Sega Daytona USA Repair Project - Watch this Space
Posted by Austin Amusements on
Sega Daytona USA Repair Project - Watch this Space
We've got an exciting project in the workshop at Austin Amusements — a classic LAI Daytona USA arcade machine that's seen better days. This iconic racing cabinet has been a favourite in arcades for decades, and we're committed to bringing this one back to life.
The Challenge Ahead
When this machine arrived, it was in pretty rough shape. The plastic side panels are severely damaged, and there are some significant issues with the game boards themselves. Player 1 has no picture at all, and the game board isn't responding. Player 2 is showing a picture, but it's suffering from horizontal collapse and graphics faults on the board. It's a substantial restoration job, but we're up for it.
Getting Started
We've already begun the repair process, focusing first on those damaged orange plastic side panels. We could have purchased new side panels but them the cost involved in repairing the machine gets expencive, and lets face it, this repair is a passion project. It will end up costing us more than the machine is worth! To keep costs down, our approach, we're using expanding foam to fill the broken areas, then carefully trimming and shaping it. Once we've got the basic form sorted, we're applying bog filler to reshape the panels back to their original profile before giving them a fresh coat of paint.
We've completed two panels so far, with two more currently underway. It's slow, steady work, but the results are looking promising on two sides. The other two will not be perfect!
What's Next
This restoration will take several months to complete, as we're tackling it during our spare time while keeping up with our regular business. Once we've finished the cosmetic work on the panels, we'll move on to the more complex task of diagnosing and repairing the game boards and chassis issues. Im thinking of replacing the 26in and 29in tube (yes I know, one is a 26in and one is 29in, no idea why) with 32in LCD monitors. So if anyone needs a 29in screen and chassis or a 26in screen and chassis contact Austin Amusements :-).
Stay tuned as we document the journey of bringing this classic arcade machine back to its former glory. Our goal is to finish the repairs on a budget! We'll be sharing updates as the project progresses.