Tips From the Moving Business Pros: How to Move a Pinball Device
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the country, Mild Giant wants to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being transported. Oh, and we desire the people moving them to be safe, too.
At first look, pinball machines can appear daunting to move due to the fact that of their size, fragility, and weight. Luckily, our skilled Giants have a few techniques up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
The majority of modern-day 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 2 or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, together with the early Strong State machines.
Later devices have hinges and utilize a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There might likewise be two bolts inside as added security, in case the lock is broken or accidentally un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you have to remove the headbox rear access panel to get to the bolts and plugs within. Usually this panel has a lock on it to keep it in place, however with time the key may have been lost. Frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.
When within, remove the bolts and unplug the big adapters that have wiring going down into the device. You might want to label these ports to put them back in the ideal spot, but they must be various sizes, making it difficult 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 safeguard the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will assist keep the back glass in location.
Early Solid State Pinballs
For early Solid State Pinballs, you will require to get rid of the back glass. There is a lock located on the headbox in one of three places: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side on top or on top of the headbox in the center.
As soon as unlocked, remove the back glass by lifting it up utilizing the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), then pull it out from the bottom.
Open up the back box light panel by lifting the latch 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 require you to raise the lamp panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are within, you can get rid of the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the machine. You may wish 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 change the back glass.
Modern Strong State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable lock system situated at the back of the headbox. Using the supplied key, turn the lock 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can quickly unlatch the back box at the back of the maker. This is a basic setup and requires no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Ensure 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 place.
If you can not fold the head box down, then you need to get inside. There is a lock situated at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied key to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and after that pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will have to get rid of the display panel. You can do this by lifting it up and out. Open the lamp panel. There will be a latch situated on either the left-hand or right-hand side. (Some more recent Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a different 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).
Get rid of the 2 bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make certain you use 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.
Eliminating 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.
However these captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and using extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will need to open up the front door of the Bonuses pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise up the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar lock throughout and eliminate the lock down bar. Move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise the playfield by positioning 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. As soon as 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 have a peek at this web-site 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 simply prior to packing the device. Grab a friend to check over here help and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs. Slide the maker in, then get rid of the back legs. It is a lot easier to fill the machine front first.
Make certain you strap the pinball in, as you do not desire it moving if you need to stop all of a sudden!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you need to eliminate the headbox rear access panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs inside. (Some newer 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 utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the machine. Grab a friend to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.