UPDATE - Annoying Monitor Sound - MiniCute

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK! Just got this thing!

Let me give background for how this started. I was playing Street Fighter Alpha 3 last night on the Cute when the power for no reason that I know of blink out twice consecutively. I didn't even have time to press the power off before it blinked twice. So obviously, I left it off for a few hours, because I didn't know if there was a branch going down somewhere or w/e.

When I turned it on 3 hours later, everything seemed fine but after a minute or two, this annoying humming sound really started to go. I know monitors make some noise normally, but I do not recall hearing this at all before and it's even louder than the CPS2 fan going in the cab, which is pretty loud on it's own (for a small little fan).

Did some reading up last night and first thing that I did this morning was check the fuses. The 5A fuse accessible at the back of the monitor right where the power supply is was fine. The small fuse on the monitor itself was also fine, neither of them had gone black, they all looked like they just came from the package. Now, the thing is, the monitor picture still looks absolutely great. If I was deaf, I wouldn't think that anything was wrong at all.

So from there, I know it could be a few things from what I read, but I in no way have the expertise to say yep, that's the issue and take it down. So I tried to grab a few things to help.

Below are two pictures of the back of the monitor running. The tube itself (or is that the flyback?) seems to be dim, I don't know if that means anything or if that is normal. First is with no lights, second is with a flash light on some components, so you can see what I am in the vicinity of.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8744/cimg8177.jpg
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7011/cimg8177n.jpg

Also, I recorded a video of the sound, the recording device is within a foot of the back of the monitor for 2-8 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npD4eH-e8p4

So, any ideas on that this could be would be appreciated. Please let me know if more information is needed, I tried to give the circumstances and what I am seeing & hearing, but I may be missing something key.

EDIT: Monitor board is Sanwa PM1723C, if it matters

Sounds like the flyback buzzing or the anode cap is dirty or not attached fully.

Maybe the monitor chassis could do with a service?

So... not exactly broken but may just need a reseating or reinforcement?

yeah, but you might want to consult an expert also, maybe something came a little loose in transit.

Had the same problem also with my astro. Shit was so annoying dude.

My first thread started like this
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206887&referrerid=15958

And it Ended like this
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208095&referrerid=15958

Hope you fix it. It was driving me nuts. I couldn't take it any more.

Yeah... I don't think I would have done that. Ever.

I take it the arcade should still be playable, I just have to deal with that sound, then?

At least until I can find someone to fix it... that seems like another challence within itself...

open up the cab and see if you can pinpoint what it is. don't touch anything mind you while its running.

If my unprofessional ear had to say where it's coming from, I'd say it's coming fron center back on the monitor itself. Right in front of the part of the tube tha you see glowing, is what I want to say, but I really hope that's not it, cuz I imagine that just wouldn't work well at all for fixing -_-

Also, during the testing, I did find out that the buzzing will occur even when first powered on, if it was not on that long ago. For example, I had it on maybe 5 minutes trying to pinpoint exact spot, turned it off, then back on 10 seconds later and it was going strong.

EDIT: Also, more info. The actual tube itself is a Toshiba 470MSB22 and the chassis board serial is the Sanwa one above.

I started looking for local companies that do repairs and the two I found I do not believe would even repair this type of monitor. One I can say won't, they say on their site that they are only doing older arcade for video arcades, everything else they do is that old 70's/early 80's stuff.

Its solvable, not the end of the world. trust me.

I know theres a place in cali that a couple people use for servicing chassis etc. It might just be an oscillating component that requires glueing, or something.

I'd check the neckboard (square circuit board on the end of the tube) is firmly affixed. Can't harm trying.

Definitely good to know that much. If it's just something loose (which it does sound like a rapid vibration), I take it this thing should be playable, even if annoyingly so for now.

Yeah, I'd be tempted to have a look inside though a bit more, try isolating exactly where it is. Better photos too!

Can't see shit captain in those ones you took before.

Ha... let me run upstairs right now... I've at least isolated the noise, definitely in the flyback area. I think a while back I read something about putting in a shim to stop noises, but I would bet it's not for this model.

EDIT: Pics before I head out...

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8996/cimg8179e.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1808/cimg8182q.jpg

I'll get more later on today.

Ok, back home. Any other pics that I should put up on this thing?

Also, if it is the flyback, does anybody even know the model number of the one I'd need? I'm hoping given it's Toshiba, maybe it's a standard part they used in TVs at the time

The flyback went out on my cab. It was pretty spectacular...complete with smoke.

I found a complete replacement WG chassis and replace the old unit. I let the Zenith CRT as it was still in good condition with minimal burn in.


I still have my old chassis along with the neckboard. Let me know if you need any spare parts off my old one.

Phyeir said:

Ok, back home. Any other pics that I should put up on this thing?

Also, if it is the flyback, does anybody even know the model number of the one I'd need? I'm hoping given it's Toshiba, maybe it's a standard part they used in TVs at the time

Click to expand...

Its a toshiba tube with a sanwa chassis

o_0

My feeble mind has missed something...

Phyeir said:

Also, if it is the flyback, does anybody even know the model number of the one I'd need? I'm hoping given it's Toshiba, maybe it's a standard part they used in TVs at the time

Click to expand...

The flyback is on the sanwa chassis, the Toshiba part is the tube.

Gotcha now... that's... gonna make it harder to find here something tells me.

I *believe* that most CRTs have the same pin connector for the neckboard.

You've got to match the yoke voltage readings up also though.

seriously just get someone in the know to come around, or try hunt down a spare mini cute chassis (lol)

kernow said:

You've got to match the yoke voltage readings up also though.

seriously just get someone in the know to come around

Click to expand...

Working on that now, not finding anyone in CT, just a listing for two companies and like I said, one of them makes it pretty clear on their page they don't want to deal with arcade monitor repair.

Found this site, arcadecup.com... anyone know of that guy?

kernow said:

try hunt down a spare mini cute chassis (lol)

Click to expand...

L O L, indeed.

You need to isolate the source of the vibrations. I would bet it is one of your high frequency transformers virbrating like crazy. Look for ones that look like the back 2 rows of transformers


Get yourself a nice non metallic poking stick. You need to to take and hold it to each one of the transformers on your monitor chassis. You need to do this while it is on, so be careful. You should be able to feel the vibrations from one of those transformers. I would be surprised if it was the flyback vibrating and making the noise.

Once you find the offending transformer, you need to find something you can wedge against the coils to keep them from vibrating. The coils are the cylinder inside of the square piece. The idea is to wedge like a popsickle stick in-between the round coils and the square outer piece. Then apply some sensor safe silicon to hold the wedge in place.

We got a monitor repair place called P&L here in SoCal - so if you can separate the chassis from the monitor you could ship it to P&L fairly cheaply.

So get poking and for shits sake - be careful!

I will run up and do that now, that sounds awesome. I actually already have one devised using electrical tape and a wood stick to keep it stiff.

Heh, stiff.

What causes this, it just gets loose over time or something?

Ok, it really WAS coming from the neck as I said before. I can quiet th noise easily by doing this...



So... umm... what does this mean and what should I do? How would I stop that vibration?

Are you pushing on the ring held by the four fasteners? If so, check the fasteners first. And do yourself a favor, wear some rubber gloves.