Tips From the Moving Business Pros: How to Move a Pinball Device
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.
In the beginning glimpse, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their size, weight, and fragility. Fortunately, our knowledgeable Giants have a few tricks up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of contemporary pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years or so) have a hinge system which allows the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball devices had their headboxes bolted on, utilizing either two or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs utilize this system, along with the early Solid State makers.
Later machines have hinges and utilize a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There may also be 2 bolts inside as included safety, in case the latch is broken or mistakenly un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you need to get rid of the headbox rear gain access to panel to gain 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. Quite frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in location.
Once inside, eliminate the bolts and disconnect the large ports that have electrical wiring decreasing into the machine. You may wish to identify these connectors to put them back in the right area, however they should be different sizes, making it tough to plug back improperly.
You can now get rid of the headbox completely, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure 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 located on the headbox in among 3 locations: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side on top or on top of the headbox in the center.
Once unlocked, eliminate the back glass by raising it up using the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and then pull it out from the bottom.
Open up the back box lamp panel by lifting the lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out towards you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to raise up the light panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are within, you can remove the bolts, and any plugs that have wires going down into the device. You might desire to identify these plugs to put them back in the right spot. You may not have to get rid of the plugs, as the circuitry should be long enough to allow the headbox to be folded down.
At this point, you can secure the light panel and change the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable latch system located at the back of the headbox. Using the provided secret, turn the lock 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can quickly unlatch the back box Check This Out at the back of the machine. This is a simple setup and requires no tools.
You're done if you can now 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.
You require to get within if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock located at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied secret to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by raising it up from the bottom, then pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will need to eliminate the screen panel. (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).
Remove the two bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make sure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to protect the headbox from rubbing on the navigate here cabinet. Foam is best, as it will also help keep the back glass in place.
Eliminating the Legs.
Pinball Maker legs are held in weblink place by eight bolts. The modern 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 might have been needed. If this holds true, you will require to open the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar lock throughout and eliminate the lock down bar. Slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe place. Next, lift up the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains, and lift the playfield up.
You ought to now have access to any nuts that may have been used. Once any nuts have been removed, replace the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Be sure to mark or remember which legs are for the front and back, as they will be adjusted differently to suit.
Filling the Pinball.
You are now all set to carry your pinball maker. Prior to you fill it, make certain you get rid of the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.
If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the machine. Get a pal to have and assist one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs. Slide the machine in, and then remove the back legs. It is much simpler to pack the device front.
Make sure you strap the pinball in, as you do not desire it moving if you need to stop unexpectedly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you require to eliminate the headbox rear access panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs inside. (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 simply prior to filling the device. Get a buddy to have and help one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.