I have the 500lb and it lifts all my pins fine. I think Wonka is heaviest at 300+ lbs.

The wheels are large, I think will go on carpet fine. But don’t know first hand.

You can’t use the cart with the handle as it comes because you can’t get it far enough under for the proper center of gravity to lift the pin. Some people modify the handle to bend behind the cart. I just took a hacksaw and chopped off the bottoms of the handles (maintaining the release lever) which means the handle is short, but good enough to push the cart under the pin. Once under I pump the lift handle with my foot then roll the pin around by just grabbing on the pin. It moves quite easily.

500 lifts TZ & DI fine.
Pulls them around on my carpet & transition to concrete floor by the handle just fine as well.

That’s a great cart. I just bent my handle out to about a 45 degree angle and it works great.

Can any of you cart users tell me "how to use it"? Other than raising the pin straight up and moving it on a level surface, is there any other use for it? I have always used a dolly but I just got a nice modified lift and can't seem to figure out how it can really help setting up/tearing down a pin, or moving it into the back of my van.

Lifts are great for moving a pin from one location to another on flat floors when you don't necessarily want to remove the legs. Like inside of a gameroom, just changing locations. They are also great for restoring/fixing cabinets/legs/leg plates,gussets, panels, decals exc.

They are not typically used for moving machines from gameroom to vehicle. I suppose they could be used to setup pins but are not necessary. I would use one on older pins that have wood legs as it removes all stress from legs and joints. Allows you to place the game on the lift, raise up and then install 4x legs.

I use mine to lift up the back of the cabs to put the back legs on, but to do so I typically need someone else to push the cart underneath after I lift the game up enough for the cart to slide under.

I have the 400lb Harbor Freight lift and I'd be dead without that thing.

It's been 10 years since I got it and it still works perfect. I paid like $100 bucks for it with a coupon back then too. It was a no brainer deal.

I put a lot of stress on the cart too with moving it over a 4 inch transition step from my garage into my house. That means lifting the cart on 2 wheels to get it over that little step every time and it works perfectly and without issue.

Mine has rolled smoothly over cement, tile, rubber mat flooring and low shag berber rug without issue as well.

The only modification I made (that I highly recommend) was to take my propane torch to heat up the handle near the base where it inserts into the cart, and bent it down so that you can still use the handle with a machine on top of it without damaging your pin.

Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have a beautiful pinball specific lift cart, but for the money (esp at the time when I bought mine) and the infrequentcy of use, the HF one fits my needs perfectly.

I own a
* Wico pinball cart
* Harbor Freight 500# hydraulic lift (modified)
* Harbor freight 600# convertible hand cart
* Harbor freight appliance dolly
* Commercial grade aluminum hand cart
* Escalera Stair Climber

For games on their legs, the Penguin/Wico pinball cart is the clear winner especially as they typically have swivel casters on all four corners. It’s quick and easy to use and maneuver. With the proper technique, you can take a game from sitting on it’s butt to horizontal on the cart in a few seconds. The down side is portability (in a vehicle), or from one floor of a building to another.

The HF 500# lift is in second place. It needs the handle modification. The non-swiveling pair of casters makes maneuvering in tight spaces more difficult. On the plus side, The HF carts is more portable, readily available, and inexpensive. I use two 1x3 to extend the width so I lift on the side panels and not the bottom panel. Two small screws through the boards into hole in the top of the cart lock them in place.

As far as the hand carts go, they all have their pros and cons.

The Escalera is expensive but a life saver for me.

HF cart 1 (resized).jpg

HF cart 2 (resized).jpg

Well, that's my perceived problem. I can setup up and transport pins just fine by myself without it, but would like it to be easier. It sounds like if I'm doing it alone, the lift wouldn't help. Having said all that...

What is this proper technique you speak of? I can't imagine trying to pivot the pin from its butt to horizontal onto the cart. That sounds like a train wreck!

I use my 500# HF cart with the 'bimini' mod for moving, leveling, and load/unload. I have a piece of 2x4 that stays with it and serves multiple functions. It can hold the lift at 2 different heights depending on orientation when placed as a stop on the bottom part for the scissor lift, and placed on top of the lift it serves as a spacer to lift the front, back, or side of the pin for leveling 2 legs at a time. To load/unload, I wheel it up to the car and slide the pin off the cart right into my wagon (2002 e320). I have a large piece of PVC plastic sheet that lets the pin slide better in the wagon. Other than my 1/4" socket driver and phillips screwdriver I can't think of a more often used pinball tool!

I bought the 1,000 Lb HF cart, partly because it had a larger surface area than the 500 Lb cart and partly because it was on sale (for not much more than the cost of the 500# cart).

In retrospect, I wish that I had still just purchased the 500# cart, as it is much lighter than the 1,000# cart. Fortunately, I rarely have to ever carry the cart, as I use it primarily for moving machines around in my basement.

As others have already noted, you will need to modify the handle. Someone here has a post on how to to that. Amazon sells these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R7ND9QR/

That could be place over the ends of your handles, with bolts attaching them to the cart to allow your handle to rotate up and down (out of the way) for use.

The cart does roll over various carpets (even plush) well, as it has large wheels.

I am also interested in knowing what this technique is. Even with my wheels locked, as I tip a pin down to the cart, the cart wants to slide away from the pin as the pin is being tipped onto the cart. I have to always have someone keep the cart from moving, as I tip the pinball machine down onto the cart. If nsduprr can offer any tips to keep the cart from moving away, while trying to tip the pin onto the cart, I would be grateful for that advice also.

Thanks for adding the video.

It sounds like folks are trying to retrofit a pin cart for a purpose that the appliance dolly with kick out wheels is already made for.

168031_01 (resized).jpg

Not really. The lift is for lifting and moving pins that are in the process of being set up or already set up.
Dolly moves a collapsed machine

Which I stated previously.

That is a great observation.

For TheLaw clarification.

These two pinsiders state they are using the pin cart as you would an appliance dolly.
nsduprr
Gogojohnnyquack
These two pinsiders want to know how to use the pin cart as you would an appliance dolly.
Master_of_Trolls
arcyallen

If we are going to be pedantic, that is an appliance hand truck. Furniture or appliance dollies are basically wooden frames on wheels....

So you disagree that folks on this very thread are both using and inquiring about using a pin cart as you would an appliance hand truck? Or you wanted to say what?

This^
Bimini mod+++
You can load and unload from vehicles depending on vehicle by lifting the cart to the appropriate height and sliding pin in or out of car/truck. I do this alone quite often with no problem but some help never hurts.

Put pin cart on end
Place the cart flush to back of machine.
Place foot on cart near bottom casters.
Pull back on top of machine with one hand while steading the cart with the other
Cart top angle / edge will slide on bottom board of cabinet until it stops on the lower front edge of game
Both cart and game will be stable and at about a 60 degree angle.
Put a knee on the cart to prevent it from rolling back, hold cart handle and push down on lock down bar.
It takes very little effort.

To be fair, I mainly use this technique on EM’s. And yes the cabinet front panel needs to be in good shape.

Cart 1 (resized).jpg

Cart 2 (resized).jpg

No, I did not state I use an *appliance dolly as a pin cart*.

I only stated that I have a *Harbor freight appliance dolly* (and yes, I meant *appliance hand cart*)

BTW: Not all *appliance hand carts* have kick out wheels.

To be even more fair, I did not invent the cart trick, I picked it up from a bald, cranky pinball repair guy.

I will add the “tires” on my front swivel wheels split and had to be replaced. I replaced them with 4” solid urethane wheels from HF. The holes on the new wheel bracket do not line up with the holes on the cart so you have to remove the new wheel from its bracket and use the existing axle bushing and bolt to mount the new wheel on the original bracket. I have had it several years prior to this happening.

That receipt is only for the hardware he used to connect the bimini hinge together. You also need the hinges:

https://www.amazon.com/Yanyu-Bimini-Fitting-Stainless-Hardware/dp/B09KC4468X/ref=sr_1_3_sspa

61b8ihxd-yL._AC_SL1500_ (resized).jpg

That first picture keeps freaking me out just looking at it. Thanks for sharing it (and the process)!

HF has this 25% off this weekend, mine was $186 out the door, but I'm tax exempt.

The lift table is a life changer.

I just used it to move a 50 gal water heater (full of sand and left over water) off of its 20" high shelf in my garage and onto the floor. Then used it to lift it into my van for disposal.

I have the 500 pound version. I did blow out a tire moving an aquarium for a friend. That thing was 6 feet long and very heavy. I have also moved several wood stoves with it.

I did leg guards on one unit last night without it, setting the pin on my leg while reattaching the legs. Bleh. Sucked.

I have both the 500lb and 1000lb Harbor Freight lift tables. I far prefer the 500LB and pretty much only use that one. The 1000lb is in my garage for loading and unloading, but I have nonstop issues with it. I've bled the hydraulics multiple times but still have issues with it properly pumping/lifting. My dad has the 1000lb and also has the same issues with that one.

I bought the Bimini parts for mine, I'm in the asshole of America though so it'll be Wednesday before prime gets them here.

bought a pinball cart when we were finishing our basement and every game needed to be taken down and later set back up. Accordingly I have done this well over a dozen times with WPC games. Both directions. Cabinet lip has to be in good shape and I always feel a bit on edge when doing it. An EM body is certainly easier than a game with an attached head. Worst case has been a bad lip where the game slips off as you are doing the tilt, but you can just push the cart and game back to standing.

I just did the bimini mod today for the first time on a new 500 lb lift in about 20 minutes and moved a Creature with it that's going to the Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show next weekend. A Sawzall with a Torch blade sped up the process, it was a super easy cart mod that works great!

Did you cut 3.5" above where the handle goes into the cart or 3.5" above the bottom of the handle period?

Honestly, I didn't measure at all. I eyeballed it and cut so it could fold down flat on top of the platform. Zero measurements.

I bought the 1000lb model on friday, however it is too wide to fit between the legs of a standard pin (its just over 20”). We used it to remove a new pin from the back of my truck and lower it but then realized the leg issue.

I returned it and have a raincheck to get the 500lb model which is narrower and will fit

I did. And no problem with my games, and what I use it for. So I went with the 1000 lbs model.

Now it is worth checking before you get one. Different manufacturers or earlier games might be different widths.

LTG : )

I should have followed up on this, I ruined a hacksaw blade but got it done, lol

I don't have any trouble at all with my 1000lb HF cart. It fits between the legs of my Stern, CHG, Bally Williams and JJP pins. I purchased self sticking felt to go all the way around the edge of the cart, in case it should ever rub against one of the legs (there isn't a lot of wiggle room between the cart and the legs).

The only modification to the handle, is cutting off the bottom 1 inch (where it attaches to the cart). This allows the handle to lay on top of the cart, when not in use. No Bimini's are required. Hacksaw off the bottom inch and your handlebar will rotate more than 180 degrees (from the top of your cart, to 90 degrees vertical, down to the floor).

All of this being said, if I had it to do over, I would probably just go with the 500lb cart. The 1000lb cart stays in my basement, because it is so heavy. It is not something that you would want to have to pick up and carry move very often.