Quoted from shaunpurslow:Pass me a chimichanga because I just joined the owners club!
I just ordered a Pro model as my very first pin. Super excited! I took the time to read through all the posts in this thread so I could best protect the machine when it gets here. So far I have ordered the Cliffy playfield protector set, a plastics protector set, a left ramp plastic protector, mylar flipper button protectors annnnnd a shooter lane protector. Is there anything I missed?
Being that this is my first pin, I am a little anxious about taking things apart to put in these protectors. I plan to try and watch some youtube videos and take my time when installing. But if any of you veterans have any tips/common pitfalls to avoid I would certainly appreciate it.
Everyone I've messaged on here during my quest has been super nice and helpful. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate it as a newbie.
Welcome! DP is a fantastic pin, and a great option for your first! Be warned: It will NOT be your last! 
A few simple, though surprisingly easily forgotten, pieces of advice for any modification or maintenance:
*Take pictures (from multiple angles) before taking anything apart, and view the pictures you took to verify their quality and that they clearly show you what you need to do to put things back together before you start unscrewing or unplugging things. A lot of times, there are fine details you could easily miss if you don’t take the time to pay that extra attention, like little washers and their position relative to something else.
*Make sure you remember to take the balls out of the game before you lift your play field (bring the play field up and rest the bars on the front of the cabinet, then manually eject the balls from the trough from beneath). I tend to put mine in a spare microfiber cloth, which I then put into a Pingulp on one of our other machines for safe keeping.
*Have another microfiber cloth on hand to rest flat on the play field to put small pieces of hardware or tools on while working atop the play field to a) avoid damaging the field, and b) to help prevent little screws and washers and the like from slipping down into the back of the machine somewhere (real annoying). Otherwise, of course, have an area nearby and off the play field entirely to set things on (I’ve just found it more convenient to have things on a cloth on the field when applicable).
*You CAN do it, whatever the “it” may be, and there WILL be “it”s! Pinball machines are highly complex electro-mechanical works of art, with any number of potential points of failure, so something WILL go wrong, or come loose, or break, or wear down, etc. over time, or hell, even possibly on day one! It is to be expected, and there are tons of resources available online via YouTube or right here on Pinside, or via your distributor and some techs they likely know and work with, or through Stern support directly. The modding and maintenance of pins has proven to be a really fun, rewarding part of pin ownership, in my opinion.
Lastly, just have fun and enjoy your new pinball machine! Hope you’ve got plans for the next few that will inevitably join your collection
Windermere, FL
Vancouver, BC
Woolgoolga
