Hi All,
Demolition Man is my first pin. Today I started to fix my broken jet bumper and one thing led to another where I decided to do my first complete shop. Tear down of the ramps was much easier than I expected and I took photos and used some youtube videos on DM also.

Anyways, I am ordering some broken plastic replacements and why not an LED kit. The question is should I get the coin taker regular brightness kit or the super brights? The extra $30 doesn't matter. Opinions? I hope to order in a few hours so I can get them on their way.

IMG_0332.JPG IMG_0333.jpg

_{Post edited by mbob : Can't get LEDs yet}

Lost me a little. Whats GI?

And thanks for the info!

Ugh, I thought it would be easier finding plastic replacements.
I can't find the ones I need:

31-1919-16 (long cover over 3rd flipper - it is on ebay with really high shipping),
31-1919-19 (blue graphics above the shooter lane),
31-1919-4 (short cover on sling switch across computer hole).

Anyone have any parts or know where I can score those? I suppose I can repair 19 & 4 and buy the inflated 16 if I had to.

Thanks John. I am going to consider that strongly as I am sensitive headaches at times.

Okay I will give it a spin. I could always change it later if I hate it. I plan to order this kit:
http://shop.cointaker.com/product.sc?productId=682&categoryId=-1

now for the GI (http://shop.cointaker.com/category.sc?categoryId=193) could stevedave maybe jump in with what i would need color and count for frosted? No biggie if your too busy.

Another topic on my shop. Everything is going great except one thing that went sour. I removed the mylar in the jet pit since it was pealing and it pull up the light cover. It's not brutal because that light cover is just white anyways but I'd like to get a replacement. Do they just stick on? I dont think Ive seen them for sale though so maybe I am screwed. It wont be terrible but Id like to fix.

Any opinions on using a little silicone lube in the crane gearbox? Nothing but metal gears in there. It works fine, maybe a little loud. I only ask since I have it apart at the moment.

Also - my outer lane behind the acmag is scuffed a but from wear and dirt. I am trying to use Novus 2 on it and its helped but not smooth. I havent lost any paint in the area. Should I put more elbow greese? Should I be looking at a mylar kit to protect after my cleanup?

I used a tiny dab of Novus 3 in one area and it finally came off. sweet. I imediately wiped with Novus 1 after.

I found the main plastic I needed at bay area amusements and placed an order for the plastic protectors at macro with another plastic piece. Those along with some other odds and ends set me back quite a bit so my LED plans are going on hold cause I still want to pick up another pin too. So I relabeled the thread subject.

Next question on shopping is what to do about ball trail along the high traffic lane behind the acmag. I've got it clean but it is slightly rougher then the rest of the table. I think I'm just going the wax it really good unless others have some suggestions. Sanding and clear coat are out I think. I would consider Mylar just on this lane with its high traffic since its now clean and it would protect but could I get it custom like that?

I cleaned up both my elevator and crane. I completely disassembled them short of the gearbox, cleaned, and did my best cleaning the crane gearbox from the opening. I resorted to a touch of contact cleaner, q-tips, then some silicone lube. It is metal on metal in there and I am trusting with the motor attached it stays clean. Before it was tough to turn and quite loud. After it quieted down and even continues to spin after you stop turning. The elevator gearbox was mint and needed nothing internally.

So cleaning up my elevator I noticed that I may be missing a ball stop. Hopefully someone can take a look at the photo and let me know if something is missing.

IMG_0382.JPG

Tonight I finished removing the original Mylar. Yes I learned my lesson on that jet bumper lamp and this time used freeze spray and goo gone. I was planning to leave bare after novus 2 and wax but I changed my mind. The wear in the old Mylar was pretty bad and in the back of the acmag and right side of the loop where the was no Mylar ball wear started through the clear.

So I changed gears and cut out my own Mylar. I added 2 new spots for it, 1 on acmag drop in the back, 2 right side entry to the loop and may do one more in the top right corner after the in coming switch. I figure I can always restrip it down and have someone else sand and clear but that's out of my league. So why not protect it for now and the Mylar is smoother than the trail was. Here's some pics. Another rookie move?

bc48a4264d6f19b42f52e42b044e3f6d.jpg // Error: Image 38806 not found // 7cd8f17c3588b6472a6cafd60c7e3ac1.jpg bda382e06bbcf16d95ee08ccb928d907.jpg d79eb55366bf5cb89dbba2831a8b4a8c.jpg

Thx, I don't have many before pics but lets just say other than the main playfield, anything out of reach looked like this one.

While I'm not taking everything off at once I am making my way around striping and cleaning and replacing so I don't loose or forget something.

9b4c23ae4043fe4263505cc5415e7703.jpg

Before and after. I ended up buying a new eye. a928a017fca17f70966edc05889d6aec.jpg f52d31df4a83a0d07405b4299cfbe280.jpg

Before & after pic on my first ramp. Is there anything you can do for ramp ball trail? 08f420ed299e8278c219968c73a95602.jpg 377bff8bd7da7f4cdcdc1389b7ba92e1.jpg

I worked really hard to get things back together this past weekend as the kids and I are jonesing for pinball. Those ramps are a lot harder to put back then take off LOL.

Once I got it back together I was test running it and the Claw gearbox started squealing!!! Let that be another lesson to this rookie, DO NOT PUT SILICONE SPRAY IN A GEAR BOX! Even though it says made for gears. It may have been just getting ready to seize anyways as it was sludge and glue inside.

So I drilled out the rivots, cleaned all the gears with alcohol and used White Lithium Grease as it was the best thing I could find locally. If someone recommends I can always redo it with something else. Pics attached for those who may need to put one back together.

IMG_0433.JPG IMG_0434.JPG IMG_0435.JPG

More pics

IMG_0437.JPG IMG_0438.JPG IMG_0439.JPG IMG_0436.JPG IMG_0440.JPG IMG_0441.JPG

And finally some pinball!

IMG_0442.JPG IMG_0443.JPG IMG_0444.JPG

More

IMG_0445.JPG IMG_0446.JPG IMG_0447.JPG

The only nagging issue I am having is the Super Jets drop from the claw. Some times the ball drops and just lays there, some times it does Prison Break instead but most times if you line it right above the switch it works. There doesnt seem to be a way to adjust it either so any tips DM owners?

Another nag is my rebuilt 3rd flipper and faster ramp leads to the ball shooting out of the end of the lane on the skill shot drop. I'm sure things will slow down soon to fix that

I fixed my super jets drop! I noticed during tear down that one of the three rods for the claw was shorter than the rest. I thought I had labeled them right so maybe the previous owner had them wrong with the shorter in the middle. As soon as I shifted the shorter to the left it fixed it. The wierd thing is the left now has a gap so I cut a rubber fitting to fill it. Long story now but I dropped a screw under the table and it went under the power supply board. So I grabbed my magnet to fish it out and to my surprise came out with the screw was a small round cylinder the exact size I cut my rubber fitting. I swapped it and fits like a glove. No super jet issues at all.

LEDs for inserts and accents are coming as soon as I can plan it out right

Thanks for the gearbox repair kudos but today I sort of messed it up. Someone I showed the greased pic thought I needed more grease so I redid it a little heavier. Well now the claw is stressed to move so I gummed it. I need to set it back to the way I had it or find a different lube. Anyone ever try 3in1 oil? That's all they have local for light duty jobs.

I Just re-cleaned and tried 3 in 1 light grade oil. The gears spin real easy and no squealing. Though the box is still loud. Unless someone points me in another direction for some reason I'm sticking with this.

AWESOME. I redid my gearbox again and this is the way to go:

1. Clean with WD-40. Use it as a cleaning agent.
2. After degreased wipe away all WD-40. Leave none behind.
3. Apply a layer Super Lube Grease with Teflon to all gear teeth.
4. Apply a really thin layer of Super Lube Grease to gear faces, spacers, washers, and stems. Don't miss the insert dimples on the box cover either.
5. Enclose it back up and ensure everything turns good all the way around before reinstalling. I even open it back up and removed excess grease that was on the gear faces.

I swear by Super Lube Grease (not oil or spray) for gears. My claw gearbox is so much quieter now. With the pin set at volume of 8 (lowest) you can't even hear it now. What a difference. Woohoo! lol

So I played around with some LEDs tonight. I like the 3 LED super brights in inserts larger than a standard small circle or ones that do not have the light pointed inside. I am still not sure I like it when the inserts are blinking with them in but I play damn good even though it feels a lot different.

The mistake I made is not buying more ghost busters from Pinball life. I bought a lot more of their frosted regular 555 and the colored ones I used in the Claw, Acmag, DM Time, Computer, Super Jackpot, and 1 white target are staying lit when they should be off. Should I just re-order these in Ghost Buster?