Cleaning the cabinet interior and fans
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| Guide details | |
|---|---|
| Topic | Maintenance |
| Applies to | Arcade |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| How often | Every 6–12 months, or sooner in dusty spaces |
| Tools needed | Vacuum with brush attachment Soft paintbrush Canned air Flashlight Gloves Dust mask |
Dust traps heat, and heat is what kills power supplies, game boards, and monitors. A yearly cleaning is one of the best things you can do for a cabinet.
First: read Before you open a machine. Unplug the cabinet. If you'll be near the monitor, also read CRT monitor safety.
Steps
- Unplug the cabinet and open the back door.
- Look before you clean. Check for mouse droppings, nests, chewed wires, or water damage. If you find droppings, wear gloves and a dust mask, and clean them up carefully.
- Vacuum the floor and walls of the cabinet. Remove loose coins, tickets, and debris.
- Boards and power supply: loosen dust with a soft, dry paintbrush and vacuum it up as it comes loose. Don't press the vacuum nozzle onto the boards.
- Monitor chassis: brush and vacuum lightly. Stay away from the anode cap and flyback area, and don't poke around inside.
- Fans: hold the blades still with a finger or a pencil, then blow them out with canned air or brush them clean. Letting a fan spin freely from canned air can damage it.
- Check that every fan spins freely by hand. Replace fans that are noisy, wobbly, or slow.
- Check vents and the back door grille for blockage.
While you're in there
- Look for burnt or brown connectors. See Crimping and replacing connectors.
- Check that boards and the power supply are firmly mounted.
- Make sure no wires are pinched or resting on hot parts.