Tips From the Moving Business Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine
With pinball making a substantial resurgence across the nation, Mild Giant wishes to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being transported. Oh, and we want individuals moving them to be safe, too.
In the beginning glimpse, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, size, and weight. Thankfully, our competent Giants have a couple of techniques up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of modern-day pinballs (made in the last 20 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 four bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs utilize this system, along with the early Solid State machines.
Later on makers have hinges and utilize a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There may also be 2 bolts inside as included safety, in case the lock is broken or mistakenly un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you have to get rid of the headbox rear gain access to panel to access to the bolts and plugs inside. Normally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, but in time the secret might have been lost. Rather often, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.
When within, get rid of the bolts and unplug the large ports that have circuitry decreasing into the machine. You may desire to identify these adapters to put them back in the ideal spot, but they ought to 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. Make sure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will assist keep the back glass in place.
Early Solid State Pinballs
For early Solid State Pinballs, you will need to eliminate the back glass. There is a lock situated on the headbox in one of three locations: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the center.
Once unlocked, eliminate the back glass by raising it up utilizing 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 lifting 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 the light 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 might desire to identify these plugs to put them back in the ideal area. You may not need to eliminate the plugs, as the electrical wiring needs to be long enough to permit the headbox to be folded down.
At this point, you can lock up the lamp panel and replace the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable latch system situated at the back of the headbox. Utilizing the provided secret, turn the lock 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.
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 secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will likewise help keep the back glass in place.
If you can not fold the head box down, then you need to enter. There is a lock situated at the top of the back glass in the. Utilize the provided secret to unlock, and get rid of the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and then pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will have to remove the display panel. You can do this by lifting it up and out. And finally, open the lamp panel. There will be a lock situated on either the left-hand or right-hand side. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a separate amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later Sega and Stern pinballs use a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
Eliminate the 2 bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard 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 Maker legs are kept in location by 8 bolts. They will be either 5/8 inch or 9/16 inch heads. The contemporary pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into. These bolts can be gotten rid of, and the legs will come off.
However these threaded plates and captive nuts can be harmed, and the usage of additional nuts might have been needed. If this is the case, 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 lock across and eliminate the lock down bar. Then move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, lift 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 used. Once any more info nuts have 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 fit.
Packing the Pinball.
You are now prepared to transfer your pinball device. Before you load it, make sure you remove the pinballs so they don't bounce around during transportation.
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 pal to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs.
Make sure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want 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 navigate to this website 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 use 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. Grab a buddy to have and help one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.