In the final episode of his four-part restoration series, Lawton Barnes brings an IGT Joker’s Wild draw poker machine back to full working order. This time, the focus is on the CRT monitor—a crucial component that had suffered from years of wear, flickering colors, and distorted images.
Barnes walks viewers through the process of recapping the RGB 1401A CRT monitor, a critical step in restoring the machine’s display quality. “All of those things are the telltale signs of failing electrolytic capacitors,” he explains, as he prepares to swap out the aging components.
The Recap Process
Before touching any electronics, Barnes follows a key safety step: discharging the CRT tube. “The reason why we do this is because that tube can deliver an electric shock, even when it is not plugged in,” he warns. Using a screwdriver and alligator clips, he safely removes any lingering voltage.
Once the board is safely removed, Barnes inspects the capacitors and the flyback transformer—an essential part of the monitor’s power system. “A failing flyback will often have literal cracks in the plastic,” he notes. Fortunately, this one is intact, making the recap process smoother.
Barnes methodically replaces each capacitor, marking them off as he goes. He highlights a detail that makes this board more user-friendly: “The engineer who designed this board went to the trouble of making sure that all the components were largely numbered from left to right, and that all of their negative sides were pointing in the same direction. That is not always the case.”
The Results: A Crystal-Clear Display
With the new components in place, Barnes reassembles the monitor and powers it up. The result? A crisp, stable image. “That looks amazing!” he exclaims. “We’ve gotten rid of all the jitters. We have very crisp lines in the black and white checkerboard pattern.”
While some minor burn-in remains—a common trait of vintage CRT monitors—the machine is now fully restored. “Besides some mild burn-in, that is going to provide years of trouble-free service,” Barnes concludes.
A Successful Restoration
After weeks of careful work, the IGT Joker’s Wild poker machine is fully operational, with functional controls, a secure marquee light, and a beautifully restored display. “It is ready to play, and I am thrilled and delighted with how it’s come out,” Barnes shares with satisfaction.
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