Topic index (key posts)

210 key posts have been marked in this topic, showing the first 10 items. (Show topic index)

Quoted from mollyspub:
They aren't a pinball person and reached out to you ?
Man do those wrapped up picks scare me!

This happens often. I don’t know how various people find me and stopped even thinking about it years ago.
I have done games for little old ladies,actors,athletes all well outside of pinball collectors.
It usually is a bit of a pain and I really prefer to deal with the mainstream hobby but it’s a business so you serve anyone that is willing and able to have it done.
I am not stressed about it.
The game is well packed under the circumstances and it’s insured for its true cost.
Worse thing that could happen is it would need a new cabinet. It needed that when it showed up.
I have seen plenty of Stern boxes with forklift holes in them so there has to be a little faith sometimes.

You'd think if they can afford your service they would prefer to simply pay a local operator to unpack and properly level and set it up..

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
The IJ is packed.
The protectors are placed over the protectors.
The levelers are run all the way down and then cranked down with a keep nut.

No nylon washers on the bolts to protect the leg holes from being chewed up?

Early morning cabinet delivery.
image (resized).jpg
image (resized).jpg
Eight in total including JUdge Dredd
image (resized).jpg
image (resized).jpg
High Speed
image (resized).jpg
image (resized).jpg
Creature.
image (resized).jpg
Earthshaker
image (resized).jpg
Gorgar
image (resized).jpg
Plus a couple TAFs and a CP.

Seeing all those freshly built cabinets spanning different platforms is just amazing!

Gorgar build will be good!

Ooooooo I see a Haunted House! That's my favorite game of all time, and I'd love to watch that one get done

Wow, can't believe they want them shipped together like that. I want to have my Whirlwind done by you, and can't imagine even having it shipped. Would pick it up in person.

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Early morning cabinet delivery.
Eight in total including JUdge Dredd

Wow! Your cabinet man has been busy!

Spirit 2 is packed the normal HEP way.
Everytime a carrier or recipient does something I didn’t think was possible I try to find a label for it.

4B9633C2-D2D0-4184-B23D-DB7EF916A468 (resized).jpeg

C5136C90-7485-477C-B87D-B7FFA08625C2 (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpg

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Spirit 2 is packed the normal HEP way.
Everytime a carrier or recipient does something I didn’t think was possible I try to find a label for it.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Chris, when your guy picks up the Spirit ask him if his company recognizes the labels. Reason I ask this is ... as someone that use to ship a lot I know that most carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, PittOhio, STI) don't recognize any decals other than hazardous ones. I've had the companies listed advise me that putting any decals on the packaging, other then hazardous, is not necessary. Few of them advised "don't waste your money on Fragile decals".

Quoted from meSz:
Chris, when your guy picks up the Spirit ask him if his company recognizes the labels. Reason I ask this is ... as someone that use to ship a lot I know that most carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, PittOhio, STI) don't recognize any decals other than hazardous ones. I've had the companies listed advise me that putting any decals on the packaging, other then hazardous, is not necessary. Few of them advised "don't waste your money on Fragile decals".

I had a claim denied about 10 years ago stating that even though the item was packed well it was not labeled properly so I make sure they are labeled no matter what.
It is added insurance and can only help regardless of what they tell you.
One less excuse or reason that can be given to deny a claim if needed.

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
I had a claim denied about 10 years ago stating that even though the item was packed well it was not labeled properly so I make sure they are labeled no matter what.
It is added insurance and can only help regardless of what they tell you.
One less excuse or reason that can be given to deny a claim if needed.

Yeah no matter what you do they look for reasons to get out of a claim. One other thing I learned was ..... have the recipient sign for the game "STI" as opposed to singing their name. STI means Subject To Inspection and will allow the recipient to still file a claim if they notice damage after the driver has left. Most carriers, once you sing your name, will not address any issues after you sign.

NOW BACK TO HEPtv

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Spirit 2 is packed the normal HEP way.
Everytime a carrier or recipient does something I didn’t think was possible I try to find a label for it.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Chris,
Just roughly how much do you have into just packing materials for each pin? You do such a dam nice job!

To me the biggest reason to put labels & FRAGILE all over anything I ship is it shows my buyer I tried to get an item to him safely. I know shipper don't read that stuff but at least I did my best to let them know "glass inside" - "fragile" - "liquid" - etc. I only ship small stuff in little boxes but if I was shipping a HEP machine I would have those stickers on all 4 sides of it!

Spirit 2 and IJ have left.

Spirit 3 moves into final assembly.

7140A6E9-08EA-484B-9CBB-99245ED1F9E4 (resized).jpeg

BAD557A0-3F5A-4A0F-B65B-094BD651A940 (resized).jpeg

1210DBBA-E78F-4E10-B7BC-4E2BF7B2029F (resized).jpeg

Quoted from Bohdi:
Chris,
Just roughly how much do you have into just packing materials for each pin? You do such a dam nice job!

Thanks. Usually runs about $125 or so in wood,bolts,buckles,straps,blankets,shrink wrap and labels per game.

Spirit 3 playfield is sanded then polished.

9B378C33-7899-4FEA-91E8-BA784BB3ED63 (resized).jpeg

ED5E3C6F-933D-4A94-BB71-52CA7F1F760E (resized).jpeg

A1D5E7C1-6C65-4577-B131-B7C9C1A7D88E (resized).jpeg

C3C28F99-4B9C-4649-B4F5-04FB080DDADB (resized).jpeg

E2E0DE5B-601A-45C6-82CB-708C5D3D5D63 (resized).jpeg

I worked through all the coils for the Spirit 3 as well.

28C8B81B-B7A2-46DE-AF0F-D833A61629DB (resized).jpeg

FE06CE4C-A1AE-463A-B38A-6A6B4CE6A643 (resized).jpeg

9B8A443F-8AD4-4C32-8A0A-9D32B376BC8B (resized).jpeg

480C7469-75D6-4C6F-BA24-D57726B918D9 (resized).jpeg

I like the floor!!! It looks like Racedeck but a different design. Have you had it long? I did my garage and makes standing on concrete much easier for periods of time.

Fathom 2(DK)I will call it playfield sanded then polished.
This is another that requested blue insert rollovers.

86BB7E7F-F683-4081-821E-5C353E19FC16 (resized).jpeg

image (resized).jpg

The woodrail is semi set up.

The playfield isn’t trashed just has insert issues and showing some age. We will see how I tackle that.

image (resized).jpg

Definitely needs some plastics

image (resized).jpg

I already have all new rails,bar and legs along with some other needs from Pinball Resource.
Can’t say enough good things about Steve considering this latest run of Spirits and now this game.

E88362C2-3E61-4B31-92EA-AE94EA026750 (resized).jpeg

Thursday beer.
image (resized).jpg
It’s kind of the right glass.
image (resized).jpg
If whitewater was a beer it might look something like this.

image (resized).jpg

Quoted from dmacy:
I like the floor!!! It looks like Racedeck but a different design. Have you had it long? I did my garage and makes standing on concrete much easier for periods of time.

Thanks. It is sold by Big Floors.
I have it in my garage and large building.
Have had it in the big building for about 8 years and it has held up great.
So good that when I redid my garage a couple of years ago I pulled the Racedeck that was in there and replaced it with this.
It has proven to be Maverick proof too.

BDC3E02D-0E04-4B9E-9145-91874A019294 (resized).jpeg

Could not be more excited to see your work on the woodrail. Cool looking game.

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Definitely needs some plastics

Any there even any reproductions available for these? Looking forward to seeing your solution here ...

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
The woodrail is semi set up.

Gee. That flipper gap looks a bit wider than that of Stern Ghostbusters.

Woodrail restoration!
Awsome! This is something you don’t see every year

Spirit 3 playfield build up.
These are about as painful as it gets.
The issue is that it has so many wireguides to locate and tap in.
What made these worse initially but something I grew accustomed to dealing with is how bad the dimpling is on this run of playfields which I will highlight in a minute.
Topside

246B020A-1CAB-4FA6-AB1B-6EA6D85A4F9C (resized).jpeg

673D2B80-F6E0-473A-AC2E-054B522CDA33 (resized).jpeg

48483F34-1EA8-4DC8-A505-31CC2AAA770C (resized).jpeg

Ready to tackle the underside.
Start this one by placing the larger mechs.
I learned during 1 and 2 that the flippers are best secured initially by using just a couple screws in tile alignment is verified later.
The dimpling on the underside isn’t even close on many to almost all mechs.
I was able to source all the correct parts to replace the previously missing pop bumper mech.

FAA6391E-CF39-4FED-A25B-3AF1454F6D68 (resized).jpeg

1E1AA247-4B9D-4840-A5D2-9C2FAC807531 (resized).jpeg

6A7DF87B-AC0F-4BB1-99ED-77AED0B9D034 (resized).jpeg

3CA36F29-DAED-4EF6-8DD0-A8EE8B7169FA (resized).jpeg

In terms of the dimples specifically there is a domino effect especially on the capture holes and slings where once one thing is off all associated parts are then off as well so properly placing one part means then realignment/adjustment to two other parts plus a lot of double checking.

Here is the overview on that for a single capture hole. This has to happen at each one and makes for a much slower and critical parts placement due to the poor accuracy.

I check every against the original with a ruler. AF88C929-2DD7-47B8-9C86-317E2BBCCB37 (resized).jpeg

It isn’t to hard to spot the issues.
What is needed is for the ball cup to be perfectly centered in the hole but also it needs the be turned in just the right angle for proper play so it ejects in the correct projection
Centering it and aligning it properly shows how bad off it would be if trusting the dimples.
AF92AF0D-E5F3-4EE4-9DC6-ECF4A90C22E1 (resized).jpeg

This is how far off nearly ever single dimple is for nearly every single part. FF8FC81D-017E-49BB-8350-4DC554B1DBB1 (resized).jpeg
That is one cup corrected and placed there are 3 more to do.
C8B67CA2-6BFB-44D4-B17D-89E1702EE3AB (resized).jpeg

Since the cups are all off this means the eject arms will need to be realigned as well.
Ideally I would like them perfectly centered side to side and toward the back of the hole without dragging it. It is essential in order for it to function properly. It’s not just for looks!

This is what would be ideal CE8E86DF-DC80-46C1-A4B4-992DE1BAEBA5 (resized).jpeg

Test the action of that. Looks good!240F7D8A-441D-423C-A571-3EB3079F2FDD (resized).jpeg

So how far off was that? This much!!!With mechanical parts and tight tolerances it’s a lot.
F2965101-2319-4A07-A4A1-923C134260E1 (resized).jpeg

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
In terms of the dimples specifically there is a domino effect especially on the capture holes and slings where once one thing is off all associated parts are then off as well so properly placing one part means then realignment/adjustment to two other parts plus a lot of double checking.
Here is the overview on that for a single capture hole. This has to happen at each one and makes for a much slower and critical parts placement due to the poor accuracy.
I check every against the original with a ruler. [quoted image]
It isn’t to hard to spot the issues.
What is needed is for the ball cup to be perfectly centered in the hole but also it needs the be turned in just the right angle for proper play so it ejects in the correct projection
Centering it and aligning it properly shows how bad off it would be if trusting the dimples.
[quoted image]
This is how far off nearly ever single dimple is for nearly every single part. [quoted image]
That is once cup corrected and placed there are 3 more to do.[quoted image]

Those are not even dimples, they are pre-drilled holes. wow.

Ok so if the cups off, the ejector is off then that means the coil that activates the ejector is off too. That is the domino effect.

Start here with that. 8ADE1DF9-DBF0-431C-8748-9B1392367465 (resized).jpeg
Place the coil over the dimples A1CE535B-048B-41C2-BBC4-4AA071F4F620 (resized).jpeg

It shoves the plunger over and it will bind. AB322F8A-DDA1-4F8F-90D8-757A66BB0B1C (resized).jpeg
The mech is readjusted.Then checked for proper operation and clearances. 7D1CB6A6-AEFD-434B-A102-6E2859E59BB5 (resized).jpeg
357BA210-E8AA-41C6-BEDA-56CD18607044 (resized).jpeg09A4758C-80A1-4660-B7D4-0129FA86C171 (resized).jpeg
All set how far off was that?Not as much which really makes it that much more tedious.

098A3343-741A-44F3-9F44-AC7667DEAD6D (resized).jpeg

Great to see you take the time to get it right.
It really is alot of extra work when dimples are not correct or missing....especially if you dont have an original to work off.
Im finding these aftermarket playfield mfg should worry about the quality of dimpling just as much as the quality of clear and printing process.

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Ok so if the cups off, the ejector is off then that means the coil that activates the ejector is off too. That is the domino effect.

Boy, that sure can be annoying and time consuming. What a pain in the butt.

This process continues on each and every part. The slings are equally problematic.

This is an example of how far some others are off but all is well now.
Anyone can swap a playfield but it is a much harder process to get right and these are some of the obstacles.

4A65360C-EE5E-4702-A9EA-097DEAEFBF7A (resized).jpeg

9B161750-8B68-4664-9949-867709FCB4CE (resized).jpeg

552DA375-56F6-474C-822A-F9DC60FDEF1E (resized).jpeg

1B12BF7D-9C0E-48C7-BBC6-89CDE241FD6B (resized).jpeg

6E9F73A5-B44B-46EA-944A-74948EEE7505 (resized).jpeg

https://mircoplayfields.com/en/p/spirit-mirco-playfield-set
"The playfield comes completely dimpled and drilled, ready to install"
Completely dimpled? Yes.
Completely drilled? Yes.
Ready to install? Yes, if the end result is not important

All the mechs are well aligned and in place. F9D78AD0-F211-489B-889C-53FA63CA1F47 (resized).jpeg
Working through the lighting now.
I used two lead sockets on my last Spirit but I think the single leads are going to be a little easier to work with on these moving forward it is mostly because of the display in the center of the playfield.
There just isn’t much clearance there at all once the display is placed and I don’t want o mix and match styles.

No concerns with the GI though. I did have to make up some of the far reaching style sockets in the single lead configuration.

image (resized).jpg

Wow what a massive pain in the ass!

Quoted from Davi:
https://mircoplayfields.com/en/p/spirit-mirco-playfield-set
"The playfield comes completely dimpled and drilled, ready to install"
Completely dimpled? Yes.
Completely drilled? Yes.
Ready to install? Yes, if the end result is not important

Honestly I would much rather deal with these dimple issues on a nice new playfield than try to repaint the old one.

image (resized).jpg

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Got one Fathom cabinet braided and up on legs.
This was the former BTC lower and a reworked original head. [quoted image]
[quoted image]
Here is a comparison between the HEP paint scheme and the BTC.
One is a perfect match to the apron the other is probably somewhere more in the realm of original but a bit too drab.[quoted image]

How much braid does the typical early Stern/Bally/Williams need when replacing?

Quoted from Flynnyfalcon:
How much braid does the typical early Stern/Bally/Williams need when replacing?

I would figure about 25 feet to be on the safe side.

Spirit 3 playfield build continues on. I am at the wiring stage. Well into it.
The new sockets were jumpered as needed with a color correct style of insulated wire. 7C4B1982-4F4D-417B-A5D3-B42D76608B1A (resized).jpeg4BCFF4DB-3253-49CD-B8D1-234B23FED311 (resized).jpeg
Once that was done the main harness was roughed in place

5F8EE490-B6B0-4DF1-9394-6B7FDD96F6CE (resized).jpeg

F6F551A0-F376-46BF-B653-ABA77D31DFEA (resized).jpeg

This game had missing parts,hacked wiring and melted coils.
This is always a bad sign and leaves a bit more to go over and work through.

A new fuse holder is placed and all fuses are now the correct value. Which are only 1 or 2 amps depending on location 77B1684C-14A7-43AF-9255-1EB0CE8B1321 (resized).jpeg

The ones that were removed were massively over fused. They were a collection of 10 and 25 amps so that is scary. BED6CB9B-FBF5-4F34-BA8A-F50735F73040 (resized).jpeg
Looking over things a bit more to make sure I am resolving whatever issues or problems were melting coils and blowing fuses I inspect the transistors and diode banks.
Most look fine there are a couple suspect ones that I will replace with the correct part regardless of if what is currently there might be suitable just to close that door.

728DC354-2AD0-4637-98CC-460F84C5B511 (resized).jpeg

5A0C44B7-1311-4246-9CB5-F7BF6F317102 (resized).jpeg

1E581FE0-AA33-4F3A-84BC-D3305AA3E446 (resized).jpeg

OP
Quoted from High_End_Pins:
Spirit 3 playfield build continues on. I am at the wiring stage. Well into it.
The new sockets were jumpered as needed with a color correct style of insulated wire. [quoted image][quoted image]
Once that was done the main harness was roughed in place[quoted image][quoted image]

I noticed you placed the solder tabs for the GI light sockets 'under' the bracket against the playfield wood. I would think the solder tabs would go between the hex screw and the lamp bracket. I am sure you have a reason for this and would be interested to know why. Thanks

Quoted from Pin-Pilot:
I noticed you placed the solder tabs for the GI light sockets 'under' the bracket against the playfield wood. I would think the solder tabs would go between the hex screw and the lamp bracket. I am sure you have a reason for this and would be interested to know why. Thanks

It provides the same connection or continuity on top or below the socket.
I prefer below because it makes socket removal for bulb changes easiest.

Curtis is officially a dad!

30ABBE3A-F713-4098-ACA2-3DE5CA501C97 (resized).jpeg
While the new mama gets some rest he comes home for a little celebration.
Pretty sure he’s done this before. The cigar part!

E911B016-A69D-48BB-BDBB-179E7443D49F (resized).jpeg

43D5E5E7-E96B-48FE-B0BA-09FDBCB29843 (resized).jpeg

014A1FB6-9143-47E4-B81B-5D0717EAACC7 (resized).jpeg

Promoted items from Pinside Marketplace and Pinside Shops!

Reply

Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!

Help – Contact – About Pinside – Support Pinside – Top

HEP This Week

By High_End_Pins

5 years ago

Topic Stats

You

Find in topic

Linked Games

Topic poll

“EBD Trim legs will be black regardless ”

Topic Gallery

Topic index (key posts)

Reply

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!