Tips From the Moving Company Pros: Ways To Move a Pinball Maker
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the country, Mild Giant desires to make sure that these traditional, lovely machines remain damage-free while being carried. Oh, and we want the people moving them to be safe, too.
Initially glance, pinball devices can appear frightening to move because of their size, weight, and fragility. Luckily, our knowledgeable Giants have a few techniques up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
The majority of contemporary pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years approximately) have a hinge system which allows the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball devices had their headboxes bolted on, utilizing either two or four bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, in addition to the early Solid State devices.
Later on makers have hinges and use a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There might also be two bolts inside as included security, in case the latch is broken or unintentionally un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you require to remove the headbox rear access panel to acquire access to the bolts and plugs within. Usually this panel has a lock on it to keep it in place, however with time the secret may have been lost. Quite frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in location.
Once inside, eliminate the bolts and unplug the large ports that have electrical wiring decreasing into the machine. You might wish to identify these ports to put them back in the best area, however they should 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. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure 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 have to get rid of 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.
As soon as opened, remove the back glass by lifting it up using the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and after that pull it out from the bottom.
Open up the back box lamp panel by raising the lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out to you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to lift up the lamp panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are within, you can eliminate the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the maker. You might want to label these plugs to put them back in the best area. You might not have to get rid of the plugs, as the wiring should be long enough to allow the headbox to be folded down.
At this point, you can secure the light panel and change the back glass.
Modern Strong State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable latch system located 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 needs no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. 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 likewise assist keep the back glass in location.
You need to get inside if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock located at the top of the back glass in the. Use the provided secret to unlock, and get rid of the back glass by raising it up from the bottom, then pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will require to remove the display panel. (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. 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 assist keep the back glass in location.
Getting rid of the Legs.
Pinball Machine legs are held in place by eight bolts. They will be either 5/8 inch or 9/16 inch heads. The modern pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into. These bolts can be removed, and the legs will come off.
These threaded plates and captive nuts can be harmed, and the use 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 lift up the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar latch across and remove the lock down bar. Then slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe place. Next, raise the playfield by placing 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 nuts have been removed, replace the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Be sure to mark or remember 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 pack it, ensure you eliminate the pinballs so they do not great post to read bounce around during transport.
If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs simply prior to packing the machine. Grab a friend to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.
Ensure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want it moving if you have to stop suddenly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you require to get rid of the headbox rear gain access to panel to acquire access to the bolts and plugs inside. (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 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. moving specialty items Grab a good friend to have and assist one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs.