Bally Freedom - My 1st pin + restoration

[AlienInferno]

Well yesterday I bought my first official pinball machine off Craigslist.  It's a Bally Freedom pinball machine.  Purchased for $150.  I figured it's cheap enough (to my thinking anyway) and would be a good project/learning machine.  If I can't get it to work I'm not gonna be out a grand or more on a newer pin.  

I purchased it in unknown working condition but from what I could see the cabinet and backbox artwork were in good shape as well as the playfield and the plastics were in great shape.  Not sure if they were replaced previously or not.  The backglass is missing though.  Gonna be a problem finding one I bet.   But I brought it home, opened it up, and did some light cleaning.  Nothing special just getting the layout of everything and making sure there wasn't any loose pieces that could cause bigger problems later on.  

Today I went and purchased some 3/8" bolts to hold the backbox on (since those were missing), plugged it in, and hit the power button.  To my suprise the ligths came on and didn't see or smell smoke.  Good sighn I thought to myself.  Then I hit the start button.  The machine went through it's reset phase but wouldn't stop.  Found out it had to do with the player 1 score reel.  One of them wasn't resetting like it was supposed too.  Got that working and the machine seems to play perfectly.  

I need to clean it up, replace the rubber and drop targets, find some coin mechs and a back door, and do some slight cleaning of various contacts, etc and it will be at least a playable machine.  I say at least because it will still be missing the backglass.  Might take me awhile, if not forever, to find one.

Anyway onto pics.

[ed12]

hi
try here
>http://www.pinrescue.com/games/freedom.html<

ed

[AlienInferno]

What exactly am I trying there for? 

[ed12]

hi
maybe a blackglass?
as u stated

ed

[AlienInferno]

Ahh gotcha.  I was a bit confused as the only thing I saw when I clicked that link was a few machines for sale.

[AlienInferno]

Slight update on the restoration of this machine.  Purchased some parts, polishes, etc.  Funny thing is I bought this as something to do after my mame cab is complete but after seeing it work I couldnt' resist.

But I bought mainly the basic replacement parts and cleaners.  Rings, Nylon acorn nuts, a new ball, drop targets, decals for the spinners, a handfull of coin mechs (2 for the pinball machine and a couple extra for whatever), Novus cleaner/polisher for the playfield and plastics, metal polish for various metal pieces, the small outer barrel spring for the plunger, a couple heads for the kickers (as these were missing), a couple new price plates (the ones I have look fine but are 2 plays/quarter.  I wanted 1 play/quarter), and some fuses. 

LONGEST SENTENCE EVER.   

But tommorrow on my way home from work I'm going to stop by the local Home Depot and get a new lock for the door.  I was planning on getting something else but forgot to write it down and now can't remember.     Dang my forgetfullness.

I will start posting pics as work gets done so expect a week, maybe two before another update.

[ed12]

hi
dose home depot put u in canada ?
if so a local lock-smith can help u out on the lock
also for the :bezel:,there is a ton of site's u can get the
size/fit,all u need do is get it printed out..glue it in
do it all the time..look's perfect

ed

[AlienInferno]

No. I'm in the USA. Texas actually. I can get into the machine just fine just need to replace the lock that came with the machine and home depot has them in the right size locally.

[AlienInferno]

I'll check out Mr. Pinball. I think I looked there allready bit I'll look again.

The more I mess with this one the more issues I find with it. The credit wheel didn't count down. Found a wire that had been cut by previous owner. Fixed it and then it starts registering a score hit every few seconds so disconected it again. Changes players randomly while playing. ( ie a one player game will jump from player one ball 3 to player 2, 3, 4. Back to player one. Then 3. Then player one again for the last ball.) Pretty sure that it's just contacts there. Also set to one coin/one play and end up with wierd things as well. Bound and determined to get this going though.

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[ed12]

hi
ya sign up
and keep a daily eye on the part's for sale thread,may take u awhile as we are in holiday's,but u will come across 1
there is about 4 seller's there covering most of the usa

ed

[AlienInferno]

Which stepper would control the player selection? 

I cleaned up a couple of gummed up steppers today. Marked everything and put it all back together to where whichever stepper I was working on worked. Got it all together and played a game and I noticed that after each ball drains the ball in play moves accordingly but the player selected changes as well. (ie. ball 1 drains, switches to player 2. Ball 2 drains switches to player 3, etc.)

Just wondering if anyone may know before I dig back into it tommorrow.

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[AlienInferno]

Haven't posted a picture of it in awhile either so here's a current pic.

Don't know why the picture is rotated. It doesn't look that way on my phone. Hmmm.

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[TopJimmyCooks]

you got a backglass!  nice!

[AlienInferno]

you got a backglass!  nice!

It's been a couple months but I just now saw this for some reason.

Yes I have a backglass.  No it's not original.  It was suggested from someone who is/was on this site.  Looks pretty good and currently fits my needs so I'm not going to complain. 

[AlienInferno]

It's been awhile since I've posted.  Well sorta.   But I think I have most of the kinks worked out of this machine.  The only problem I've been able to find, as far as gameplay goes, is that the machine automatically gives you 1000 free points on the bonus reel.  Hunting that down is being a pain.  If I can get that fixed all I think I have left is to fix/clean the drop target assembly, replace a few bulb sockets, replace the washers on the chime box, and replace the bulbs underneath the playfield.  Might be forgetting a few things but those are the main ones I can remember anyway. 

Also made a second vid about it and put it on the YouTubes.  Originally made a vid for family/friends to see and someone asked about it a few weeks ago so made another one.  The chimes were unplugged in this as it can get annoying testings things sometimes.  Not a good video at all but it's better then taking pictures.

[cw]

looking good, the backglass is not bad.

[TopJimmyCooks]

The first 1000 on the bonus at game start is normal behavior on a Bally EM.  Not a problem.

[AlienInferno]

The first 1000 on the bonus at game start is normal behavior on a Bally EM.  Not a problem.

Awesome!  Keeps me from chasing ghosts.  I guess the bulb was bad when I first started playing it. 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Looks good.  you can get those ball swirls out mostly with a cleaning with melamine foam/magic eraser and 93 or 99% alchohol, followed with novus 2 to remove haze and wax to keep the cracks from getting dirty. the swirls are still present, they just aren't full of black dust so much less visible.  This is a well documented technique.

On the drop targets, the plastic "shelf" that catches and holds the target up is probably worn.  With Bally, the best bet is probably to replace the targets themselves.  the other parts can usually be reused and switching out is fairly easy.  looks like targets are on ebay for $28 or so.   

When I get a pin to 100% working I play it for a good while before deciding whether to shop it, restore it, sell it, etc. 

[AlienInferno]

Looks good.  you can get those ball swirls out mostly with a cleaning with melamine foam/magic eraser and 93 or 99% alchohol, followed with novus 2 to remove haze and wax to keep the cracks from getting dirty. the swirls are still present, they just aren't full of black dust so much less visible.  This is a well documented technique.

On the drop targets, the plastic "shelf" that catches and holds the target up is probably worn.  With Bally, the best bet is probably to replace the targets themselves.  the other parts can usually be reused and switching out is fairly easy.  looks like targets are on ebay for $28 or so.   

When I get a pin to 100% working I play it for a good while before deciding whether to shop it, restore it, sell it, etc.

I've allready got novus and I had some magic erasers if the family didn't "borrow" them all. Alcohol I still need but sounds like about what I was planning when I get to cleaning the playfield anyway. Also have new drop targets I ordered several months back as well. One was damaged in shipping though so not sure if I will be able to replace all 5 of them or just 4 of them with new ones.

Thanks for helping me out with his.

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