Monitor Good
The monitor was repaired and placed in the second unit. The picture needed drastic adjustment but look fair now.
We cleaned the Angle Encoder on this unit. The left and right motion was not smooth so we tore down that encoder and cleaned it. It is working well now, but was out of alignment. We took the gear out of the chain and adjusted the ship position to center. Then we let the spring on the yoke center the control. we slipped the gear back in place and tightened the set screws. now we can move side to side even to the extent of “scraping” the canyon walls at the extremes.
We cleaned the Angle Encoder on this unit. The left and right motion was not smooth so we tore down that encoder and cleaned it. It is working well now, but was out of alignment. We took the gear out of the chain and adjusted the ship position to center. Then we let the spring on the yoke center the control. we slipped the gear back in place and tightened the set screws. now we can move side to side even to the extent of “scraping” the canyon walls at the extremes.
Sold
One of these units was finally equipped with the proper color overlay and sold. The other is still needing cleaning, calibration and a monitor.
Encoder Clean
08 Aug 2012 Filed in: Midway
The yoke on this game utilizes two Angle Encoders. The encoder wheel provides an absolute position of the controller based on rotation angle from the base line. Most steering wheel controller simply send pulses to indicate the wheel was turned left or right. These controls do not mark the absolute position.
The Midway Angle Encoder marks the position. It does this well until the wheel inside the encoder gets dirty or the pins get worn. Then it send intermittent signals and the game board gets confused. Hopefully it is a dirty wheel that you can clean.
You have to remove the angle encoder from the controller. Then you have to desolder the gray, plastic wheel housing from the encoder PCB. The next part is the scary step. The plastic housing is 3 layers sandwiched together with some clips and plastic pins. The layers must be forced apart by removing the clips and prying the plastic pins open. This is always dangerous with 30+ year old plastic.
When the wheel drops out of the housing, clean it with rubber erasers or rubbing alcohol.
Place the wheel on the bottom slice of the sandwich, drop the middle slice on it, place the axle through the hole and engage the wheel. Now drop the third slice and clip it back together.
Solder it back on the board and replace the Encoder unit.
The Midway Angle Encoder marks the position. It does this well until the wheel inside the encoder gets dirty or the pins get worn. Then it send intermittent signals and the game board gets confused. Hopefully it is a dirty wheel that you can clean.
You have to remove the angle encoder from the controller. Then you have to desolder the gray, plastic wheel housing from the encoder PCB. The next part is the scary step. The plastic housing is 3 layers sandwiched together with some clips and plastic pins. The layers must be forced apart by removing the clips and prying the plastic pins open. This is always dangerous with 30+ year old plastic.
When the wheel drops out of the housing, clean it with rubber erasers or rubbing alcohol.
Place the wheel on the bottom slice of the sandwich, drop the middle slice on it, place the axle through the hole and engage the wheel. Now drop the third slice and clip it back together.
Solder it back on the board and replace the Encoder unit.
Working
I played Space Encounters! The better unit (we will call it 420) is working great. Controls are responding well, lights are flashing and strobing on cue, screen looks good.
Unit 419 does not have a working monitor. I have a working spare but the design of Space Encounter requires removal of the monitor frame. The tube is mounted on a wooden bracket and the chassis is mounted at an angle. 419 does not flash the marquee either. Strobing is fine, but the blinking marquee light is not blinking.
Unit 419 does not have a working monitor. I have a working spare but the design of Space Encounter requires removal of the monitor frame. The tube is mounted on a wooden bracket and the chassis is mounted at an angle. 419 does not flash the marquee either. Strobing is fine, but the blinking marquee light is not blinking.
Acquisition
We also grabbed 2 Space Encounters at the Vidiot Day.