Centaur
Bally, 1981Quoted from HPR:In my opinion, the linear offer better feeling and control on the ball. I like them better than the non-linear
Quoted from doghouse:As a classic Bally collector, I very much agree
Same here. When the parts are new, I've experienced zero problems with linear flippers. Beautiful resto work Mike!
I agree the linears are great
Quoted from shock_me:Same here. When the parts are new, I've experienced zero problems with linear flippers. Beautiful resto work Mike!
I agree the linears are great i would never go with the old style either
Everyone else seems to hate them but say williams stern etc flipper assemblies are usualy trashed have broken bushings and have to be rebuilt alot more.
people dont realize these linear flipper are most likely original from 30 years ago becouse parts werent available forever so put it in perspective 30 year original still play ive rarely seen an original stern style that made it all them years without mushroomed plungers trashed sleeves etc if they even work anymore.
The linear flipper design took the stress off the bushing and lasted 3x longer than the others.
look at williams flipper assemblies are trashed under 10 years with half the service of the oldschool arcade life.
Quoted from HPR:In my opinion, the linear offer better feeling and control on the ball. I like them better than the non-linear.
Til they get hot and are on a power circuit with just so slightly less line voltage.....Here we go again.
Quoted from Hellfire:I agree the linears are great
I agree the linears are great i would never go with the old style either
Everyone else seems to hate them but say williams stern etc flipper assemblies are usualy trashed have broken bushings and have to be rebuilt alot more.
people dont realize these linear flipper are most likely original from 30 years ago becouse parts werent available forever so put it in perspective 30 year original still play ive rarely seen an original stern style that made it all them years without mushroomed plungers trashed sleeves etc if they even work anymore.
The linear flipper design took the stress off the bushing and lasted 3x longer than the others.
look at williams flipper assemblies are trashed under 10 years with half the service of the oldschool arcade life.
I worked for many years in an arcade. No linear flippers did not last 3X longer. Matter of fact they were broken all the time and lotza complaints on "Weak" flippers.....Hey lets stick to the Centaur post and get him to put in a real flipper mech. The older one !!!....LOL!!!....Just having fun.
Here are some pics of the new wood side rails as well as the repaired cabinet corner.
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Quoted from Squeakman:Mike. Do you have someone make those wood rails for you? What kind of wood is that? They look flawless.
These where made out of poplar (wanted to go with less grain than oak - looks more original for this era). My friend Mike W. made them. They where sprayed with Rust-Oleum 2X semi gloss black.
Love that powder on the apron. Who did the touch up? Is there a company that takes your apron and repaints them?
Quoted from snaroff:Taking aprons to the next level! Wow...not sure why it's exciting, but it is
This might be the most expensive Centaur on the planet when you are done!
Don't tell David that 
Quoted from MustangPaul:Love that powder on the apron. Who did the touch up? Is there a company that takes your apron and repaints them?
I have a friend that run an auto paint shop. He's into pinball, so I horse traded with him to get this done (told him I'd help him with one of his machines). FYI - this apron was sprayed and cleared not powdered.
This game is going to look amazing, but wait till you start playing it Easily one of the best games of the early 80's.
*edit* oops, I see you're restoring for a customer, and not yourself. Oh well I hope he lets you try it out a bit after you finish 
Quoted from shock_me:This game is going to look amazing, but wait till you start playing it Easily one of the best games of the early 80's.
*edit* oops, I see you're restoring for a customer, and not yourself. Oh well I hope he lets you try it out a bit after you finish
I might end up buying a Centaur for myself one day
After this restoration I’m finally going to take a break and get my garage/workshop setup the way I want (AC, insulation, flooring, new work tables, upgrade to some more industrial quality tools, etc.). That will buy me more space for my personal collection, freeing up a spare bedroom in the house.
Quoted from PinballMikeD:I might end up buying a Centaur for myself one day
Awesome. I knew one day you'd move over to the dark side
I love my 80's pins...
man that apron... everything look so good, look at those parts, chrome... love it.
did you painted the transformer or it's just cleaned?
Quoted from pinballfan:wow.... :-)what paint are you put on your transformer?
I use Rust-Oleum in a rattle can. Flat black followed up with a gloss clear.
Amazing work. I'm curious as to how much this project has into it $ wise, my guess will be $8K by the end of it all. But it will be worth it (to the person who wants the perfect Centaur).
I'm not sure off the top of my head. I'd have to go look at my spreadsheet for the project. These restorations are never cheap though that's for sure.
Hey, Mike...was surprised the bottom of your cabinet isn't black (since I believe we both have "Big Time" produced cabs). Wonder if this was an option?
My Centaur isn't quite as stunning as the work you are doing, but she plays great and not too shabby looking
Great work as usual!
Hi Steve,
The guy that restored your machine probably painted the inside of the cabinet as an extra touch. Looks nice. Question for you, what is the model/make of your speaker. I need to upgrade David's.
Now I know what you use your pool sticks for
The speakers is a 4ohm car stereo speaker from "MB Quart" (a German company).
I think my model is the QWD 160 which is discontinued.
Here is a link to the current model car stereo speakers:
http://www.mbquart.com/mbquart_q_speakers.html
They sound great in Centaur...I also recently installed a repro "Say it Again" board with 3 different adjustments. Works well. My original board still works, but needs to warm up before the reverb kicks in (probably needs new caps?).
Centaur has one of the most hardcore playfields (art wise) ever, looks really nice with that clearcoat!
Mike D's restoration looks better IMO. The black just looks like a cheap/quick way to fill in the wood. But does it really matter when no when see's it?
Quoted from Pinball-Wiz:Mike D's restoration looks better IMO. The black just looks like a cheap/quick way to fill in the wood. But does it really matter when no when see's it?
Well Mike didn't do the cabinet...like mine, they were both purchased. There's nothing about my Centaur that looks cheap, but you are entitled to think whatever you want
Quoted from PinballMikeD:Hi David,
Jeff hooked me up with a sketch (see below). This doesn’t have exact locations for everything, but the critical stuff is there. Mike W. and I will get something mocked up based on Jeff’s layout. I ordered all the 555 sockets needed (these are virtually unobtainium) and have some thoughts on the foil as well.
In the meantime, Mike and I are working on reproducing some other parts (coil wrappers etc.). I got all the plating parts shipped off to Chestnut, so things are moving along. I can still do some things with 4 figures
What is this a sketch of???
Quoted from ShootForSlrValue:What is this a sketch of???
The backbox lighting panel from a Centaur I
Quoted from wiredoug:mike did you get the trace in the end or did the postman lose it?
I got it late last week. Thanks again, that will certainly make my life a lot easier.
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