Stairs+Arcade Cabs, solutions.

Don't let a flight of stairs discourage you from a hobby (looking at you apartment owners). Some of these tips are a no brainer:

1. Invest in a decent hand truck with over sized tires (climbing curbs etc..) 40 bucks at home depot will get you a 600 lb frame capacity one. If you've got the cash, you can invest in one of these and ignore the rest of this topic http://www.lectrotruck.com/

2. Remove dead weight from the cab, monitor, control panel etc... Anything that will easily come out with out minimal effort. Monitor is a must, as it's safer to carry up just the frame, plus it can eliminate a 1/3 of the weight in some cases.

3. Build a ramp. I fabricated a ramp that fits over the steps to my place (a few flights, all the same number of steps each to the landing. Just have to move the ramp to the next set). Built mine out of 2X6's for the main track, and 1X4's for the side walls. It looks something like this http://www.bobshowto.com/Tips-Tricks/moving-tips/winches-ramps-move-myself.htm

Not as fancy, no winch, only 7 feet long. I added a block of wood to each end to keep the tracks from seperating. The idea is to design it like tracks so the hand truck wheels don't slip off. I can easily get a full size cab up in no time with an extra person pushing from below. ALOT easier than lifting step by step.

#1, and #2 are probably the 2 most important. I almost always remove the monitors, before moving a cab around, unless its a candy. Also, if you've never done it before, or if you buy a hand truck without a ratcheting strap, buy a nice ratchet strap, and secure the cab to the hand truck it makes it alot easier.

I should be picking up a big red this weekend how easy is it to remove the monitor. As it will be loaded into the bed of a rather large pickup and moved down 2 flights of stairs.

A ramp is no problem.

I have never owned a cab before and am worried about damaging it while in transit.

Terry330 said:

I should be picking up a big red this weekend how easy is it to remove the monitor. As it will be loaded into the bed of a rather large pickup and moved down 2 flights of stairs.

A ramp is no problem.

I have never owned a cab before and am worried about damaging it while in transit.

Click to expand...

Removing the monitor from a neo is easy. Reach inside the coin door and release the clasps holding the control panel in place, it should flip down. Lift up on the glass panel and pull it out. Pull off the paper bezel. The monitor/frame should now be exposed. Remove the 4 bolts on the corners holding the frame to the wood. Walk behind the Neo and remove the small wood panel that is directly behind the montor. (might have a handle cutout in it). BE CAREFUL, and disconnect the video molex, and AC connection, plus any ground wires that might be attatched to the frame (usually greeen). If you're not sure what wires are what, take a picture of the back of the monitor (chasis) and post a thread in tech support, we'll be glad to point them out for you. Don't touch anything on the tube itself, or that suction cup thing on the back of the monitor.

Pull the monitor out through the front of the cab, it helps to have someone behind the cab pushing on the back end of the frame. Carry it by the top 2 frame bars, you can set it down upright in a normal position, however I prefer to put it glass face down on a soft surface like carpeting or a blanket.

The most important thing I can say is

Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

I bought a cab from JeffKun and brought it home by myself. Getting it out of the pickup truck and into my apartment alone with just a dolly and no straps was a nightmare.

wasabi said:

The most important thing I can say is

Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

I bought a cab from JeffKun and brought it home by myself. Getting it out of the pickup truck and into my apartment alone with just a dolly and no straps was a nightmare.

Click to expand...

you buy one of his dynamo's? I just moved mine last night. You can remove the entire control panel assembly and monitor from the cab within 5 minutes. Takes out a good 80 pounds easily.

wasabi said:

The most important thing I can say is

Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

I bought a cab from JeffKun and brought it home by myself. Getting it out of the pickup truck and into my apartment alone with just a dolly and no straps was a nightmare.

Click to expand...

Agreed. I have two MVS cabs and the first one was an over sized cab I won off Ebay. The guy dropped it off on my Drive way and five hours later my wife and I were able to get it into the house and down in the basement. (Had to remove the inner door frame) It was a fucking work out.

The second MVS cab, I got from a local member and he did most of the work taking it up his stairs and loading it in to my vehicle. (This guy is strong) My wife and I got it out of the vehicle and into our house fine. However the plan was to move it to the top floor (Two flights of stairs with two turns in each) but gave up after an hour. It now sits in the living room and I am fine with that.

We just moved here within the last year, so at some point I might be able to get some help moving it up stairs.

Terry330 said:

I should be picking up a big red this weekend how easy is it to remove the monitor. As it will be loaded into the bed of a rather large pickup and moved down 2 flights of stairs.

A ramp is no problem.

I have never owned a cab before and am worried about damaging it while in transit.

Click to expand...

i bought the cab you're coming to get in Chicago back in '02 i think. i just layed it on it's side in a big pickup truck for the trip back to Toledo. no problems at all. I'm gonna try to have it in my garage or atleast on the first floor of my house by the time you get here so it's as hassel free as possible for you. if we do need to move it anywhere, there will be atleast 2 or 3 guys including me around. i'm pretty sure i have a set of caster wheels for it too, that was nice for getting it around in my house initially. the biggest problem is that it's just an awkward shape.


oh and heavy...fucking woodies.