The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Arcade Collecting => Pinball => Topic started by: Well Fed Games on February 10, 2015, 09:03:17 pm

Title: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Well Fed Games on February 10, 2015, 09:03:17 pm
I'm looking for a busted pin to retheme, and thus have come up with a possibly stupid question:

Is it generally possible (and how much work would it be) to lower a pinball playfield a bit away from the glass to make room for added features and toys (nothing gaudy, I promise)? Obviously later pins often have all sorts of room but the early 80s williams stuff I am looking at don't have much room to spare. Sadly I don't have much hands-on time with pinball internals yet.
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Le Chuck on February 10, 2015, 09:17:28 pm
Shouldn't be much more than an afternoon's worth of assache I figure.  Remove PF entirely, move rear mounting points down several inches, mount a lower front bracket or fab up longer hooks to grab the original bracket.  I know on most of the 70s and 80s pins I've had there is room to drop it down, never tried anything like that tho.  Might run into other issues, button placement, wiring extensions to go from PF to back box etc. 
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: pbj on February 10, 2015, 09:24:12 pm
Good luck finding a busted, complete pin to retheme.  I've thrown in the towel more than once.
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Well Fed Games on February 10, 2015, 10:46:27 pm
Le Chuck- thanks for the thoughts. Good to know it is not a crazy idea at least.

PBJ- at this point I am considering retheming a Williams Flash, which might give me the best chance of finding one used and people won't get too offended if I hack one up. Of course I passed on some cheap ($150ish) nonworking Flash cabs about this time last year at an auction.

Unfortunately, everything pinball is irrationally expensive in the Chicago area (maybe everywhere, but Craigslist is particularly useless here when it comes to pins). It makes me just want to get a custom CNC cut playfield, which would be a lot of fun, but I know I will knock years off the project if I give myself a starting point.
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: pbj on February 10, 2015, 11:02:28 pm
$150 cash in hand 24/7 for a complete Flash for 15 years.   :-\
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Fursphere on February 18, 2015, 09:36:18 pm
I've picked up a few complete, not working pins for $200 in the area.   The key is patience, and CASH-IN-HAND ready to leave at the drop of a hat.  When the deals come up - very rarely - you have to get the drop before the new 30 guys...   
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: jennifer on February 18, 2015, 10:03:03 pm
     That's because your doing that Craigslist I"d bet... Eliminating the competition is not only a better approach, But more than likely you will wind up with multiple games cheap.
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Well Fed Games on February 25, 2015, 04:17:42 pm
I might be picking up a Flash tonight....  8)
Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: Well Fed Games on March 05, 2015, 10:28:46 pm
Sorry. Been crazy busy. Yes I did! Loving it! It is well worn but functional and a very fun game. Will probably be starting a thread soon about a retheme project! Paid $500... possibly overpaid, but there are few deals to be had in the pinball world right now.

Title: Re: Lowering the entirety of a pinball playfield
Post by: TopJimmyCooks on March 09, 2015, 02:21:59 pm
lowering the pf on that game is as simple as peeling off the wood playfield supports inside and nailing them back on in the lower position.  you may have to clearance the apron for the flipper buttons.  now that you have it you can see how easy it would be.   make sure your assemblies underneath clear the transformer if it's under the pf.