Finally My Duo Works FLAWLESSLY & LOOKS AWESOME!!

JohnnyPhantom · 05/31/2013, 12:19 PM

Hey everyone,
I'm not sure how many people were following my journey into PC Engine goodness, but a late last year, I picked up a Turbo Duo Cheap! It played some games, but it had the common issues that seems to plaque a lot of Duo systems

plus it also has a spot on the CD drive lid that wouldn't come off, looked like dried glue, but nothing took it off, and it felt like it was in the plastic. I noticed when playing Castlevania, that the music would chop, or static, or just vanish. I've replaced all the caps in the unit, and that seemed to fix it. Then I tried other games and noticed that barely anything was working. I then replaced the laser, still no luck. I greased up the drives gears and put a couple drops of hobby motor oil in the motor, and problems remained the same. I then adjusted the pots and still nothing. My system would not skip audio tracks, causing most games to freeze. If I played a music CD and just let it sit and play, it would play the entire CD, but skipping a track would cause the issues to occur. I then did the best move ever, I sent my system to chop5. He tested the machine, and in no time was able to determine that the lasers motor wasn't spinning at the speed it should have been. He replaced it with a new motor and now it runs beautifully!! This was my only Duo, so I had nothing to compare the motor speed to, so I had no clue the motor wasn't spinning up to par and getting the laser to its destination on time. He then also replaced the audio caps I replaced, with even better caps! He dose INCREDIBLE WORK!!!! I got my system back and dove right in to some games, and I've never had a single problem since. Now that my system plays beautifully, its time to make it match that on the outside. Since the Duo is a hard to find system, shell parts are hard to find. so I needed something to cover that Drive lid issue.

Then I think I came up with a good idea, take a look! Black carbon decals!

I wasn't sure If i just wanted to cover the drive, or put a decal across the entire system, I've included the before, CD only, and across the entire system decal pics.

facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151706544244374

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Let me know what you think!

I'm loving my system now! BIG THANKS TO CHOP5 Who also gave me a Chop Sudo and works incredibly on my Memory Bank card!

Now I just need to detail clean it ^-^ get rid of all that dust build up in the nooks and crannys

Duo_R · 05/31/2013, 12:27 PM

Nice improvement!

Tatsujin · 05/31/2013, 12:27 PM

well, looks like a carboner now..lol

Welcome to le DUO club

Duo_R · 05/31/2013, 12:28 PM

It looks Fast and Furious

NecroPhile · 05/31/2013, 12:29 PM

I'd not do that to a clean, undamaged Duo, but it looks okay (certainly better than it did).

Duo_R · 05/31/2013, 12:32 PM

This is a good candidate for a paint job.

You know u could try light sanding then rubbing and polishing compound on that. I had a unit that had a smaller scuff like that and it came out almost completely.

JohnnyPhantom · 05/31/2013, 12:41 PM

Quote from: guest on 05/31/2013, 12:29 PMI'd not do that to a clean, undamaged Duo, but it looks okay (certainly better than it did).

Totally agree, I don't like putting skins or decals on my systems, but had to in this case ^-^

Quote from: Duo_R on 05/31/2013, 12:32 PMThis is a good candidate for a paint job.

You know u could try light sanding then rubbing and polishing compound on that. I had a unit that had a smaller scuff like that and it came out almost completely.

Hmmmm, sounds like a idea. I may try that someday, any particular compound better than others that I should use?

Duo_R · 05/31/2013, 12:46 PM

Yeah any kind is fine get it from autoo part store like Autozone. Start with like 400 grit sandpaper wet sand that make sure you tape over the CD drive "window". Side to side dont move in multiple directions. Keep working your way up to 1200 grit or 1500 grit paper. Make it really smooth. Then start with Rubbing compound and make sure you have a 10 pack of terry towels. Work it in rwally good. Then clean it off good then do the same with polishing compound. Should come out really nice.

turbokon · 05/31/2013, 01:20 PM

Looks great!!

esadajr · 05/31/2013, 01:30 PM

Those decals really match your system. Looks great.

That Duo is now filled with joy. Good job.

MotherGunner · 05/31/2013, 02:17 PM

Looks like the Duo One!

hoobs88 · 05/31/2013, 02:19 PM

Looking good! Time to Obey!

FiftyQuid · 05/31/2013, 03:02 PM

Did you try lacquer thinner on that glue? If it's not actually in the plastic lacquer thinner (in moderation) would have worked. That shit gets everything out, except coffee stains. You just have to be careful and test it first to see if the plastic reacts and by reacts I mean melts.

JohnnyPhantom · 05/31/2013, 04:04 PM

Quote from: FiftyQuid on 05/31/2013, 03:02 PMDid you try lacquer thinner on that glue? If it's not actually in the plastic lacquer thinner (in moderation) would have worked. That shit gets everything out, except coffee stains. You just have to be careful and test it first to see if the plastic reacts and by reacts I mean melts.

I tried everything

Gasoline, goof off, lacquer thinner, alcohol, kerosine, and sacrificial voo-doo magic, nothing helped even a tiny bit

PunkCryborg · 05/31/2013, 10:25 PM

That actually looks pretty cool. Sure a lot better than it was! I would have just slapped a turbografx sticker over that though. Looks like your duo needs like a loud muffler on the back, cd door hood pins and some racing stickers

FiftyQuid · 06/01/2013, 12:16 AM

Quote from: PunkCryborg on 05/31/2013, 10:25 PMThat actually looks pretty cool. Sure a lot better than it was! I would have just slapped a turbografx sticker over that though. Looks like your duo needs like a loud muffler on the back, cd door hood pins and some racing stickers

Maybe add some neon to the under carriage. Pink neon glows brightest.

Looks sweet! I'm still on the hunt for a Duo, maybe a Duo-R.