Expert: Octane - 12/15/2008

Question
I have an old (circa 1990) Capcom Bowling machine with no video.  Otherwise it is operational - when plugged in, the "attract mode" music starts up.  Pushing "start" begins the game.  I can roll the ball, hear the results, etc.  Only, there is NO video image on the screen.  I have unplugged and replugged the connectors to the video board, and checked the single fuse on the video board, as well as the bank of three fuses on the chassis.  Are there some other diagnostic steps I can take?

Answer
Gday Tom,

By the sound of it your problem definitely is with the monitor.  The monitor is independent for the main board so even with a dead monitor providing your main PCB is working and you have correct voltages/power running in the machine you should get sound just like a normal game, just you can't see anything because the monitor is dead.

So you have to check the monitor to see if it is functioning.  Basic tests are to check the back of the monitor in the neck you should be able to see a glow if it has power, you also should be able to hear a humming of the monitor and maybe feel static on the front of the screen.  If you can't see a glow in the neck the monitor itself is not working.  Which could mean the tube is shot or the chassis of the monitor is shot or maybe power going to the monitor is bad.  (I tend not to muck too much around with monitors.  If they are not working I tend to just replace everything.  If they work with problems I might be incline to muck about with them and put the odd cap kit in them.  Monitors are fairly dangerous that's why I don't muck around with them too much.)

I would also test the power going to the monitor.  (Also check you connections)  Most older games with older monitors tend to have a separate osculating transformer power supply for the monitor (It's not built in)  I would check that to see if it is giving out power, it could be off the main transformers. Then work you way up to the monitor and test there.  Maybe something like a transformer is out which is a lot cheaper than replacing the monitor.  Minimum amount of tools you need is probably some type of multimeter.

If you have a glow in the neck of the monitor then I would turn up the contrast or one of the color plates till the screen turns all white or all one color this would tend to say the monitor is kind of working.  Then adjust from there.  (I would then be checking you connection from the monitor to the main harness connection to make sure you have not go a bad or broken connection.)

Hope this Helps

Octane