Repair Log: Ms. Pac-Man with a K4900 Monitor Collapse
Got a service call to work on a Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine that had a non-working monitor. The monitor in question was a Wells-Gardner K4900.
The owner brought me just the monitor, and as soon as I saw it, I knew what game it came from and had a good idea of what the problem was—even before testing it.
Diagnosis and Repair
Sure enough, this was a textbook vertical collapse. I did a full cap kit and touched up several cold solder joints, especially around the vertical output transistors Q302 and Q303. That did the trick—monitor came right back to life.
This was a standard repair. Nothing out of the ordinary technically, but the experience stuck with me for a different reason.
A Grateful Owner and a Good Reminder
When I returned the monitor, the owner was genuinely thrilled just to have the game working again. He didn’t care about the screen burn or any cosmetic imperfections—he just wanted to play Ms. Pac-Man again.
And that hit me.
Sometimes I get caught up trying to make everything perfect—clean image, perfect geometry, no hums or burns—when really, the heart of it is this:
These games are meant to be played and enjoyed.
That’s what this owner reminded me. Not every repair has to be a showpiece restoration. Sometimes it’s about the joy of playing, pure and simple.
Final Thoughts
This was a simple monitor fix, but a powerful reminder of why I love doing this work. Whether it’s a pristine collector’s game or a well-worn cabinet in someone’s garage, it’s always about bringing these machines back to life—and the smiles that follow.
And this week, that message hit even harder.
I learned about the passing of Rob Anthony, owner of LockWhenLit. Rob was a fixture at pinball shows, a brilliant repair tech, and someone who gave so much back to the community. If you ever saw his booth or heard him patiently walk someone through a tough repair, you know the kind of person he was. He’ll be truly missed.
There’s a GoFundMe page set up to help with funeral expenses, legal matters, and finding a new home for his beloved dog, Antar.
It’s been a week of reflection for me—on the people, the passion, and the purpose behind what we do. Sometimes the best repairs aren’t just technical—they reconnect us to the why.
