I literally know no one at all in real life that would see a hardtop as a plus. I know there are some pinsiders that swear by them, but real world the "devalue" camp is larger than the "plus" camp in my experience, by a lot.

I mean if there are absolutely no other options at all, maaaaybe. But a hardtop is not a plus in the marketplace.

These guys are spot on. I've never done a PF swap, but when I take picture to fix or replace something, I take a TON of them...and then some. Close in, far out, different sections of the PF. And I try to shoot from from all angles for connections. It also helps to clean off the wires so you can see the colors on them. I usually use a flash regardless since helps to bring out the wire colors better.

I played it a bunch after I did the swap, as well as the guy I sold it to still has it years later....and it's the same as the day I finished it and had it back up and playing. It wasn't about the clear so much, see below...

My comment isn't in regard to CPR's quality, at all. You have to keep in mind.... Pinbot...Space Shuttle....these games were not designed with clearcoat in mind. It just didn't feel right, and frankly, their dimples for the slingshots and lane guides left a lot to be desired. Had I made them any closer at all than where I ended up putting them on the outer edge of the dimple, the ball wouldn't have even been able to pass through the inlane. Yes, I understand dimples are a GUIDE not a law, but it was my first swap, and was like a year and a half or two years into the hobby. I hardly knew better. This is an issue you're never going to have with a hardtop or a simple swap to a nicer PF. If the thought of being EXTREMELY METICULOUS terrifies you......doing a full PF swap or restore is completely out of the question. You're going to have to make a very dedicated effort, especially with it being your first one, to make sure that things line up correctly and whatnot. It's not a minor undertaking, and I don't care what ANYONE says.... the underside of Pinbot is one of the most batsh--- crazy wire harnesses I've ever seen. Jackbot was SO MUCH LESS it was *shocking* and they're practically the same game!

How much of the machine can you swap out before it's not really the game you've always owned? Once you swap the PF out, and assuming you're rebuilding all the mechs while you're at it.....what makes a pinball machine still "original" or "the same".....the fact that you haven't changed the wiring harness and circuit boards? If you're keeping the game for nostalgic value, it's something to think about. That's also part of why that Shuttle was just not *my* game anymore.

I don not have a pinbot pf, though I do have its brother Jackbot NOS pf.

It takes many installs to get good at tuneing a pf. Just installing the parts will not make for a good playing game. You will learn a lot each one you do from your mistakes.

I say just clean, wax, shop it out and play the shit out of it. We're in the same boat as you with a Comet we picked up some time ago. It was filthy, and had wear spots all over the playfield, but after some lovin' it's just a great playing pin! I know hardtops are available for it, and have been for some time, but it just plays so nicely that I don't really even notice all the blemishes.

co65 (resized).jpg

Someday I may find a clean original I can retouch and clear.... I don't know. For now it's staying the way it is.

Good luck!

-Paul

Those 2 were my favorite on route when I was in college. WMU had a deal with the local operator, and we had a couple machines in every dorm, and then the student union had a huge arcade.

I don't know anyone at all in real life who would rather have a blown out pinbot than one with a hard top installed, myself included, and yes I would pay more for it.

I'm glad you get to experience the heartbreak that SD felt for decades with that "team."

Back on topic...I think the post about selling it and buying a better example for $1K more is a better idea. If you're asking about doing a PF swap, it's not for you. The guys who shine at it have some demon that compels them to do it. God bless them.

Did I post in the wrong thread? I was wondering where a few of my posts vanished to...
No the 5-yds per carry means they were crushing the Raiders.

You can get a decal that covers the entire matrix/shield area. Typically when the mylar bubbles like that the inserts are not level, its super common on PinBot. I had one before the hard top was available. I decaled it and cleaned it up, it played great but in the end I was just never happy with it. Be real careful with the magic eraser the paint will be super fragile. I ended up selling mine, I just couldn't get past the playfield. At the time the only playfields available where guys that had horded CPRs to flip. It just didn't make financial sense to put that much into a PinBot. Hardtop is perfect for pins in this price point and it is way better than that decal.

Yep...that's the other reason why I never did Pinbot..... 800 buck playfield for.....an 800 buck game at the time LOL.

How long will you keep it?
Do you ever expect to get your money back?
Will you play it regularly 3 months after it is finished?
How much free time do you have for this?
What is your ability?
What are your expectations?
All important questions in figuring what to do.
We cannot answer most of these. It is really up to you. What i may think is a great idea may bring you to tears halfway thru the project.

Thanks, that is my experience and thinking as well. Now, given a choice between a completed hardtop and a worn playfield, I could see some preferring the work already done. But one with a hardtop next to one with a new playfield - I don't know anybody who'd choose the hardtop over a real pf.

Obviously, a hartop instead of a full swap is easier due to the fact you don't have to swap the underside hardware

With all of those answered, go for the CPR.
Rebuild all the mechs and do a full blown restoration.
Make it as nice as you can, you wont regret it.

Okay, see, I feel this like a punch in the face. Literally me and pinball. I've never paid a tech in the decade I've been in the hobby. Not once. Got help from other locals once or twice, though. Was also why I was batshit enough to even try a playfield swap on the first game I owned (and most of what I owned between buying it and the swap was EM's.) As long as you're willing to go slow and carefully, it'll be fine. It took me 3 months of 2-3 hours a night several times a week to get Space Shuttle done, but I CUT AND RESOLDERED every...single....bloody...connection! Don't do that.

I respect this reply as I have been doing restorations for >20 years, but I want to chime in just a bit. If a few hundred bucks and a bit less labor is something to consider, then consider a hardtop. IMO, they make a great product…this coming from someone who has done 8+ playfield swaps. I get it, new playfields are the best .

Is it? I've read here from those who have done it, and it seems like a whole lot more work to me than a PF swap - I've done swaps, never a hardtop. It looks like a lot more problems.

Avoid Mirco playfields. Check out 3:00 mark

I would toss those old casters. New ones are so cheep

Everything else looks great!