Question from Ian: Hi guys! Thanks for all the informative videos and online help, it’s very much appreciated! I’m new to this stuff, but I need to learn to repair my machine myself so I can keep it running for years to come.

I bought a 1982 William’s Robotron (the best game ever created!) stand-up arcade machine a while ago with a G07 monitor chassis. The monitor recently stopped working completely after accidently leaving it running overnight. I came down in the morning and the marquee was lit up, but nothing on the monitor. The game still plays and all other systems seem to be working properly, just no picture.

After watching your videos on monitor repair I tried to discharge the flyback and didn’t get any kind of a “popâ€ or zap from it. The machine has been unplugged for a couple days. After seeing that it had no charge I found a ground wire that you talked about coming off the monitor, but it wasn’t connected to anything. I connected it to ground and powered it up again, but still no picture. I didn’t see how the wire could just pop off all by itself overnight either, so I’m guessing it never was hooked up.

Then, I unplugged the machine, and tried to discharge the flyback again, and thought there would be a “popâ€ or something now because it was just plugged in, but again nothing happened. I used an extension cord that I stripped the wires and attached them to a flathead screwdriver with electrical tape. I then clamped the other end of the wires to the chassis, kind of a “ghettoâ€ version of what you did, heh, but should still work.

I inspected all the capacitors, and visually they look fine. I don’t have an ESR meter so I can’t say for sure yet, but at this point from what I’ve told you would you say that it’s most likely the flyback transformer that’s either dead or not getting power?

Like I said thanks so much for any input you have, and thanks for being so helpful with your videos etc, you guys rock!

Regards,
Ian from Courtenay, BC Canada