CRT Monitor Mishaps

Hellrun

Inspired by Driptray's recent 4 year thread resurrection, I thought I would start a new thread on CRT Monitors/TVs where I would like to invite you to share your best or worst experiences you have had over the years.

Hellrun

I'll start of with a long winded, rather sore, memory from about 4 years ago when I endured the pain that CRT monitors just love to dish out to us...

Fresh off the back of a heavy night's drinking (I believe it was a Katatonia gig, for any of you metalheads), I had the privilege of sitting the whole day at home whilst some fellas came out to fit a new boiler. What better way to spend it than to get some retro gaming on the go?

Not content with the usual 2d fighters (I have a soft spot for Street Fighter, especially SFIII in any of it s flavours) I had been playing for several years on my cab, I decided this was the opportune moment to delve into tate mode, since I had been looking forward to playing a spot of Battle Garegga...

Now, I dont know how many of you guys have knowledge or have experienced the process of rotating a CRT monitor (specifically in an E3 or AWSD cab) but any that have, might agree its not really a one man job. I did successfully rotate it in the past alone but it was perhaps just luck that it worked out ok. Regardless, time was pressing on and Battle Garegga was calling...

I have to admit that this time the rotating process was much more laboured, but I was particularly concerned when at the moment of reseating the monitor in its new position, I heard a small crack and what sounded like an air or gas release :S Will be grand and all that, crack on sure!

Upon switching the cab back on, it was more clear than ever that what I had feared most had just happened, the dreaded necking of the tube (and that noise I heard would have been air entering the tube, since it is a vacuum)! With lots of smoke appearing and what was probably the on set of a small fire, the plug had to be pulled. I can assure you that if I thought my hangover was bad before this point, I hadn t seen anything yet! Haha

Fast forward a few months, when I had come to accept that we all do silly things and that it was time to just replace it and get on with it. I thought my luck was in after browsing the sales section of Arcade Otaku when a brand new Toshiba PF monitor appeared for sale. I can assure you that this is not a common item to pop up in this condition! What was my drunken tate adventure going to cost me? Well, after Shipping from Sweden 600 pounds (and a few weeks waiting). I posted it to my parent s address so that it would be delivered first time (usually always someone in there) and it wouldn t have any unnecessary travelling to do! Now to say I was apprehensive about such an item being shipped and with no less than UPS, is quite an understatement.

Finally getting the call to say a rather large box had arrived, my excitement grew. My new old stock Toshiba PF monitor had arrived, good times. Until I opened the box at least...
You guessed it guys, first thing my eyes could see of the monitor after removing the packaging was the horrific site of the tube neck broken and hanging off at a 90 angle! After many back and forth with the seller and UPS and sleepless nights, the best offer I could get was a partial refund of 200 pounds. Bad times!

Wounded and with my tail firmly between my legs, I retreated from arcade cabinets for quite some time. When the wounds began to heal I decided it was time to get this sorted out for once and for all. I wouldn t be shipping any CRTs this time, collecting in person was my only option. I was able to source an original Samsung 29 CRT which was the same model as my own, from a kind chap in Dublin for the bargain price of 100 Euro. Assured it was top dog, I made my way back home with my final solution (will refrain from a bad taste joke at this point). This time, straight in to the cab (with help, of course) and no necking of tubes which is obviously a bonus. Well anyone still reading, guess where this is going? No joy again, and again smoke rising from the neckcard (this time a new neckcard, after presuming the old neckcard dead due to heavy smoking, lol. Is there any end in sight? Well with some help from the guys over at AO, I was able to determine that the new CRT was running in frame collapse for some reason. As a last resort I took the winding coil from my original Samsung that I necked and used it to replace the potentially dodgy one on my new purchase. Thankfully I had again replaced the neckcard at this point and she was firing like a beauty. Been admiring that lovely picture ever since!

Wow, what a ridiculous story. Moral of the story? Well there are at least two:
Dont try to tate the monitor by yourself (unless you are a lucky bugger and have an Egret II with a rotate mech)
Most definitely do not ship CRT monitors (certainly not using UPS), there have been too many casualties!

Oh how I love arcade cabinets!

Steve X2

I’ve swapped out the monitor in my Egret 3 maybe 3 times on my own over the last few years. As long as you plan it and have confidence in what you can lift its all ok(and make sure your hands are dry and not sweaty ).
The last time I swapped it out was for a brand new CRT(well, new old stock) all the way from Japan. It got here without issue as it was well packaged and the neck was certainly taken into account before it was packed up.

But I will admit, the first time I needed to swap out the monitor I was very worried and had no clue how it would go. Folks around here may remember me looking for an electronics expert to come out and discharge the monitor

kevin2me

My head ache is at the moment, bought Mint Noami for like 800e with lots of extras a year or more ago.
Its sitting idle since.

Worked after delivery for few minutes, moved it into final resting place and monitor blew.
Got spare chassis into it and it blew too, same issue. Found some issues on PSU, hoping this is it.
Waiting on grant to get chassis back again and hope it doesnt blow, not confident, Id gladly buy LCD that fits it at this stage! gggrrrr

Monitors are by far most annoying part of arcade collecting.

Thanks to few here for getting spare 31K once, and was lucky ith Cocktail Cab was able to decase that 1 PC monitor I randomly owed and fitted straight into the mounts

eddhorse

Good story, least you didnt get a discharge shock !
Neither have I thankfully, had a few issues with monitors, Gunblade aka Grant Spain has been capping them etc.
I have recently taken the Astro 29" monitor out for refurbishment and cleaning etc.
Weighs a ton, just about got it done.

Gonna have to take it apart again soon as i am mid extension build so looking forward to that.

A necked tube is defo the worst thing that can happen.