
Yea...the Xenomorph with it's three players interface may do well. Bet that Turtles would do even better. People do love the Turtles. Or...maybe even that football board.
I have left some. :)
Can you do tutorial about the -5 volts setup for the PSU for the MK games ? I am unsure if you are supposed to hook up the +5 and -5 and also the +12 V to the PSU / or just the -5 and +12V ? Thanks !
You go John, I have always wanted to shop some of my games. I would not get another Ghost Busters, You still own it and can always play it at the BarCade, get something else that is cool.
Yeah, good point. I thought about that too. Maybe get something else. :)
Being an op now, do you think it'll change what games you buy? Things like Quantum and Journey are interesting for collectors due to rarity but I imagine unwanted by ops, compared to things you don't usually go for like 90's fighting games etc.
Actually I suppose that, dirty word, Jamma cabs would be useful to keep the game list fresh.
I think the basement will always be heavy with the collector type games and the Hangar will be a place with games the general public are looking to play. Two totally different worlds for sure!
Hey John..hope you finally get the MK2 working someday;-(
You did everything right but things still don't work like they should and your not giving up if you use a new monitor
I'd like to see you play some Marble Madness John. Sound on that game is soooo good!
Good idea!
Was there anymore to the MKII parts or was it put on the back burner...?!?
do you plan to continue this restore there has not been a new video for the restore for 4 months I have been watching this over 3 times wanting a new part 7
Yes, for sure. When we get back in the garage.
40:56 You need some of those video glasses that LGR had
Another great video john keep up with the Hangar Videos they are good and informative.
Thank you!
Christmas party coming up. Fill your holes, sir! You mentioned Bronco and *maybe* MKII, but at least throw a Christmas tree in a gap so it doesn't look like missing teeth down there. :D
"Looks like I need to order a baker's dozen of HOT'S" haha!!!. Hey John check diode D18, read on the forums that that was causing someone else the same problem. Good luck with the fix.
i can't wait for some random youtube arcade guy to visit the Hangar and do a walkthrough & commentary, pointing out repro cpos and wrong joysticks. what goes around... :)
ME TOO. :D
Would you be interested in working with Wangan Midnight machines?
did you give up on your mk2 restore? cant find the rest of the series
Also, Imonex Quarter mechs FTW. BYE BYE coin door problems. :)
Love your channel, keep up the good work.
I'm in much need of an appraisal on my 1984 vs golf. It's in great condition
+rileydean13 dedicated? Post some photos on the John's Arcade forum. We can help.
I can tell by the title, I know... but when I see a HOT in a static bag named Polo I think... Finally, lets fix that fluxer.
John Good for you ...you finally hit the Big Arcade Time and you deserve it..its so much fun to watch and learn ..try to learn most times...lol you have a great show and i just sent you a message on one of your recent shows.. about im waiting on a Medeval Madness remake pin...ive paid in full just waiting on the shaker motor and its installation and delivery...YAWN...its taking forever lol....i will support your cause anyway i can ...very cool show!!!! i have a pinball question and wondered if you might know anything about it...its a GoldenBall..is it worth a purchace in your opinion or would you pass.. at first i thought cool then i was a little reluctant..lol.. its in 'very good' condition thanks for doing what you do and hope to see more shows in the future JohnQ
I forgot to plug my control board in and that blew the HOT on this monitor, any shorts on the control board?
Love the on location videos! Will you ever get into details of licensing for arcades (if that's still even done) and how one has to figure taxes on vending income?
Thanks!
lol the guy asked a question John
Your Berzerk is not technically on Freeplay. It playing like Freeplay because it still has trash in memory (the FF at the bottom where credits should be). Clear the memory in settings, or unplug the battery on the ZPU for a while to clear that. Those boards are bad about that. For some reason when they get trash in memory, they read it as a credit.
Thanks! We will do this.
If the problem persists, you have a problem with your reset circuit on the ZPU. Check for acid damage.
Stephen Davis It's missing the battery. I think this is the problem. You guys figured it out! THANKS!
Could be... I use NV RAM on my Berzerk and Frenzy boards. They work amazingly well. Just remember when you go to do the battery, it was designed for a rechargeable battery so it does get +5 volts to the + side of the battery. So, you will need to install a quick switching Schottky diode to block out that voltage if you do a lithium 2025 style battery mod. Make sure you use a Schottky diode also. Using a regular diode will drain that new battery fast. But easiest fix is the NVRAM.
Cool to see what it's like to be an arcade operator, must be kind of a pain to keep checking to see everything is working right. Sucks your still stuck wi that shitty monitor I would ditch that thing and try a different one if I was you.
I would think that once the initial hurdle of testing, testing, testing is over, John can get a good feel for what's reliable and what's being a problem. Right now, those coin mechs were in light use for home display. Hard to know the good from the lemons until the same ten units keep jamming, day in and day out. That little foam piece was most certainly unexpected. But, possibly hasn't been slammed by the pinball all so much, over the years.
The Hanger really made out well in this arrangement. To get operators that are dedicated to keeping the machines cherry. After all, I've seen a couple barcades that stuff dying machines onto the floor. No care just lowers the reflection on the place with machines that are on their final leg with nearly dead monitors, no sound, bad controls and coin mechs that went bad, years ago.
I want to see more hanger stuff. Could replace Centipede with Defender, if Jay has one that is.
I'd probably lean more towards Missile Command.
I don't think Defender is a good choice. We'll see...
John, where did you get the flyback? FWIW, just because its new doesnt mean its good. I have not been following along so I might ask a few questions that you have already answered.
Have you tested any of the poly caps in and around the high voltage section? Something of size is taking out that HOT. Its got to be something like the FB, a bad poly cap, a shorted diode.....
I tested all the stuff it mentions in the flow chart. I got the flyback at Arcade Shop. I too was wondering if it was bad.
I just looked at a flow chart and it doesnt cover all the bases. You should check all of those poly caps in and around the flyback and HOT, no matter the size. Diodes too.
Do you have another working polo? Perhaps stealing its FBT and trying it on this chassis will shed some light on the situation. If you dont want to break another one to try to fix this one I totally understand. Hantarex monitors have always been a pain in the backside and I've been fixing games since 1984 so that should tell you something.
How much was a operators licence?
I wonder if Double Dragon would earn at the arcade. You have one of those, right?
We have one in the bar. Yes. It's doing ok.
What about a T2 and or The Simpsons for the basement? Are those pins expensive? (EDIT: LOL I just remembered you had a The Simpsons pin and you got rid of it.)
I miss my Simpsons. :)
John, I think it's time to take that monitor out to the backyard and apply the technicians permanent fix, a five pound sledge right in the middle of it.
For the amount of time and money you have dumped into that monitor, you probably could have gone and bought a used replacement monitor for it, I think it's time that you go and get a replacement and not worry about it, the aggravation is not worth it.
I hate that monitor. :)
John's Arcade Game Reviews & Tech
I don't blame you....but sometimes you have to weigh the cost of one's efforts, to the cost of simply replacing the unit outright. Believe me, when I was an operator, I'd get into the same mindset that you are in with that monitor, that I wouldn't let it beat me, but sometimes you just can't win battles like that, and it's best to concede and do what is necessary to save ones sanity.
As for your coin mech issues, I suggest that you take the all metal ones that don't work, and give them a through hose down with brake cleaner(inside and out), and let them fully dry.
Then lube the hinges and pivot points with a very fine machine oil (DO NOT USE WD-40 OR 3-in-1 OIL, IT WILL GUM UP!!), and check the functionality with new quarters (newer quarters are slightly lighter than ones from 10 or more years ago).
If you do get a replacement, make sure you make a video of the old one getting smashed. lol
John, do those shirts come in "Arcade Collector sizes"?
We can accommodate most arcade bodies. ;)
John. Why you did not move the RFM pinball to the hangar?
I don't trust the original computer that is in it.
Burn down the Polo monitor Haha Buy a new one and be done. JK! looking forward to you fixing it, cause I'm sure a lot of us out there will have the same problem at some point. It will be nice to have a go to video! Keep up the great work 🤘
FATALITY! K7000 WINS!
I wouldn't call something catching fire a safety feature though! :)
Good point. :)
Some of those coin mechs might be setup for tokens not quarters.
We had a couple that were.
Looks like one pin from the flywheel is not soldered.
If you can't get the mk II done by next week couldn't you just use that propane heater you have and work through the cold?
Yes, to a degree. I had the heater running before working in the garage in this video. Works great. BUT, if it gets too cold, it is not very effective.
Is this repaired yet?
your in the hussle now man! Hope you make some coins back. Making more than sitting in the basement! Coin mechs suck don't they haha feel the pain ;)
Are you a purist or do you sometimes put in aftermarket parts or LCD screens?
+aguyandhiscomputer never. Always CRTS. :)
Yes John show more Hanger videos. Since Centipede isn't making money maybe you should replace it with another game. Let's say Tapper or Tron ? I know man it's a tough choice. Keep it coming 👍
We might bring a Tapper in soon. I think Centipede needs to move.
Sounds good can't wait for the results... 👍
I bet a Tapper would be great, there.
I believe bzerk thinks it has coins when the battery is dead/missing.
+James Vandever OMG! I think you figured it out.