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Glad this post brought back - while not in the class of the greats who get games for free to $75.00. Hope my $250 painted blue - non working Spot Bowler, $300 Fun Fest, $200 Triple Action, and $400 Time Zone at least get me in the LEP club. Don't have the skills or time to do full restorations, but enjoy getting a machine that isn't working well and is looking tired and worn into playable and reasonably good looking condition.
Quoted from mrgone:It's great to see another Sacramento area Pinhead.
Thanks, yep got addicted fast and hard. But still have a lot to learn. Are you in CCPL or do you go to the shows like the now moving Pin a Go Go?
Quoted from o-din:I've always been a low end man when there is a deal to be had, however most games that are priced low usually get snatched up before I have a chance.
But I've still got my $100 Pinky!
O-din think you are a leader of the club. And have appreciated your helpful responses to some of my rookie posts in the past. Also like the dart board on the wall behind your games. Start new dart league season tonight.
$100 Hokus Pokus Free mouse nests, and schmatic and manual in the pinball s... folder.
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Quoted from jrpinball:In my experience with rodent invasions, that looks like a relatively recent settlement. Should clean up fairly neatly.
Both the playfield nest and in cabinet nests cleaned up well. Unfortunately the in cabinet nest was made up of most of the in cabinet labels chewed into confetti.
Doodle Bug $250. Backglass almost perfect. Rest of the machine, not so much. But Playfield stripped, work has begun.
51A62C8F-0F49-4406-857C-00267F74780A (resized).jpeg6C7AF6EE-872D-4887-913A-83B886427C80 (resized).jpeg75438DDC-7674-4044-AA0F-19A03BC420B3 (resized).jpeg7A8DAD75-5999-43AE-81F7-058D142A6BF5 (resized).jpeg93C0DB74-8DDF-4DC0-85AE-CA9A97C3B08E (resized).jpegB8140E83-213D-4FF5-9913-835888C08FE0 (resized).jpegQuoted from pinhead52:was that factory with the wood inserts on the legs?
Yep I’m sure garage factory. And the next mod I found might explain the bent leg. The never want this F—ng game to tilt mod.
A12F0DD7-E51F-4045-A942-94CB10A4D553 (resized).jpegGot my first "free" pin. They were asking $500, and before I left saying sorry I didn't want it. They asked me to take if for free. Restoring this one was beyond my skill set, so sold for a nominal amount to a Pinsider who will give it the TLC it needs and deserves.
2019-03-30 15.36.15 (resized).jpg2019-03-30 15.36.34 (resized).jpg2019-03-30 15.38.34 (resized).jpg2019-03-30 15.39.33 (resized).jpgQuoted from statictrance:Here's a low end for you. I bought it back in May, but I've been sitting on it doing the repair. I'm happy to say this is now fully functional with just one pop coil and a complete reattachment of the body to head connector. (I only wish I could have met the original owner that didn't understand what a Jones PLUG is)
$100.[quoted image][quoted image]
Wow, what a wiring nightmare. On the other hand, wish my garden was full of those butterfly's.
$200 Baseball. Backglass pretty good, playfield looks almost perfect, although haven't pulled dirty glass off yet and checked closely. Cabinet bottom, and backbox, not so great. Can't wait to get working on it, but third project in line now.
2019-09-09 22.46.44 (resized).jpg2019-09-09 22.46.49 (resized).jpg2019-09-09 22.46.58 (resized).jpg2019-09-14 09.10.54 (resized).jpgQuoted from joemagiera:This will take some guts to admit this publicly here, but I'm going to do it (and I'm sure I'm not the only one)...
If I have a pin to sell, I will try Craigslist and rec.games.pinball and Mr. Pinball first before posting here. (I have had pretty good success selling rate on all three).
Why? So I don't have to pay the game selling fees. (If I do post here or ebay, I'll increase my price to cover the fees).
I know a lot of bad/negative vibes coming my way, but at least give me credit for being honest.
Yep, get avoiding Ebay fees, but Pinsides are pretty reasonable. Funny though, my credit union charges a small fee for overseas transactions, and that bugs me. LOL
Quoted from Colsond3:They do charge, but it’s reasonable. A lot of people find ways around it anyway. I pay the fee every time. And it’s even less when you’re a Pinside plus member, like you and I are. We get a reduced fee.
Personally, I don’t even list on CL anymore. Haven’t in a long time. Got sick of all of the tire kickers that stop by with no intention to buy, let alone some weirdos.
I agree with avoiding EBay, too much.... so Pinside, FB Marketplace, or CL.
Quoted from DCRand:$200 Baseball. Backglass pretty good, playfield looks almost perfect, although haven't pulled dirty glass off yet and checked closely. Cabinet bottom, and backbox, not so great. Can't wait to get working on it, but third project in line now.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
FYI finished baseball. Came out better than expected.
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$60 Egghead. Not sure if it was even worth that. Will decide later if it’s a project, or parts machine. Legs are so rusted if I put them in Evaporust, they will disappear.
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2020-04-06 20.59.55 (resized).jpg2020-04-06 21.00.12 (resized).jpg2020-04-06 21.00.47 (resized).jpg2020-04-08 20.59.44 (resized).jpgHasn't been a post here for a while. Thought I would toss one out: Two games for $300, and one of them Doodle Bug although with trashed back glass and really bad cabinet paint, but decent or better play field. The other is Honey, and probably a parts game although while the back box, back glass, and cabinet are terrible, the play field isn't bad.
IMG_6902[1] (resized).JPGIMG_6906[1] (resized).JPGQuoted from Silverstreak02:I paid $200 for this one. It’s a huge project, but will be fun.
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That looks in overall great condition. Nice pick up.
Quoted from Snype32:Does this count for lep? $150 cad. Not working yet.
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Counts to me, great find.
Quoted from Tommy-dog:I originally considered myself a low end guy about 20 years ago. I did not want to buy that expensive $3200 new in the box Stern. I enjoyed buying those $1500 Theatre of Magic's, $1200 Addams Family's and all those $400-$800 cheap 'B' title games, like Getaway, Judge Dreed, Flintstones, Demo Man, etc.
Envy you, I didn't get into home pin's until about 4.5 years ago. So missed all those great titles at those prices.
Quoted from BCpinhead:Hi , I have a Gottlieb Torch and a Williams Space Odyssey. Both not working. Thinking the SO would involve more hours to get up and running due to so many switches to clean and adjust, however cheaper than a pascal all in one board (which I love working with, such a good product). So game play wise which do you think you’d reach for first to fix, and why? Cheers!
I would start with the Odyssy, have a Space Mission myself, great game. Also, if you have score reel problems, Williams are usually easier to fix. And what Gdonovan said is exactly right. Fix just what is broken. One of the ways to create lots of headaches for yourself is to "clean" and adjust every switch if you aren't really expert at working on EM's.
Quoted from DCRand:Hasn't been a post here for a while. Thought I would toss one out: Two games for $300, and one of them Doodle Bug although with trashed back glass and really bad cabinet paint, but decent or better play field. The other is Honey, and probably a parts game although while the back box, back glass, and cabinet are terrible, the play field isn't bad.
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Update on this double game buy. Sadly decided to part out the Honey, it was really far gone, and not exactly a sought after game. Good news, still have the play field and plastics (and still for sale) but have sold enough other parts that I am now $0 into the Doodle Bug. So after finishing the Top Score in the next few weeks, that has taken me far to long to finish. Will be able to start the Doodle refurb and afford a new back glass, and maybe a cabinet repaint.
Quoted from undrdog:I’d pay that for a machine with an acceptable - decent backglass, a playfield that can be polished up to play well that doesn’t have issues that would affect play (sunken inserts ok if they are fixable) and a cabinet that isn’t falling apart.
Is that LEP or just an ordinary project?
And I draw the line at a painted over cabinet. Not even for $250.
I don't know, have had two painted over cabinets Jack in the Box, and Spot Bowler, where I stripped the latex and found good original paint below. One was very good, and one was just ok. But both were like wiping lipstick off of a pig to find a cute puppy. LOL
Quoted from PoBoyPinball:Picked up a LEP last weekend in the process of getting her going and cleaned
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Nice, didn't realize there was a soccer "Top Score".
Quoted from wayinla:Been working slowly on a Williams OXO with an awfully painted cabinet. The pin was pretty much complete but sitting for a long time apart. Backglass is ok and playfield has some wear and planking. I’m making a playfield protector. Hoping to have it done next month.
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Looks good. Fun game.
Not a great deal at $500. Put pretty good considering condition of back glass and playfield, and it worked. Have a few minor issues like a ghost ball kicking out at the and of a game. And the person who put stick on pop protectors on without doing paint touch up first. But happy to join center pop club.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from mrm_4:I keep trying to be a LEP man but after buying them dirt cheap or getting them for free I always end up breaking the rules and making them pretty
That is what I do most of the time. Buy low price derelicts and make the pretty and working. Think really that is what this thread is all about. It isn't how they look and play when you are finished with them, it is how little you pay and how they look and play when you buy them.
This time got two for $500. Double Barrel with decent backglass and pf. But terrible cabinet. And Stardust with interesting repairs on backglass but ok overall.
76ED73D6-473E-425A-9821-5D686BEA0028 (resized).jpegB0FAE449-1169-4042-AEA3-3B634DA1F238 (resized).jpegDEEADD42-D510-425E-8EA1-422B61EA6E04 (resized).jpegFCB74326-D7BF-4636-8545-09ADD98A4936 (resized).jpegQuoted from statictrance:Been awhile since I've posted a LEP buy. They were described as sitting in a basement, not plugged in for years, and 'should work' but might need a little tuning. Dear god they're beautiful. And $60 each.
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Wow, just wow
Quoted from mrm_4:Twist my arm at $250
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Great buy, love my Space Mission. And yes I paid more for it, although it was in great shape.
BTW: Nice you have the blue pop caps. Mine had the white, which would compete for the ugliest pop caps in pinball. Changed to transparent red, look great.
Quoted from Sea_Wolf:Got my Space Mission for $400 just on lucky timing. It also was in great shape. I alternate between the Yellow pop bumper caps I bought and the blue that it came with and I like both.
Not sure if it was you or not but someone posted a pic of theirs a couple of years ago with the transparent red caps and it looked sweet.
Yep that was probably me.
Quoted from PoBoyPinball:Here is a LEP unload. No grandson (my normal help) available to off load today. So why not do it like I did dirt bikes back in the day just needed a wider ramp.
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Nice, used the gutter in front of my suburban abode for same help a few times.
Latest LEP pick up. 250 with pretty good pf and backglass. Otherwise needs lots of work. And yes, set up on my fully covered back patio at the moment. And fully covered with moving blankets when not working on it.
2725615B-3B08-430C-8066-E9D5862EEFFB (resized).jpeg6C1F1C64-9198-464E-9B57-C4E51F291746 (resized).jpeg747FC918-4EEE-414A-BEBA-872216CBAAB9 (resized).jpegQuoted from edednedy:Nice find on the Travel Time. One thing you need to do, is carefully tweak the timer. Too short between pulses and the game ends quickly. Too long between pulses and you can play all day. It's a finer line than you might think. There are a lot of ways to add time, including a fairly easy plunger shot.
I increased mine by less than 2 seconds between pulses one time. It went from being a challenging game that usually lasted about the same length of time as a 5 ball game from that era and was very difficult to turn over, to a game that I turned over 4 times and finally just quit with 120 time units remaining
Had one a couple of years ago. Fun game and found the timer adjustment made a big difference. Thanks.
Quoted from PantherCityPins:Here’s the after shot of Top Card. Deep clean/magic eraser and two coats of wax, several gremlins chased out, etc.
Lives again.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Btw, notice your metal garage door isn’t insulated. They sell foam kits, less than $200, and make a big difference in sound and temp.
Quoted from PantherCityPins:Thanks, I'll look into that!
Your welcome. Got mine at Lowes. Pre cut panels.
My best find in a while. $150 started right up and played a game. Forgot to take pictures until I had already pulled some of the playfield rubbers. Replaced the locks with PPR locks and put the legs in evaporust. This one will go in the lineup for now once the play field is cleaned and waxed. And eventually I’ll do a complete cosmetic makeover.
15B7974B-4CFA-4795-8E72-B2646AE4A5E9 (resized).jpeg41A2E937-B106-45C1-805A-A5B83DAB40F1 (resized).jpeg4FB26E68-CBF6-46FB-8C45-39AEB59EFE91 (resized).jpegAE55E3EF-1145-4345-879D-6E91D9651B00 (resized).jpegCBF53CFE-893C-4565-9075-7107A186A8B9 (resized).jpegQuoted from Nikrox2:The rug does tie it all together
Yep all the old house rugs end up in the garage as game room rugs. Funny but that red one came from my dads house, and was probably a $500 rug. Just style doesn’t fit our house.
Quoted from dasvis:Wow - Where are you guys finding these gems?
Craigslist? Facebook marketplace? or ???
My area has pretty much dried up as far as LEP projects. Probably just as well, my wife would shit if I dragged home another......
(But since when has this stopped me... )
Who you know on this one. My gateway drug dealer who found my first pin for me 7 years ago (just bought 56th, still own 16) sent me a text that a friend of a friend wanted to get rid of this old Sky Line game that had been in the family for years, but sitting un-played and collecting dust. Don't get those texts or calls often, but when you do it's a fun day.
My lucky month. Second lep in a month. $200, lights up, score motor spins - but sure I can track that down. Backglass is pretty much perfect. Playfield has some wear but ok over all.
8B4BD7E2-754D-44E2-90E3-2BDACDFABABD (resized).jpeg917E7BD6-D5CC-4061-AED6-2CE350216CD2 (resized).jpegBB2C0CFB-533B-45F1-B30A-F7E16782705E (resized).jpegC8D8FE88-2898-41A9-95AE-C30D9AA884B3 (resized).jpegFBAB73D9-FA48-44B8-92B4-7E09FA6D93EA (resized).jpegYou're currently viewing posts by Pinsider dcrand.
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