Vectrex console repair! Teardown, capacitor replacement, and demonstration

[@VuRkka]

fix it friday is by far my favorite friday show.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks! I really appreciate the support and I’m glad you enjoy it

[@halbarker9176]

Nice! Thank you for sharing all this ! I just picked up a vectrex and this was all super helpful to info to have. Cheers!!

[@onthecredit5386]

Nice video! Just finished re-capping my vectrex and cleaning all contacts. Works like a charm! FYI - the 'red' wires you mention at 5:20 are from the power transformer (the center-tap is the white wire), so they are interchangeable with no effect to the circuit - hence they are the same color by design.

[@stevemcknelly5036]

Ooooh! A Vectrex! This is a rare treat! Not gonna lie, I about messed myself when that board slipped!

[@8bitwidgets]

what is going on with the wobbling image? very cool that you were able to bring it back to this state, but just curious if that wiggle can be fixed? what would cause it?

[@teknohed]

Hey dude. I love your videos. I just wanted you to know that I just recapped a vectrex i got for 50 bucks non working. Now this thing is working like a charm. currently letting it sit for it’s one hour burn in. thanks so much for the great videos!

[@LIRetroGaming]

That’s phenomenal! So glad that you got yours working

[@xxrodneyxx]

Great content. Vectrex is rad. Thank you.

[@markuswhan1080]

Cool my grandpa had one at his house. I have good memories of fighting my brother to have a turn. :)

[@nicanorneto9697]

Love your videos!!! Greetings from Brazil!!

[@LIRetroGaming]

Obrigado!!

[@TheGeekandI]

My Vectrex powers on with a single foot glowing in the center of the screen. This video makes me wish I still lived in Bay Shore so I could drop it off and have you look at it. I can’t find anyone in Texas. Great video. Just subbed.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I’ll think about whether I know anyone out there in Texas and if I do I’ll write back and let you know!

[@mondomondo1526]

@@LIRetroGamingI know this is an old comment but did you ever find someone in Texas?

[@RuggersCustoms]

Excellent video George! 😎

[@LIRetroGaming]

Thanks Jim! I have been wanting to do one of these videos for a while

[@joshmiller887]

I’ve been holding off recapping my vectrex because I am so afraid of breaking it beyond repair. I work on CRT monitors often, so it’s not the tube that scares me, it’s things like accidentally lifting a pad or something like that. It works great at the moment, I just know I will need to get in there sooner than later. Thanks for the walkthrough!

[@joshmiller887]

Update: I’ve recapped the Vectrex and she works beautifully! I was so confused because I couldn’t find the bipolar cap then I watch the video again and you pointed out the heat sync. BIG help! Thanks again

[@RemyS81]

Love the Vectrex, Have one myself and last time I used it worked fine. Do you suggest a recap as it is old even though it is still working. Great Job

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Unless they're leaking and/or bulging, no. If it's working, I'd leave it alone.. Kind of like the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". :) I wouldn't attempt a power board unless you have a good desoldering gun.. They can be a bit tricky. I've done a couple so far.

[@Xoferif]

The Vectrex (made by Milton Bradley) was pretty huge here in the UK back in the day, but I get the impression it didn't really take off in the US. Is that true?

[@waltercomunello121]

how do you put the CRT HV lead back in place?

[@jocool7370]

You make some great videos! Are you of portuguese descent?

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes I am Portuguese!

[@jocool7370]

Patrício!

[@Alphax45]

Did you consider cleaning it while you had it out? The rust especially.

[@RetrOrigin]

Mine needs to be recalibrated but apparently that can only be done using an oscilloscope. I'm not even sure what I did to it to get the vectors misaligned but it happened after a full disassembly and clean-up (it was far too fitly ) It turns on and for the most part works but some of the vectors/lines are just misaligned.

[@京山竜士]

中心が左側に寄って画像が歪んだブラウン管はどうやったら直りますか？

[@joandarc441]

Cool

[@ykkzm2743]

On my Vectrex, the screen shakes a little like a heat haze. Is it necessary to replace the electrolytic capacitor? I'm not good at soldering irons and I'm worried.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes I think it’s definitely having some issues and it needs to be serviced. It may not be the caps, but the caps are definitely a possibility

[@amaiorano]

Not sure if it's an artifact of filming the display, but on video the image shakes and seems to zoom in and out. Anyway, nice job on the recap. I've got a Vectrex and will likely need to recap it as well as it's getting old.

[@LIRetroGaming]

Yes somehow it did not look nearly as good on camera as it did in person. I always found it challenging to film CRTs and it almost never looks as good on camera. But thanks and I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@sideburn]

@@LIRetroGaming Also the ship’s lines are not lining up. I’d put a test cart in it and adjust everything.

[@JendaLinda]

Is that normal the picture is shaking so much?

[@jonniefast]

probably camera issues crt monitors look strange when filmed due to the refresh rate

[@teparadox]

Woot what a way to wake up!