(Topic ID: 291268)
Springfield, VA
I’m ready to declare victory against the underside of the playfield. All labels gone, all soldering done.
I thought the pop bumpers would be the worst part, and I was right. I fumbled through the first one before I learned I had to remove the entire mech, de-solder and then carefully route everything back. I won’t win any awards for my soldering, but it should hold up.
Cable clamps are done, and next is switch gaps and finishing the zip ties.
New rails get here Monday, so I may do a few things on the top side before then. That’s the fun part anyway!
5A2B0FBB-D4B1-41D6-AFB1-9D560A10120C (resized).jpegBDE69937-BC86-48CA-AA3C-1EA715DDFFAC (resized).jpegQuoted from Mudflaps:Ball guides
Are those from Cliff?
-mof
Quoted from mof:Are those from Cliff?
-mof
Yeah, and it seems you guys collaborated on them!
Good progress today. Replaced all star posts and polished ball guides, wire frames, etc.
One of the challenges is solving micro-problems related to screw length, bulb size, etc. For example, the Comet LEDs take up more real estate than 555 incandescent bulbs. I added a few washers to clear a plastic.
In another case, I couldn’t source Philips head 6 screws at the right length, so I used the single slot screw. I’ll likely replace them down the road but they serve the purpose now.
Quoted from Mudflaps:Good progress today. Replaced all star posts and polished ball guides, wire frames, etc.
One of the challenges is solving micro-problems related to screw length, bulb size, etc. For example, the Comet LEDs take up more real estate than 555 incandescent bulbs. I added a few washers to clear a plastic.
In another case, I couldn’t source Philips head 6 screws at the right length, so I used the single slot screw. I’ll likely replace them done the road but they serve the purpose now.
Shiny:
[quoted image]
Progress:
[quoted image]
Big favor: when you have all the posts placed can you take a pic without any plastics?? That would help me tremendously when I start putting together my basket case Fathom....
Quoted from AUKraut:Big favor: when you have all the posts placed can you take a pic without any plastics?? That would help me tremendously when I start putting together my basket case Fathom....
Here ya go!
The topside is pretty much done minus the new rails. They should be here any day, so while I wait, I’ll adjust the switches, sand the rollover inserts, finish the zip ties, and anything else left.
I should be ready to plug in this weekend. Hopefully the game doesn’t explode.
image (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgimage (resized).jpgQuoted from Mudflaps:Here ya go!
The topside is pretty much done minus the new rails. They should be here any day, so while I wait, I’ll adjust the switches, sand the rollover inserts, finish the zip ties, and anything else left.
I should be ready to plug in this weekend. Hopefully the game doesn’t explode. [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Awesome!!! Very much appreciated!!!
Hamilton, ON
I love looking at a brand new fathom playfield swap, the artwork never ceases to amaze me. This is looking amazing! I do miss the traditional white flippers and yellow bands, but understand the desire to change things up. I do like the clear rubbers on the blue bats, not sure I've seen that combo before.
Sydney
Quoted from cooked71:Did you do any prep work on the pf like what Kruzman recommends?
Yes. One of the biggest keys to success is prep on the top and bottom.
For the bottom, I pre-drilled the pilot holes and compared to the donor game. For the top, I was more hesitant because this was my first swap. Routing the holes to clear the topcoat was critical. I used a drill in reverse to route the holes, then a smaller pilot hole.
I made a few mistakes up top which I’ll document later. I’m upset about them, but I try not to beat myself up too much. First timer here...
My rails are now officially lost in the mail. Nine days after shipment and still ‘delayed but in transit.’ I’m done minus the rails, so I’ll try to be patient.
It’s alive!!!
I’m so excited, everything is working minus a few switch adjustments. I started with the inserts and GI, no smoke. Then displays, no explosions. Then solenoids, no fire.
Flippers, pops, drops, kickouts all working. The game looks gorgeous, but I’m sure I still have some troubleshooting in my future.
For now, I’m thrilled!!
6ACFA3C4-B9F4-4E9B-9F4A-FA1AE7AB4918 (resized).jpeg827F7DBE-C169-429B-AD34-EDFBB95ACA6C (resized).jpegimage (resized).jpgWeird behavior #1.
When locking a ball in the Cave Trap, the game says ‘mermaids captured’ but another ball doesn’t kick out, and the drop targets don’t engage.
The switch tests are good, nothing stuck. Drop targets test normal and pop up/down when starting a game. I’ll troubleshoot, but any ideas are appreciated.
Quoted from Mudflaps:Weird behavior #1.
When locking a ball in the Cave Trap, the game says ‘mermaids captured’ but another ball doesn’t kick out, and the drop targets don’t engage.
The switch tests are good, nothing stuck. Drop targets test normal and pop up/down when starting a game. I’ll troubleshoot, but any ideas are appreciated.
Working 100%! Kudos to RobertWinter for pinpointing my problem. My cave switch was gapped just enough to register on ball lock but then break contact. I also had one switch in the back that needed some tweaking.
I’ll call this a huge win. No flames, no blown fuses, all lights and switches working. Plays awesome.
Next up is the cabinet restore, then onto Medusa...
Quoted from jjga:Need a paint decal kit for your cabinet? I got one with my Fathom and there is zero chance I'll ever sand down and repaint my cabinet.
I do! Pm me with details, thanks. Pinball Pimp, I’m assuming?
Some lessons learned as I close this thread out:
1. Pre-drilling is paramount, but the underside of the playfield may have some misaligned holes. Next time, I’ll pre-drill the lamp socket holes but not the mech holes. CPR is great, but I had to do tons of drilling on the top and bottom.
2. Triple check the screw length. I was paranoid about piercing the playfield, and I came close because a random screw 1/16” too long got mixed in with the rest.
3. The labels were the most important thing I did. I didn’t even really reference the pictures because I labeled everything. I also left about 1/4” of wire to each lamp and switch which helped me identify color.
4. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes. Fix them and move on.
5. Even after all is done, switches won’t line up 100% and things will need adjusting.
I had a blast doing my first playfield swap! So much so that I’m ready for number two. Look for my Medusa playfield swap thread soon.
Finished product:
image (resized).jpg
The biggest thing for me was the not trusting the under PF dimples. You get into a groove where it's easy to just keep drilling the dimple holes and then later you realize they don't really line up. Some I had to fill, others were so far off I rotated the mech 1/4" and just drilled new ones.
2 months later
Quoted from Mudflaps:I had a blast doing my first playfield swap!
Congrats!!!
How do you feel now that you've accomplished this?
haha
-mof
Quoted from mof:Congrats!!!
How do you feel now that you've accomplished this?
haha
-mof
We finally got moved and set up in the new house. Medusa is out of the garage and Fathom is still playing great.
The cabinets are a bit rough on both, so each game will get re-painted and re-stenciled. I had to get a new head for Medusa because that one was disintegrating. Pinball Pimp stencils on the way.
image (resized).jpg
CE17A377-BD43-41C2-AE1E-2970EB375BB6 (resized).jpegWhile the final result looks fantastic i’m perplexed why you did it. To start with it looks like you had an excellent original survivor Fathom machine. I can understand if the playfield was roached but you started with a nice game and I didn’t see anything wrong with your old one. They are only original once.
A friend has a Fathom that plays well with a mint original back glass. He has a new stencil kit for the cabinet (solid but needs repaint) and has new plastics. Playfield is rough. All that one needs is a playfield swap to make it a really sweet game. It seems the effort would have been better spent on a machine like that.
Quoted from Robotworkshop:While the final result looks fantastic i’m perplexed why you did it. To start with it looks like you had an excellent original survivor Fathom machine. I can understand if the playfield was roached but you started with a nice game and I didn’t see anything wrong with your old one. They are only original once.
A friend has a Fathom that plays well with a mint original back glass. He has a new stencil kit for the cabinet (solid but needs repaint) and has new plastics. Playfield is rough. All that one needs is a playfield swap to make it a really sweet game. It seems the effort would have been better spent on a machine like that.
True, neither game needed a swap. I just thought it would be fun, and I wanted a challenge.
I was able to pass along each playfield to someone who needed a better example of an original, so the games live on.
Quoted from PinballPimp:Who built your NEW head cabinet?
I bought it from a third party who purchased it from someone else. So, I have no idea. I wish I knew, though, because the woodwork is amazing.
1 year later
Quoted from Mudflaps:Working 100%! Kudos to RobertWinter for pinpointing my problem. My cave switch was gapped just enough to register on ball lock but then break contact. I also had one switch in the back that needed some tweaking.
I’ll call this a huge win. No flames, no blown fuses, all lights and switches working. Plays awesome.
Next up is the cabinet restore, then onto Medusa...
Thanks for posting the resolution to this! This was the exact same problem that I had and if it weren't for your post, I wouldn't have thought to check the switches as the ball was sitting in the saucer(s).
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