Finally! Pics of my Berzerk Cab!

[pmpddytim]

Finally, Here are the pics of my $20 Berzerk Cab. On one of the pics you can see the littel bit of damage the board has. However the damage seems minimal and I think I can just use some wire to recconect the leads.

 

Some good news is that it powers up and the monitor looks excellent (though scrambled).

 

I didnt take pictures but it has all its original books and schematics.

 

I'm always happy for advice in gettig it to work.

 

-Tim

[bjk7382]

I would start by getting that battery off of there and cleaning it up with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution. Keeping the battery on there isn't saving anything (it is most likely dead anyway, so the high scores are long gone)

 

Here is a page explaining it a little bit. It is usually the power-on reset line that gets eaten up first by the "acid" so check that out, make sure all the traces are fixed, fire it up, and see what happens.

[Dr Galaga]

Good deal Tim.

I don't think I ever played this back "in the day" - but I sure play the heck out of it on the 2600!

[Dusk2600]

wiether its fixable or not its a hell of a deal for 20.00 and looks to be in nice shape great find

[pmpddytim]

I would start by getting that battery off of there and cleaning it up with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution. Keeping the battery on there isn't saving anything (it is most likely dead anyway, so the high scores are long gone)

 

Here is a page explaining it a little bit. It is usually the power-on reset line that gets eaten up first by the "acid" so check that out, make sure all the traces are fixed, fire it up, and see what happens.

1004900[/snapback]

 

I removed the battery adn I'll clean it up tommorw. ONe question though. How do you go about restoring traces. I've never had to do that before.

 

-Tim

[bjk7382]

ONe question though. How do you go about restoring traces. I've never had to do that before.

1005020[/snapback]

 

As you said already the damage doesn't look too severe. I would start by putting fresh solder on the corroded joints to the components to get flux in there, and try to desolder all the bad stuff. Reflow solder on them and check for continuity on the ajoining trace.

 

For fixing the traces, if the area to bridge is small you can use resistor leads, but for larger areas insulated wire is the way to go. Try to use just enough wire to go where you need to, and then after you get it all fixed you can secure the wires to the board with glue or tape to keep them from moving and breaking off. Also try to use wire that is the same size as the trace you are fixing.

 

It isn't too difficult. It always seems more confusing when your just thinking about it. I am sure it will go smoothly once you get going.

 

btw don't forget to clean all the inter-board connector pins with very fine sandpaper or an eraser. Also look for burned molex connectors for the power input. (although I doubt this because you said you get garbage on the screen, which means the boards are working to a certain extent)

Edited January 24, 2006 by bjk7382

[pmpddytim]

Much appreciated. I'll keep you posted.

 

_Tim

[telengard]

Finally, Here are the pics of my $20 Berzerk Cab. On one of the pics you can see the littel bit of damage the board has. However the damage seems minimal and I think I can just use some wire to recconect the leads.

 

Some good news is that it powers up and the monitor looks excellent (though scrambled).

 

I didnt take pictures but it has all its original books and schematics.

 

I'm always happy for advice in gettig it to work.

 

-Tim

1004815[/snapback]

 

Wow, that is a good find and a good deal. I wish I had the room to collect them. Berzerk was one of my favorite games way back when. Also seems like it has a Wico 8 way on it rather than the huge bat handled optical joystick. That alone is worth about $20 on eBay. I hope you get it up and going!

 

~telengard