Purchased Odyssey machine

[stayouttadabunker]

The monitor...it's a tube?

[enforcer]

Whatever label we call it, the thing is still a bear to maneuver in order to gain access to the boards and connections behind and/or to the side of it.

[stayouttadabunker]

I would have modified the holding bracket and install a hinge perhaps for the screen?

[brichter]

Yes, it's a CRT monitor, and a big heavy one at that.

Enforcer, did you ever contact Robert Winter?

[enforcer]

I did contact Robert Winter and have looked at his Odyssey site many times.  He certainly is the Odyssey expert in these parts.  While I have gotten some guidance from him, my problems remain.  Maybe he wants to buy my machiine, although I have this pipe dream of it someday working ?  I also have Odyssey extras, like several different pieces of belly glass.  Over the last two years I have set up ebay alerts to notify me of any Odyssey parts which go up for auction.  I have only seen belly glass, psycho boards, an occasional hard drive and the monitor up for auction over the years.  Haven't seen any actual working machines for some time.  The guy in Cincinnati selling his on Craigslist for $1,200 has had it up for sale for some time now.  He started asking more than $2,000, dropped it to $1,800 and now is asking $1,200.  Still way over-priced in my mind. 

[crgadyk]

Yeah I've seen that post several times on craigslist. I have alerts set up for all slot machines in the tri state area here and see it every now and then.

[robertwinter]

I did contact Robert Winter and have looked at his Odyssey site many times.  He certainly is the Odyssey expert in these parts.  While I have gotten some guidance from him, my problems remain.  Maybe he wants to buy my machiine, although I have this pipe dream of it someday working ?  I also have Odyssey extras, like several different pieces of belly glass.  Over the last two years I have set up ebay alerts to notify me of any Odyssey parts which go up for auction.  I have only seen belly glass, psycho boards, an occasional hard drive and the monitor up for auction over the years.  Haven't seen any actual working machines for some time.  The guy in Cincinnati selling his on Craigslist for $1,200 has had it up for sale for some time now.  He started asking more than $2,000, dropped it to $1,800 and now is asking $1,200.  Still way over-priced in my mind. 

I would be interested in buying it (sent you a PM) but if you want to keep it, I'm more than happy to help you get it up and running.

Sounds like the first order of business would be to get your monitor board fixed.  I could take care of that for you.

[robertwinter]

Yes, it's a CRT monitor, and a big heavy one at that.

Believe it or not, I've been able to move an entire Odyssey by MYSELF!  Takes some dismantling, but it is possible.  And since I now know my way around these machines backwards and forwards, it's not too tough.

1.  Remove the hopper (easy enough, it just slides out and 3 connections)
2.  Remove the cash can (just pulls out)
3.  Remove the monitor.  3-7 screws, 3 connectors, and it slides right out.  Yeah it's kinda heavy, but manageable.
4.  Remove the Ebox.  7 connectors, 2 captive screws.  Slides right out.

You now have 4 large pieces (case, monitor, Ebox, hopper) that are much more manageable for moving.  Reassembly is just a reversal of the above.

Now that I'm comfortable with disassembly, I no longer dread moving one of these beasts, which weight upwards of 350 pounds completely assembled!

[vette6048]

I think the Odyssey machine is a blast to have and play. Can the machine get on your nerves sometimes? You bet!! I would stay in touch with Robert and let him help you with the problems you are having with the game. Once you get it going I think your fustrations will go away. Give it a try!!

[cowboygames]

A fuzzy picture isn't neccessarily a bad flyback. Could be a misadjusted focus control ON the flyback or carbon buildup on the filiments inside the neck of the tube. The former is a simple adustment, the latter requires a CRT rejuvinator. Someone close to you probably has one. With the tube running and the neck good and warm you can sometimes tap gently on the neck with the handle of a long screwdriver and get carbon buildup to pop loose. I worked on Zenith CRTs through the 90s and aquired huge amounts of experience at this

[Neonkiss]

 but if you want to keep it, I'm more than happy to help you get it up and running.

Sounds like the first order of business would be to get your monitor board fixed.  I could take care of that for you.

Robert Winters, K+ for helping out members with their Odyssey Machines. 

[Billythekid]

I enjoyed owning one for a while. I may buy one again if I have lots of extra money and a couple thousand doesn't mean much to me. The graphics are great, the games sound good but actual game play doesn't compare to today's action. After playing the Odyssey for a year or so I realized that the amount of money the game wants to trigger the bonus is not worth the payout of the bonus. That's opposite of my WMS 550 that has huge payouts with less investment. The Odyssey was a trail blazer and up until a few years ago had better graphics than current gaming. In the past three years IGT and others have finally caught up to 2011. I would have kept the odyssey around but even having a parts machine I feared the day it stopped working or a cracked touch screen. I think the card games are the most fun on that platform.

When I populate my historical museum collection in retirement (25 year) maybe I'll be able to find a working Odyssey.

[robertwinter]

When I populate my historical museum collection in retirement (25 year) maybe I'll be able to find a working Odyssey.

Contact me when you do.  I'll probably still have a bunch of working machines like I do now!

[KirkLasVegas]

I had a Balanced and equal relationship with my Odyssey...I hated it...and it hated me!
I NEVER/EVER had a machine give me more grief, cost me more time and money to try to keep working then that damn thing!
When I parted it out, I felt like I had successfully KILLED the beast...I was SO happy to see it gone.....
I have owned Bally, WMS, IGT, Konami machines and never ever had one kick me repeatedly in the chops like that piece of junk did

Kirk