Star Tech Journal

How To Save Your Sega Afterburner
John T. Moon
Jollytlme, Inc.
Chico, California
PROBLEM
Recently I have had the horror of working on
a Sega Afterburner. I opened the coin door to
find a lot of metal dust and wood shavings.
What I found from that point on, was most
unfortunate.
Toe two bolts (MS x 25) and washers inside
the door that hold the controller in place
were gone! Of course, it left two large holes
in the wood where it had shaken loose.
Inside the bottom of the cabinet was a brass
and wood pile, all over the power supply and
other vital parts.
SOLUTION
Toe best thing to do is remove the controller
unit and put it on your bench. Most likely
you will find that the rod (TI{-1362) has a
new shape. This is where you got your brass
shavings. You must replace this.
Now look at the bottom of the entire control-
ler. If you see two cracks on each side by the
supports, you have another problem. If you
do, you can order a new one from Sega (TI{-
1352) for about $400 --just so it will break
again. Or you can have it fixed for about $35
and never have to replace it ever.
PROCEDURE
How do you do it? You must remove every-
thing off the base plate. And I mean every-
thing! After you do that, bring it to any
welding or manufacturing shop. Have the
shop weld a 12 gauge piece of steel onto the
bottom of the original base plate. Then have
the holes punched out on the new plate
where they were before.
Now the secret: Have the shop fill the four
holes on the base plate where the MS x 25
screws went to secure it to the game cabinet.
Then have four holes in the same place
drilled, 1/4" fine thread (1/4-28). If the two
metal guides inside your base plate are lifted
on the inside, have the shop flatten and weld
them on the outside edge against the wall.
REASSEMBLY
Now replace all the parts back onto the base
frame. This is a good time to replace motor
brushes (601-5929). Use Locktlteonallnuts
and bolts during assembly. Have the unit
face you. Toe two large holes at the top of the
frame must be lowered slightly for new clear-
ance of bolts. You can do this yourself with
a drill- about 1/4". Check springs and look
for other worn parts.
Holes ,,..
must be
lowered
0
0
D
Frame
Put the frame back into the machine. Secure
the frame to the cabinet with 1/4 xl" fine
thread bolts. Do not use bolts any longer
than l". Use 1/4" fender washers and lock
washers. Use Locktlte on bolts. You may
have to drill holes in the wood slightly larger
if the machine has not already done so for
you. Let thread sealant cure overnight.
Vacuum out metal fillings and wood shav-
ings extremely well. Most likely you will find
the old bolts and washers on your power
supply or some other convenient place.