Tips From the Moving Business Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the nation, Mild Giant wants to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being carried. Oh, and we want the people moving them to be safe, too.
At very first look, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, weight, and size. Thankfully, our experienced Giants have a couple of techniques up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of contemporary pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years approximately) have a hinge system which allows the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball machines had their headboxes bolted on, utilizing either 2 or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, along with the early Solid State devices.
Later on makers have hinges and use a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There may likewise be 2 bolts inside as included safety, in case the latch is broken or inadvertently un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you have to remove the headbox rear access panel to access to the bolts and plugs within. Normally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, however over time the key may have been lost. Frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in location.
Once inside, eliminate the bolts and unplug the big adapters that have circuitry decreasing into the machine. You may want to label these ports to put them back in the ideal area, however they should be different sizes, making it challenging to plug back incorrectly.
You can now eliminate the headbox entirely, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Make sure you use 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 require to get rid of the back glass. There is a lock located on the headbox in one of 3 places: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the leading or on top of the headbox in the.
As soon as opened, get rid of 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 light panel by raising the lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out to you, and offer you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs need you to raise the lamp panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are inside, you can remove the bolts, and any plugs that have wires going down into the device. You may want to label these plugs to put them back in the best area. You might not require to eliminate the plugs, as the circuitry must be long enough to permit the headbox to be folded down.
At this moment, you can secure the light panel and replace 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 supplied key, turn the latch 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can easily unlatch the back box at the back of the machine. This is a simple setup and requires no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Ensure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard 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 situated at the top of the back glass in the. Utilize the provided secret to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by raising 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 secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will likewise assist keep the back glass in location.
Eliminating the Legs.
Pinball Device legs are held in place by eight bolts. They will be either 5/8 inch or 9/16 inch heads. The modern pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into. These bolts can be removed, and the legs will come off.
These captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and the use of additional nuts might have been needed. If this holds true, you will have to open up 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 latch across and remove the lock down bar. Then slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise up the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains, and lift the playfield up.
You should now have access to any nuts that may have been utilized. As soon as any nuts have actually been eliminated, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Make 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 device. Before you load it, make sure you remove the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.
It might be simpler to remove the legs just prior to filling the maker if you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV. Grab a buddy to help and have among you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs. Slide the machine in, and then get rid of the back legs. It is much easier to fill the maker front.
Make sure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want it moving if you need to stop unexpectedly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you need to remove the headbox rear gain access to panel to get access to the bolts and plugs within. (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).
If you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV, it may be much easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to loading the machine. this page Get a pal to have and help one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.