Bought my first pin! Now with 100% more pics!

[somunny]

I bought a Spy Hunter pin locally on CL and will be picking it up tonight.  It's in pretty good condition overall (I'll post some pics after I get it home) but it looks like all the rubber needs to be replaced as well as a few bulbs.  The playfield has a fair bit of wear but only one real problem spot.  The sides and backglass look great.

So, I'll definitely be paying some attention to the playfield, replacing the rubber and bulbs and doing some small touch-ups on the cabinet itself.  I've been looking through some of the other pinball related threads like this one:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=79061.0

and noticed the advice concerning cleaning the playfield.  I had planned on using Novus or some such thing as that is what I had heard to use.  Bear in mind that this is my first pin so I'm completely green here.  I've picked up a few good links and will be moving ahead post-haste. 

[D_Zoot]

Good score, congrats!

You'll be wanting to read this:

http://www.pinrepair.com/bally/

Everything you ever wanted to know about keeping that old pin running is covered there.


Yup on the Novus,  good stuff.  Plenty of good discussions on this board about it and cleaning playfields in general.

What you've read here is great advise on cleaning.  Keep reading, don't be afraid to ask questions and enjoy your first pin !!!


D

[Zero_Hour]

Congrats on the new pin. 

The cleaning thread you posted seems to cover all the bases, and I would definitely second the new rubbers, new pinballs, bunch of bulbs advice as well.
The rubbers are going to definitely help the pin play 'like new'. I'd get a few extra sets for your flippers as well - those wear fast. The pinballs will help keep you from mucking up your freshly cleaned and waxed playfield, assuming the pinballs on your machine are well worn - dirty & scratched). And sooner or later (no - sooner for sure) you'll need to replace bulbs.

And while you are at it, you may as well go and bookmark RGP newsgroup (either google groups or via usenet) - the flamewars that can go on there are pretty stupid, but I've found solutions to the handful of repair questions I've had since getting my pin last year answered simply by searching the group.

[somunny]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I went ahead and ordered new rubber, balls and bulbs.  Hopefully I'll have it all by the weekend.

PBJ - I think that the playfield is mylared but I'm not 100% sure.  I haven't pulled the glass off to really check it out yet but it does look like there is a clear overlay over some parts of the playfield.  I'll report back after I get my nose in there.

[JeepMonkey]

Congrats!

I recently performed my first top playfield shop.  The playfield and plastics were filthy.

I took pics of every step so that I would know where every piece went.  I also put each piece removed and it's screws, bolts, buts, etc into the same Ziploc bag and labeled where the pieces came from.

A $20 rubber kit from Ebay, ~$30 for Novus, ~100 bulbs, 5 pinballs from pinball life, and around 25 hours of labor and my machine was born again.

Post up some pics of your befores and afters.

[HaRuMaN]

Sweet!@  I know it's not your Black Knight, but how do you like it?

You bring it home tonight?

[somunny]

Sweet!@  I know it's not your Black Knight, but how do you like it?

You bring it home tonight?

Got it home last night.  This one is the beginning of my path to the BK2K. 

I haven't done much with it.  I'm weary to actually play it due to the condition of the rubber.  Some of the bands are missing or falling off.  As soon asthose are replaced, it's go time.

And yes, pics to come. 

[HaRuMaN]

I haven't done much with it.  I'm weary to actually play it due to the condition of the rubber.  Some of the bands are missing or falling off.  As soon asthose are replaced, it's go time.

I hear you on that.  Suprising, only a few bulbs are burned out on my pin, and most of the rubber is in good shape, except for the 5/16th post rubber rings...  those need replacing.  I need to put together an order and get some new rubber, some new pinballs, and some Novus 2...

Now if I could only find replacement playfield plastics... lol.

Congrats on your new toy! 

[JeepMonkey]

HarumaN - Are you going to replace all of the bulbs and rubbers while you have the plastics off?  It would seem that replacing everything now would be good since you will already have everything exposed.

[HaRuMaN]

HarumaN - Are you going to replace all of the bulbs and rubbers while you have the plastics off?  It would seem that replacing everything now would be good since you will already have everything exposed.

Yes, that's the idea...  the plastics are old and not in the best of shape, so I want to limit how much I mess with them.

[somunny]

Well, it appears that I don't have a key for the backglass box.    There's a lock on top that (I presume) opens the box.  I guess I'll drill it.  These aren't too hard to replace so no biggie.

[somunny]

Thanks for the tip, PBJ but no luck.  It seems strange to me that the coin door and box would be keyed differently but what do I know?   The key goes in part way but just doesn't quite fit so...

[somunny]

Here's the pics:

fyi - I pulled the t-molding off the backglass box



Playfield definitelt needs some TLC



The backglass is nearly perfect.  Just look at that handsome devil!




I'm also wondering where I can get the little plastic cap nuts that hold the playfield plastics in place.  There are several missing but I haven't been able to find them for sale anywhere.

Has anyone seen these?

[D_Zoot]

Looks good !!    Should be a pretty straight forward fix-up for you   

Has anyone seen these?

You mean these?
http://www.marcospecialties.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=38%2D6543N

Yup,  all the usual pin suppliers have them.


D

[somunny]

Ah, acorns!  Thanks! 

[Zero_Hour]

I forgot the artwork featured such awesome 80's hair.

[Lutus]

Now with 100% offset flippers!   

[Ummon]

I forgot the artwork featured such awesome 80's hair.

And that's on the tame side.

[SirPeale]

Lift the playfield and start checking around inside the body.  It's possible it "floated" somewhere inside there.

[Xiaou2]

Congrats on a pin.

 
   I played one once... and wasnt impressed with it...   (Though,  I love the Video game)

 However, I think this kinda pin would probably make a good candidate for a  "re-theme".

 Meaning...  making a completely newly designed playfield.   New layout, new artwork..etc.

 Just an idea, if you get bored of it.

[Jdurg]

Nice.  Pinball is one thing I've never really gotten hooked on.  Whenever I went to an arcade, I was immediately drawn by the videogames.  Very nice pick-up though.

So how's the "ark" coming?