(Topic ID: 181793)
Rochester, NY
I still own two. One is the first pinball machine I ever bought (1991). The other has a CPR playfield, backglass, Alltek, etc. One is set on 3 balls and one on 5. I just can't part with either of them.
I've got one that is awaiting restore. CPR glass and playfield. I just moved so as so I need to wait until space opens in the garage.
BTW, anyone have any advice to getting the CPR glass to stay in the backbox (CPR printed these on the wrong size of glass)? I've got it shimmed up by chopsticks but it still won't lock in place.
I've posted this before, but it is still my favorite "non-pinball party" pin. Whenever we have a game room party with non-pinball friends this is the game I give away two or three bottles of wine to the high scores of the night. Simple, straight forward game anyone walking up to can understand, games are quick so everyone can have a turn, etc. Great introduction to pinball, with a big "one more game" appeal.
5 months later
Québec, QC
Pretty quiet club over here... let me bump it with this sorta barn find. I bought it from a guy who had bought it from an operator back in the early 80s and kept it pretty much unplayed in his basement ever since. From the box of parts that came with it I think it's a "best of" put together from the best parts of two machines.
Everything is "original" except the MPU. By that I mean that I haven't replaced anything (except some LEDs) but you can tell from the Stern boards that some stuff was replaced back in the day.
Enjoy!
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I'm a card carrying member of this club! Mines been around the block a bit. I picked it up as a non-working beater. But I figured there were enough parts that if it couldn't be saved, I'd get my money back out of it. It was a bit of a mess. The person that "maintained" it owned a pair of wire cutters, and that's about all. When something would short out, he would clip the wires. He got lucky with the fire in the chime box, because the wires melted and desoldered themselves. The MPU was a lost cause. However, an altek, a bunch of parts, and she lived again. Since then I kept making it a bit better as I went. It's still kind of a beater, but it's also a total bitch. It will kick your ass, and you will say thanks, or it will kick you harder. Great game!
Good old fashioned Bally goodness there. A lot of those were around back in the day. May pick one up one day if price and condition are right.
8 months later
Eight ball was my first pin, a gift for my 50th bday. Apparently it arrived pregnant because it now sits next to a couple other pins.
I have a question for the club...does your break shot lane kicker sometimes activate when the ball hits one of the slings? I’ve tried adjusting the switch to reduce the frequency of this happening but if I widen the gap too much I run into the problem of it activating too late to save the ball. Argh! Maybe it’s a trade off...
1 week later
Eight Ball was my third pinball and 1st restoration. Eight Ball came to me with a totally worn out ball rack section that somebody further ruined with a poor paint job that then lifted. The cabinet was missing a ton of paint and along with cigarette burns. I redrew the artwork from scratch, sent the playfield through a modern flatbed printer, then clear coated it and rebuilt it. Found a CPR backglass since the original was mostly empty spaces.
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I've owned this title twice. I wish I had never sold them. I wonder if a pinsider owns my last one I had. It's not hard to miss. The guy I had bought it from.....well, his son laid on the floor under the cabinet and drew a self-portrait on the bottom of the cabinet.
I got a well played one last year as my first project. Its been a lot of fun and well worth the time. The play field has seen better days and has a protective sheet on it, so I'm looking for someone who can restore mine for a reasonable price or Im looking for a play field thats in great shape.
Please keep me in mind if you see one, thanks.
4 months later
I just came across one of these. What an addicting table! I just started clean up.
What angle do you all normally keep this machine? I haven't measured yet, but I've noticed that a return from the right multiplier lane routinely bumps the right sling, and gameplay videos I've seen don't show that behavior. I probably have it a bit steep. This is my first early Bally, and the manual doesn't have a suggestion.
4 months later
Quiet club....
Yesterday I took off the spinner to finally apply some new stickers I’ve had lying around. I gave it a quick clean, and before putting it back on I thought about lubing it. Not having any appropriate lube I simply applied some carnauba wax to all the contact points...
Wow.... it changed the game! 10k spinner rips are now 25k at least! I had a blast playing it into the night, something I haven’t done on eight Ball in a while.
I picked up a basket case for 200. It took a couple of months to put back together. What a fun game it will not go anywhere.
2 months later
There may have been 20,000 produced but most are blown out. I just finished the restoration of mine. I installed a CPR playfield and plastics, a BGResto backglass and Pinscore displays.
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Schematic error? Can someone verify where the wires for the side kicker and the out hole kicker go on the SDB? My wire colors don't match the wiring diagrams, and there's no way the colors could have been mixed - the wire lengths are not long enough on either end. Thanks
For any one who owns this game, please do the right thing and change out the steel ball for a ceramic power ball. Gameplay speed will be crazy fast in a good way, plus the ceramic ball matches the theme by having you also around a “cue ball”.
Quoted from Billc479:Schematic error? Can someone verify where the wires for the side kicker and the out hole kicker go on the SDB? My wire colors don't match the wiring diagrams, and there's no way the colors could have been mixed - the wire lengths are not long enough on either end. Thanks
Power comes from J1-6 on the rectifier board. It is a brown wire on the rectifier board side of the under playfield fuse. On the other side of the fuse, it’s yellow and hits every coil.
Ground is J5-10 on the solenoid driver board. It’s kind of a burnt orange with a black trace.
3FF135B1-E907-486C-8ECB-76541699114E (resized).jpeg 2 weeks later
Hello all! I have Eight Ball machine that I picked up as a basket case. About the only items I can salvage is the playfield (just a couple wear spots on the lower slingshots and some sunken inserts) and the back glass(it's mint). I framed the back glass to carry it with me the past 35 years or so as I traveled the SE for my job. Now I'm settled for good and it's time to get the restore started. If like to join the group. If accepted can you let me know what I'll have to do to become a card carrying member.
Thanks,
Ron
6 months later
I have an Eight Ball that I plan on keeping for a long time. I do not plan on restoring it, however I’ve had issues with the game dying on my twice this year during two big tournaments. Currently it won’t boot up. I would like to replace ALL of the boards.
Any recommendations on what I should get? Are there certain repro boards out there that are better than others?
Quoted from djreddog:I have an Eight Ball that I plan on keeping for a long time. I do not plan on restoring it, however I’ve had issues with the game dying on my twice this year during two big tournaments. Currently it won’t boot up. I would like to replace ALL of the boards.
Any recommendations on what I should get? Are there certain repro boards out there that are better than others?
I like the Weebly rectifier boards, great price and I've installed 6 with zero problems. Alltek MPU & SDB are very good. The lamp board won't cause boot issues. I assume you re-pinned all the connectors?
Quoted from tomdrum:I like the Weebly rectifier boards, great price and I've installed 6 with zero problems. Alltek MPU & SDB are very good. The lamp board won't cause boot issues. I assume you re-pinned all the connectors?
Most if not all have been repinned. The MPU at some point has alkaline damage. It’s been cleaned up, but is probably part of the problem. Checking Weebly now. They also sell an MPU board. What’s the difference between a Weebly MPU and Alltek, besides Alltek costing more?
Quoted from djreddog:What’s the difference between a Weebly MPU and Alltek, besides Alltek costing more?
The Weebly is a newer design, I've never used one. I have a set of all 3 Alltek's I use since I buy/fix Bally's. I usually install a Weebly rectifier, re-pin all the .156 connectors off the rectifier and then check voltages at SDB and MPU. If good at SDB and game doesn't start, install the Allek. If voltage at SDB good and game doesn't start, then install the Alltek MPU. Most start then or need more re-pinning.
If you shop on eBay and take advantage of various discounts you can usually get the Alltek MPU for less. Current best price is $205 delivered. Occasionally, promotions will give you 5-10% back in a discount on a future purchase.
Quoted from djreddog:Most if not all have been repinned. The MPU at some point has alkaline damage. It’s been cleaned up, but is probably part of the problem. Checking Weebly now. They also sell an MPU board. What’s the difference between a Weebly MPU and Alltek, besides Alltek costing more?
The Alltek has all the game ROMs onboard, you select the one you want with DIP switches, makes it easy to move between games. The Weebly uses the original game ROMs, you need to swap chips if you switch games.
Quoted from BJM-Maxx:The Alltek has all the game ROMs onboard, you select the one you want with DIP switches, makes it easy to move between games. The Weebly uses the original game ROMs, you need to swap chips if you switch games.
The NVRW MPU uses a single combo ROM with all the game software selected by dip switch
https://nvram.weebly.com/new-pcbs.html
Quoted from barakandl:The NVRW MPU uses a single combo ROM with all the game software selected by dip switch
https://nvram.weebly.com/new-pcbs.html
If I'm reading this correctly, basically you have the same setup as the Alltek? If I pick up this board, will I need to pull out my original ROM and insert it into this board?
Quoted from djreddog:If I'm reading this correctly, basically you have the same setup as the Alltek? If I pick up this board, will I need to pull out my original ROM and insert it into this board?
The MPU will come plug and play ready for eight ball if you put the game name in the field when you buy it or let me know in some other way. You don't have to transfer anything from the original board over to the new replacement.
Quoted from barakandl:The NVRW MPU uses a single combo ROM with all the game software selected by dip switch
https://nvram.weebly.com/new-pcbs.html
How new is that feature? I swear 3 months ago it was not there. That makes a big difference.
Quoted from tktlwyr:There may have been 20,000 produced but most are blown out. I just finished the restoration of mine. I installed a CPR playfield and plastics, a BGResto backglass and Pinscore displays.
Fantastic work! What do think it’s worth now?
I have a restored one - in similar condition to yours - and I’m curious what value it’s at
Quoted from tktlwyr:There may have been 20,000 produced but most are blown out. I just finished the restoration of mine. I installed a CPR playfield and plastics, a BGResto backglass and Pinscore displays.
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Oops, I’ll try again. what do figure it’s worth now?
I have a restored one in similar condition and am curious on current value
Quoted from RumRunner9:Oops, I’ll try again. what do figure it’s worth now?
I have a restored one in similar condition and am curious on current value
If I were to sell, I'd probably ask $3,900, but it looks so nice next to my restored Joker Poker and restored Flash Gordon. 
Quoted from BJM-Maxx:How new is that feature? I swear 3 months ago it was not there. That makes a big difference.
Universal rom has been around since December 2018.
Quoted from tktlwyr:If I were to sell, I'd probably ask $3,900, but it looks so nice next to my restored Joker Poker and restored Flash Gordon.
Sounds good, thx
I was at a house sale in NJ about 15 years ago and this Eight Ball was in the basement. It was HUO and they bought it brand new in the box (see pictures).
I made a deal with the home owners son (paid him the cash) and was loading the head in my truck when the sons father came running out into the driveway saying the game is not sale and his son made a mistake (yeah right). At that point, he reached over and handed me my cash payment back and at that moment I was shocked. What I thought could be one of my best finds, disappeared before my eyes in a heartbeat.
Oh well, I have plenty other great finds out of the 160 machines I have found over the years, but for sure this Eight Ball stands out in my mind. I always wonder what might of happen to that game and who owns it now.
Sure would have looked great next to my Gottlieb Count Down, 1978 Bally Play Boy and Gottlieb Joker Poker. The good thing is a had two other Bally Eight Balls over the years that I got to enjoy.
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I’ve got my spinner tuned and lined to rip off 42 spins on a solid shot. It’s so sweet.
Quoted from djreddog:I’ve got my spinner tuned and lined to rip off 42 spins on a solid shot. It’s so sweet.
Best Spinner shot in pinball IMO. I can get up to 40 revolutions on mine with a tiny drop of 3in1 oil every few months.
Got mine playing pretty well with a weebly universal -17/-35 mpu.... I think I’m going to drop it off at my parents to let them enjoy it and all the grandkids try it out. I’m going to order new connectors for the power supply and some caps. Is there anything else I should order to bulletproof/fireproof this old girl?
Quoted from orangegsx:Got mine playing pretty well with a weebly universal -17/-35 mpu.... I think I’m going to drop it off at my parents to let them enjoy it and all the grandkids try it out. I’m going to order new connectors for the power supply and some caps. Is there anything else I should order to bulletproof/fireproof this old girl?
The first thing I had to replace on mine were the burnt pins and connectors on the SDB and the connectors to the Rectifier board. At the same time I went ahead and installed a new Rectifier Board, which was scorched.
Finally got so sick of flickering lights and about 7 lights that never came on I splurged on a new Lamp Driver Board. Looks and plays flawless a year later.
I guess I’m in the club now and will post a couple of pics later of my all time favorite game.
Hey guys, I have a small glitch I can't figure out. I just replaced the lamp board, new alltek, all working fine. I put in LEDs everywhere, and for some reason the 4 bulbs (numbers 1234) at the very top of playfield don't work right. In test mode, two stay on, two stay off. In play mode, same thing. No blinking.
Wires and connections seem ok. These worked on old board, old lamps. I can switch boards to confirm.
Any thoughts appreciated.
IMG_20191030_212359442 (resized).jpgDo you have the extra lead wired in, where did you connect it? Did you check those sockets with incandescents?
CPR has just released (re-released?) the backglass! Available in both standard and a mirrored version (mirrored not original of course but it looks awesome). My original BG is trashed so I ordered the mirrored version, as mine sits next to my mirrored Evel Knievel ...
ebglassmirrored-808x730 (resized).jpgebglassstandard-400x362 (resized).jpgQuoted from BJM-Maxx:Do you have the extra lead wired in, where did you connect it? Did you check those sockets with incandescents?
Yep extra lead so no flicker. Same issue with incandescents. I put the old board in and they work fine. I'll give alltek a call.
1 month later
Will be led'ing a customers game out and eas wondering how many lamps are there? gi and feature, both playfield and backbox. Thanks!
Quoted from chad:Will be led'ing a customers game out and eas wondering how many lamps are there? gi and feature, both playfield and backbox. Thanks!
Are you adding something So that they don’t ghost?
Quoted from chad:Will be led'ing a customers game out and eas wondering how many lamps are there? gi and feature, both playfield and backbox. Thanks!
Buy the $50 adapter, it's well worth it or else you will have flickering bulbs all of the place.
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