Sega Mega-Tech Restoration

[mourix]

You know, for me these restoration journeys are almost more fun than the gameplay itself. So let's start a new one with this original Sega Mega-Tech!

Up front, things are just your basic 30 years of wear and tear. Gotta replace locks, CPO, buttons and clean a whole bunch:



Up back, things are not as nice..The rear door is missing, and the backpanel is severely kicked in. Additionally, the bottom plate also has a crack so the entire cab is wobbly. I'm on the fence whether to stabilize the backpanel or make a new one entirely:



When I picked up this machine I immediately noticed the main monitor was not original. There should be two Hantarex MTC9000's in there, but the main screen is a Kortek KTM-F. After sliding down the cab from the second floor we found this green connector on the floor. Later at my home the main screen did not light at all. You know why? I figured out the green connector is the AC in for the original MTC9000, and the red and white wires are the AC in on the Kortek. I definitely want to improve this. For now, it literally just had to be shoved in there:



So that leaves me with this:



Electrical inspection time:

• The main board works with all 8 original games.
• The sound is really tinny. Maybe a main board recap needed.
• The power supply -12V line measures -16V.
• The menu screen is very sharp but way too bright.
• The main screen is quite blurry. Not sure if that's dirt or focus. Also the adjustment board of it had a broken pot.
• Finally, all lamps are missing. Can anyone with a Mega-Tech tell me the type?

I've got big plans for this machine. At the end of the run, it will be almost like new.
As a hardware engineer, I also want to design some custom game carts for it. This time open source for everyone

To be continued...

 

[Flyback2021]

Looking like a nice restoration project ahead !
The fact that you have the mainboard , games and top crt working is a very good start Indeed.
I will check the bulb tomorrow and post a picture.
I Have a Megatech and was collecting games for it for about 5 years , there is some I just never came across and in the end I went onto other things.

 

[Flyback2021]

Ps Nice idea about designing some custom carts and open source too. I brought a few of the customs but was the released titles I was really after.

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

I got two 2w B15 Sewing Machine Bulbs from Amazon for the marquee.
The original ones were starting to bubble up the back of the marquee.

https://amzn.eu/d/dYmbrAO

 

[mourix]

Thank you for the comments. The bulbs are ordered

As for the blurry monitor, I found the source:

 

[Flyback2021]

I'm interested in helping you, if you want!

I was involved in the restoration of a Mega-tech just like yours recently and one of my users sent me the original control panel, so I was able to do a new scan of this part and do the Colour Mach.

I would like you to help me complete some things that I am missing from this arcade cabinet, such as the marking of the side arts and the small identifying stickers.

I am interested in saving all kinds of large and small stickers.

Here you can see the original panel that I restored.

Original "MEGA-TECH Control Panel" (SEGA) for upright arcade cabinet for to scans and to restore Zona Arcade and Mikonos (photo1).

Link: https://zonaarcade.forumcommunity.net/?t=62828448#entry462064537

Here you can see the entire restoration process and photographs of the reproduction. I think it is the most precise control panel overlay that has ever been reproduced:

Details in "Mega-Tech Control Panel Overlay" (SEGA) printed on 3M metallic silver vinyl, with white ink and rough/hard protective lamination (photo 4).

Link: https://zonaarcade.forumcommunity.net/?t=62860250#entry462426256


Cheers!

That control panel reproduction looks fantastic! Great job !
I have a Megatech shell also to restore and one completed , I managed to find a nos side art - 1 side only unfortunately.

 

[mourix]

That control panel reproduction looks fantastic! Great job !
I have a Megatech shell also to restore and one completed , I managed to find a nos side art - 1 side only unfortunately.

Mikonos has a private collection and does not share any of his restorations publicly besides some very non transparent sales...

I want everything about this project to be free and open for everyone, even if it takes scanning my own side art. Maybe we can work together?

 

[mourix]

Anyways, back to the restoration. Lights came in:



I also adjusted both monitors. Things are looking pretty great in a dimly lit room:

 

[Nes4life]

All artwork already available on https://www.arcadeartshop.com/product-tag/megatech/
That's where I got my CPO and side art from Olly.

 

[itruk]

All artwork already available on https://www.arcadeartshop.com/product-tag/megatech/
That's where I got my CPO and side art from Olly.

You beat me too it. I also picked up my CPO and side art from Olly.
You don't have to look overseas for all artwork's, lucky to have a good one in the UK 🙂

 

[Jon-A-Tron]

Anyways, back to the restoration. Lights came in:

View attachment 15182

I also adjusted both monitors. Things are looking pretty great in a dimly lit room:

View attachment 15183

Are those incandescent bulbs or similar to the LEDs I mentioned? If incandescent just watch for the back of the marquee burning if you have it on for a long period at a time. I went with the LEDs as mine is on for about 20 hours a week. Arcade Art Shot do replacements of those as well anyway if it does burn. Looks great 👍

 

[Max...]

Guessing you will of course seen it but if anyone hasn’t RMC have just started doing a really good series on these.

 

[mourix]

You beat me too it. I also picked up my CPO and side art from Olly.
You don't have to look overseas for all artwork's, lucky to have a good one in the UK 🙂

To bad I'm from the Netherlands, haha. I did buy from Olly for my Crazy Taxi though!

Are those incandescent bulbs or similar to the LEDs I mentioned? If incandescent just watch for the back of the marquee burning if you have it on for a long period at a time. I went with the LEDs as mine is on for about 20 hours a week. Arcade Art Shot do replacements of those as well anyway if it does burn. Looks great 👍

The B15 ones are LED, just the coin door T10 is incandescent as it was just too cheap on Amazon. My marquee has foil bubbles on the inside but I was just in time! Thank you.

Guessing you will of course seen it but if anyone hasn’t RMC have just started doing a really good series on these.

I love this channel

 

[bbz149]

Guessing you will of course seen it but if anyone hasn’t RMC have just started doing a really good series on these.

LOL, I was only watching that the other night and Olly was on the 1st episode

 

[Max...]

Yes, RMC is one of the few VG channels I still watch, fantastic stuff - must get down there one day. Alongside Luke Morse for maybe 15 years and more recently 'video game esoterica' that's about it.

 

[Stokers]

Yes, RMC is one of the few VG channels I still watch, fantastic stuff - must get down there one day. Alongside Luke Morse for maybe 15 years and more recently 'video game esoterica' that's about it.

Luke Morse, wow that brings back some memories. His channel took a rather dark at one point and I felt I had to stop watching it.

I wasn't that into arcades at the time, but when you go back he still has a bunch of good content on refurbishing and fixing cabs and pcbs.

 

[Max...]

Luke Morse, wow that brings back some memories. His channel took a rather dark at one point and I felt I had to stop watching it.

I wasn't that into arcades at the time, but when you go back he still has a bunch of good content on refurbishing and fixing cabs and pcbs.

But so many awesome random videos over the years - Hard Off hunting, bicycle rides, food sampling, living in Japan etc but for me the zenith was the game room round ups of all those cabs with the green lighting etc. In recent years he has moved pretty much to board repair videos but he's blooming good at bringing things back to life.

 

[jerryspaghetti]

Luke Morse, wow that brings back some memories. His channel took a rather dark at one point and I felt I had to stop watching it.

I wasn't that into arcades at the time, but when you go back he still has a bunch of good content on refurbishing and fixing cabs and pcbs.

Dark turn?!!! I need to know more 😂

 

[Stokers]

Dark turn?!!! I need to know more 😂

Well there was a video he posted a long time ago where he said his wife had left him as he was spending all his time on gaming / YouTube and was filling their relatively small house with gaming machines.

He was supposed to be quitting YouTube and it felt odd to keep watching knowing that his channel was causing him serious personal problems.

Looks like he’s all good now though.

 

[jerryspaghetti]

Well there was a video he posted a long time ago where he said his wife had left him as he was spending all his time on gaming / YouTube and was filling their relatively small house with gaming machines.

He was supposed to be quitting YouTube and it felt odd to keep watching knowing that his channel was causing him serious personal problems.

Looks like he’s all good now though.

Well there was a video he posted a long time ago where he said his wife had left him as he was spending all his time on gaming / YouTube and was filling their relatively small house with gaming machines.

He was supposed to be quitting YouTube and it felt odd to keep watching knowing that his channel was causing him serious personal problems.

Looks like he’s all good now though.

Damn, that IS dark