Changing the marquee on a Neo Geo

[Cinder6]

So, I just got my first arcade system yesterday (Neo-Geo MVS-2-25), and I'm wondering how I can go about changing marquees. The guy I bought it from didn't have the key (the original owner didn't even have it), or else it's somewhere inside the cabinet. From my peeking around with a flashlight (I didn't open the back, though), it's not in there.

Is there any other way to change it without the key? Or is there some way to replace it? (Are they all the same key?)

If not, it's not that big a deal. I just wanted to see if there are lights back there that I can replace so it lights up (obviously, I really know very little about arcade machines), as well as put in the marquee with the two spots for mini-marquees.

[WarLordAG]

Mine uses a key. You insert the key into a lock underneath the marquee. Without a key you may just have to drill the lock out and replace it. It should use a standard flourescent light. You can find both locks and lights at home depot.

[XYXZYZ]

Nahh, mine didn't have a marquee key either. All's you gotta do is remove the screws from the bracket holding the top of the marquee. Screws are on the top of the cabinet.

[Cinder6]

Alright, thanks. I'm contemplating picking the lock

But anyways, for now, I swapped out Samurai Showdown with Bust-A-Move. The weird thing with the latter is that it has this white filmy-looking stuff on the back. Am I supposed to strip that off? Samurai Showdown didn't have that.

[shawnbo42]

If you have a dedicated Neo Geo, it uses a 413A key to open the marquee. It is a common lock in the coin op industry, I have a few dozen laying around if you need one, pm me, I'll send one to you. As long as your cabinet is the tall red one, with the inserts for the mini marquees, then that's the key you need. (unless someone changed the locks, which I doubt)

[Cinder6]

If you have a dedicated Neo Geo, it uses a 413A key to open the marquee. It is a common lock in the coin op industry, I have a few dozen laying around if you need one, pm me, I'll send one to you. As long as your cabinet is the tall red one, with the inserts for the mini marquees, then that's the key you need. (unless someone changed the locks, which I doubt)

Awesome, thanks. I'm going to the hardware store today, but if I luck out, I'll let you know.