I was watching a video of an electronics mutant wizard repairing a classic crt monitor for the Amiga (Philips 8833 mkII) and learnt something that
allowed me to fix the root cause of a long standing irritant with my MAME cab, namely the excessive brightness of the screen.
The video in question in case anyone wants to see how you can replace a flyback on a monitor if you have the skills (and the tools) :
Very informative and well made, I really learnt a lot watching this guy. CRTs are somewhat less scary now, especially the high voltage parts.
One detail he mentions is that after he finishes the repair, he has no picture and realizes he needs to adjust the screen setting on the flyback
to get enough overall brightness.
I had no idea that that control was there in that part of the electronics board, which I wouldn't have gone near anyway because of the scary voltages
in that area. I realized I could at last have a chance of fixing the brightness problem with my MAME cab where the regular brightness control
at the back of the tube as low as it would go and it was still too bright.
Sure enough, after making my own wooden screwdriver (needed a hexagonal plastic one which I didn't have) from a small wooden spatula,
I turned the screen setting slightly down and... no more display at all!
After turning it the other way a bit (after cutting the power off of course), got a very dark image back. That control is very sensitive indeed.
Slightly nervous, I left the cab on this time whilst adjusting (oooh dangerous :^P)
Turned it again a tiny bit back to the right and a proper but still somewhat dark image appeared, but way better than what I had before
because now I could fine tune with the regular brightness potentiometer on the back of the tube.
Turned that one, and after a few tries, finally got a beautiful raster line picture.
Before figuring this out, I was seriously contemplating replacing the Hantarex CRT in the cab with an old Amiga monitor like the Philips one mentioned earlier
I was so fed up. So watching a video out of pure curiosity about the 8833 (which does give out a beautiful picture I must say, way better than what I have),
allowed me to avoid going from a somewhat fuzzy 20 inch monitor to a somewhat silly looking (for the size of my cab) but perfect 14 inch crt.
Still tempted to get one of those old Philips monitors, but they are going for silly prices these days.