After it being suggested that I extricate my cranium from my rectum for contemplating turning my old EM #Duotron into an Arduino-based circuit-emulated monstrosity, I've decided to document the journey of its reconstruction.
A little history...
I've been a pinball fan since I was about 10. Owning my own machine was a dream.
About 12 years ago, a guy in my area was selling Duotron for $185. It "mostly" worked, but needed a lot of cabinet rehab. The rubber had all been replaced. The table, re-waxed. A new ball was included. It was too good to pass up for a neophyte such as myself.
I had to spend weeks cleaning up the box. It had either been owned by a heavy smoker or lived in a smoky bar for a long time, so all of the white paint was an unwholesome beige and the blues looked sickly. The back of the main cabinet was severely deteriorated. The legs and coin door were well rusted, but not pitted.
Using abrasive buffs on my Dremel and a shop vac to catch the dust, I removed as much of the smoke residue as possible from the paint. The same buffs did a great job removing the rust from the legs. Next, I repainted the scoring cabinet and one side of the main cabinet. I chose slightly more vibrant shades of the original colors in high quality paints.
Nine of the bulbs had to be replaced.
As time passed, however, the game's functionality became more and more impaired. At first, the 1000's wheel of the second player wouldn't reset to zero. Then the 10,000's of player one would increment during each ball start. Targets stopped responding and scoring. I could limp things along, for the most part, but was fighting a losing battle.
Two years ago, I had to move my machine to my parents' place for storage as we prepared to sell our house. Their basement had flooded more than once during the time my table was stored there, but it never got wet. I just got it back from them.
It turns out that the damp air did plenty all on its own.
Here's the current list of issues.
General health:
1) All switch contacts look filthy.
2) Left side of cabinet still needs repainting.
3) Glass needs cleaning.
4) Back glass needs a clear coat to preserve paint.
5) I haven't been able to make the left chime ring.
Game reset & Other:
1) Left coin slot does nothing.
2) Right coin slot adds 5000 points to player 1 score and adds 3 credits.
3) Numbered ball lights do not light.
4) On player 1 start, player 1 thousands reel repeatedly cycles 5 times until ball is manually flicked out of the drain. Ball does not kick over automatically.
5) When the ball drains, player 1 thousands reel repeatedly cycles 5 times until ball is manually flicked out of the drain. Ball does not kick over automatically. Player 2 does not start.
Playfield gameplay defects:
1) Top lanes do not score.
2) "A" light at stationary targets does not stay lit unless lane "A" rollover is held down.
3) Pop bumpers do not score.
4) Left-top 500 point lane rollover is not very responsive.
5) 2000 point bonus light is burned out.
6) "Lites C" rollover in drain lane does not score and does not cause gate to move.
7) "Lites B" rollover in drain lane does not score, doesn't light "B" stationary target, and does not cause gate to move.
8) Top right "1000 points or Special" does nothing.
9) Top left "1000 points or Special" does nothing.
10) Lights behind "A" stationary targets do not light.
11) Stationary targets do not score 100 points.
I've got my work cut out for me...
Full cabinet - Right (resized).jpgBack glass (resized).jpgMain cabinet - Left (resized).jpgBumpers (resized).jpgA-C targets - Right (resized).jpgA-B targets - Left (resized).jpgAlley targets - Left (resized).jpgAlley targets - Right (resized).jpgDrain lanes - Left (resized).jpgFlippers (resized).jpgDrain lanes - Right (resized).jpgCoin door Interior (resized).jpgChimes (resized).jpgCredits reel (resized).jpgMain Cabinet - Interior (resized).jpgMain cams - Switches (resized).jpgP2 Score reels (resized).jpgP1 Score reels (resized).jpg
High Falls, NY
Hope, BC
