Tips From the Moving Business Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the country, Mild Giant wishes to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being transported. Oh, and we desire individuals moving them to be safe, too.
Initially glimpse, pinball makers can appear daunting to move due to the fact that of their size, fragility, and weight. Luckily, our knowledgeable Giants have a few techniques up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
The majority of contemporary pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years or so) have a hinge system which enables the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball makers had their headboxes bolted on, using either two or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs utilize this system, along with the early Strong State makers.
Later devices have hinges and utilize a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There may likewise be 2 bolts inside as added safety, in case the lock is broken or mistakenly un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you require to get rid of the headbox rear access panel to acquire access to the bolts and plugs within. Generally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in place, but gradually the secret may have been lost. On a regular basis, there is a screw keeping this panel in location.
Once inside, get rid of the bolts and disconnect the large ports that have circuitry decreasing into the machine. You may wish to identify these connectors to put them back in the best area, however they should be different sizes, making it tough to plug back improperly.
You can now remove the headbox completely, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to protect the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will help keep the back glass in place.
Early Strong State Pinballs
For early Strong State Pinballs, you will have to remove the back glass. There is a lock situated on the headbox in one of 3 areas: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the.
When opened, get rid of the back glass by raising it up using the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and after that pull it out from the bottom.
Then, open the back box light panel by raising the latch located on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out towards you, and provide you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs need you to raise up the lamp panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are inside, you can eliminate the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the maker. You might want to label these plugs to put them back in the best area. You might not have to remove the plugs, as the wiring ought to be long enough to enable the headbox to be folded down.
At this moment, you can secure the lamp panel and replace the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable lock system situated at the back of the headbox. Utilizing the provided key, turn the latch 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can easily unlatch the back box at the back of the device. This is a basic setup and needs no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Make sure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Bonuses Foam is best, as it will likewise assist keep the back glass in location.
You need to get inside if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock situated at the top of the back glass in the center. Utilize the original site provided key to unlock, and remove the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and after that pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will need to remove the display panel. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a separate amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later on Sega and Stern pinballs utilize a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
Get rid of the 2 bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make certain you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to protect the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will also help keep the back glass in place.
Removing the Legs.
Pinball Maker legs are held in location by 8 bolts. The modern-day pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.
These captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and the use of extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will need to open up the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and lift up the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar latch throughout and eliminate the lock down bar. Then move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains pipes, and raise the playfield up.
You must now have access to any nuts that might have been utilized. When any nuts have actually been gotten rid of, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Make certain to mark or keep in mind which legs are for the front and back, as they will be changed in a different way to match.
Filling the Pinball.
You are now all set to carry your pinball maker. Prior to you fill it, ensure you eliminate the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.
It may be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the machine if you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV. Grab a friend to help and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs. Move the maker in, then get rid of the back legs. It is much simpler to pack the device front.
Ensure you strap the pinball in, as you do not desire it moving if you have to stop all of a sudden!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you need to remove the headbox rear access panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs within. (Some more recent Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a different amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later on Sega and Stern pinballs utilize a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
If you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV, it may be easier to remove the legs just prior to filling the maker. Get a find more info pal to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs.