I just pulled it off route for some TLC. It has had 3548 plays in the last 13 or so months. The total plays is around 20100.

Todo list:
- new rubber
- fix the backbox ballast, or replace with LEDs
- fix sparky's foot (was broke when I got it, a few attempts to fix have not been successful)
- fix the grave marker (was broke when I got it)
- ordered replacement cliffys for the mystery scoop (the one that was there broke at some point)
- have replacement cliffy for the sparky magnet
- maybe replace the sparky magnet again and clean up the area around it
- add color DMD
- add snake mod decals
- add mirror blades
- add shaker
- maybe upgrade the speakers?

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That sparky magnet does not hold up well. For the speakers you just need a subwoofer.

I don't want to put an external subwoofer on location though.

The more I read, the speaker upgrades have mixed results. Because of the low bit rate compressed mono sound. And I don't really want to spring for a pinsound. So, maybe I'll just pass on the speakers for now.

Following to see how you fix Sparky's foot.

That scoop is still pretty sexy!

my foot just broke looking for advice on this

I can tell you it was hot glued when I got it. And I tried an epoxy. Neither worked for too long. I am going to try a bracket screwed in to place and some jb weld this time. I'll post my results.

There's a pinsider who 3D prints just the Sparky feet with a method of attaching (both feet, not just one). He has not had an issue since going this route - PM me if you are interested and I'll try to find him

replaced all the rubber, I've been using titan

I replaced the ballast. still didn't work. Replaced the starter, works now! $4 part at ace hardware. Easier to replace than a fuse.

I was thinking of putting a bracket underneath, but there isn't enough room. So, I just went crazy with the JB Weld. Its a little sloppy, but you can't really see it installed. It has been holding up well so far, we shall see how it fares when it goes back on location. If it breaks again I will try dmieczko suggestion.

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I didn't fix the grave marker. I would like to order a new one at some point.

Put in a new cliffy for the scoop. I have some mixed feelings about this. It protects to scoop, but dang, that is a hard enough shot to hit as it is. 2021-12-25 22_04_29-Photo - Google Photos (resized).png

This is the real story of this entire post. So, if you look at my before picture of the magnet, there was some mylar around the magnet.

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When I first got the machine the magnet was mushroomed very bad, and had dug into the playfield. I replaced the magnet, but not the mylar. I now wanted to pull up the mylar and put in the cliffy carbon fiber protector. When I pulled up the mylar it pulled some of the playfield up. Bad news.

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I believe that the playfield has been in the shape for a long time, and that the mylar was just holding it together. The damage was more than the cliffy could cover. So, I cut some black vinyl to cover the damage, put the cliffy over that (to help make it look more finished), and finally covered the entire area in some clear mylar.

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I think it turned out really well, especially considering the damage that was there.

I replaced the magnet as well. Just over a years of use and it was mushrooming again.

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color dmd looks great.

I added the snake mod. But I'm not sure I like it. You can no longer see the roll overs lights at the top of the playfield.
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mirror blades looks great and I think help brighten the playfield a bit.

Shaker is fun. But not used as extensively as other games I have played.

I did not upgrade the speakers.

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I'll be putting it back out on location this week.
All of the upgrades probably were not necessary for a location game, but I figured it had earned it! And hopefully the players on location will continue to have fun with it.

It's great to see some nice work put into a location game. Great job and thanks for the details!

Yeah, that's why I removed the snake mod 2 days after I installed it. Function over form on this one. I want to see those roll over lights clearly from the player perspective without having to contort my body around to do so.

Why did you add this? It had almost zero wear from 20k plays. I say protect the edges with Mylar and call it a day.

Totally agree. The scoop is hard enough. Haha

I also took the cliffy off the scoop because the shot was too hard with it on.

I also recently replaced my magnet and yours looks like mine did with a small raised piece of metal in the middle of the magnet. It looked like it would damage the balls quickly so I used a dremel to remove it. Did your magnet have this and if so did you do anything about it?

The scoop looks good because it had the cliffy in there for the first 17k plays or so. I took it off exactly because the shot was hard. I think I might take it back off and do just what you said and put some mylar on it

I thought the same thing, so I filed it down.

I’ve had both feet break off. Took a coin box lid and cut out a bracket the shape of the bottom of sparky and bolted the feet to it and secured it to the base of him. Can kinda see the bolts coming up in this pic on his feet and it is ugly but works. This met has around 180k plays so a little more wear than most.

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For the mag core those need replaced around 3-4k plays. If the damage to the playfield is to far gone I have drilled out and replaced with the newer style as those do not mushroom
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Wow, that's awesome.

That's a great idea!

180k in plays!!!! Must have been a routed machine? If you could snap a few pics from the playfield. Would enjoy seeing how the machine is holding up and how it looks after all that.

Still on route today. All but 4 of my listed machines in profile are on route. This met not my highest played machine either..

My guess would be Iron Man for the most plays.

I just ordered a new magnet core for my MET after reading this...

I was thinking of doing that on my IM I had on route, you have to drill the hole all the way through for the big ring? I thought the playfield was thicker than the new big core?

Any pics of the playfield to go with that? Would be interested to see the wear after all those plays

You do need to drill all the way through, but the area around the magnet core is thinner so the magnet part fits better and is closer to the playfield. The thinner area is what causes the core to be able to grab and flex/damage the area around it.

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Any update? Is the Met pro still earning?

Been crickets for a year.

Maybe he will see the new request.

Just a small update for anyone who is still following this MET. It is at approximately 27000 total plays. With about 3000 in the last 12 months. It is at a location with about 18 total machines, so about 250 plays a month isn't bad.

A few things I have had to do in the last year are
- The coil stop bolts on the right flipper sheered off. I had to pull the mech off, luckily I could grab a little bit of the bolts and twist it out.
- The back box light "starter" went out again. This is the second time I've had to replace it in 2 years. I guess these go out from time to time?
- Misc bulbs, rubbers and regular cleanings.

She is a workhorse and still a ton of fun to play. The right scoop has a tendency to eject SDTM about half the time, so I need to go look at that.

That's incredible. Thank you for the update.

They shouldn't. Certain brands might be better than others. I think I bought either GE or Eiko the last time I needed to restock them.

Or, the florescent bulb might be burning out, and putting a strain on the starter and ballast.

It is possible to convert to a LED tube style bulb, rather than continue using the florescent bulb. That should only be about $25-$30. There should be a bunch of threads about that.

Yep, we're still here waiting for any updates.
Thanks

Awesome, run this thing until it's at least a ship of theseus.

Yea we converted all of our SAM games to LED in the back box. It’s really easy, brighter and no ballast to worry about. My kind of mod.

I adjusted the right eject tonight. Hits the left flipper solid every time now. I took a couple pictures. If you want to see other parts of the machine, just let me know.

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Thanks for the pics. I have always wanted an update.

Need to replace the sparky magnet core every 3k plays

It's time for me to replace mine. How hard of a job was it?

It's a 10 minute job it has a jam nut you take off on the bracket on the back and then just unscrew the magnet exits out the top of the playfield. Then insert new magnet, level it with the playfield and retighten the jam nut to hold it.