I decided to jump head first into the hobby.

....in the deep end!

Up here where I live, pinball machines are not well maintained and rare to find. Those that you can find are often in terrible shape or don't work at all.

I bought one that didn't work at all from an operator that didn't have the slightest idea how to fix the problems it had.

Tonight, there's victory! I saved one from the scrap yard.

Some of the things I had to troubleshoot and repair:

1) replaced the missing autolaunch assembly
2) replaced the wrong value coil they intalled on the G ramp
3) rebuilt a portion of the power supply board
4) replaced a few transistors and a diode on the CPU board
5) fixed the enable clock signal for the sound board PIA
6) replaced the burnt GI pins and headers for the powersupply
7) replaced burnt low current connector for the backbox lighting

For the first time in years, it runs again. It's still dirty as heck, and needs a shop job in the worst way, but it's going to be a great machine. It's also kind of special to me since it's the very same machine I played on back in my schooldays in the student's lounge.

Who knew what I was going to school for was going to save it's life someday! gnr.jpg

Thanks for the kind words everybody!

I'm not sure which I enjoy more, finding and fixing the problems or playing the game.

I think once I have this tweaked and cleaned up I'll look for another pinball to rescue. I know whatever I find can't be more difficult than this one was. The goon squad of repair techs that tried to fix it before giving up and burying in the basement of their shop sure did a number on it.

It slowed down repair when having to fix all the previous bad repair work.

Smassa, the rose shooter is in great shape (I was surprised). The G ramp has a small chip under the steel ramp guard (you'd only see if if you were removing the ramp for cleaning or coil replacement). I'll shoot you an e-mail. It couldn't hurt to have extra parts for a pin I intend to keep, shoot me back an e-mail with a price.

Funky shooter rod, Nimble. I don't know if I'd prefer it over the rose though.

I played it for a couple hours today looking for small things to fix.

I found that the right hand drain (the "Michelle" rollover) wasn't reattched at the VUK switch by somebody that did some previous repair work there, and the Rose shooter lane wireform on the switch didn't extend high enough for a ball to activate it.

Easy , and fun fixes!

One last thing to iron out before it's 100% functional and ready for a shop job.

I found an odd issue with the game dectecting the second last ball in a multiball as the the "final" ball, and ending the round. It also sometimes drains a single ball down the centre and needs a nudge to detect the drain.

Looks like that micro switch #6 in the 6-ball switch assembly is asking for peak tomorrow!

*edit*

As of now, she's 100% functional! Wootsauce!

It was the little micro switch #6. The metal tab was bent from a previous "repair".

Heck, I'm a happy guy right now!

The requisite victory shot:

beercade.jpg

I've gone bonkers on this machine.

I'm in the middle of a massive (real) shop job.

I have the playfield stripped, and just as I was getting to the underside of the apron I find this:

gnrapron.jpg

For those that can't make out what it says in the pinball head, it's "J Borg". All is under the factory clear coat.

Pretty neat!

I sent this picture (in full resolution) to a friend that knows John Borg personally. I'm hoping to discover the meaning behind the unexpected easter egg!

Yup, the rose was in really good condition. I also bought the NOS one from Smassa for insurance.

You apparently missed the Marco Tread where he lied about Marco reps giving him personal information about my purchases... He's got some issues. Stalking might be one of them. lol

Anyways... this was the first machine I took in, and I've done a lot in pinball over this last year. I've fixed just about every problem under the sun that a Williams, Bally, Sega, or DE game can throw a somebody.

The collection that I have is entirely made up of machines that I've fixed from non-working or near non-working pins. First I get them working 100%, then I get them looking the best they can without a formal restore. 60-80 hours per pin gets me a nice machine for my personal collection that I'm not trying to flip for a buck.

I definitely enjoy fixing them. Aside from the 12 I've gone through for myself in this past year, I've also fixed about as many for others. The trouble is, there's more requests for help coming in than I have time (or room) for.

I have to be careful that I don't get burned out, and keep this as a hobby.

Directly quoted from Paul from Marco on your lie:

"*****(my name), we held a meeting to discuss this issue, I spoke with all of our representatives who may have corresponded with him, and no such thing was ever said to him."

Care to explain that? I doubt it. Want me to post the PMs I sent you trying to handle this in private? I'll bet you don't. I'll even give Robin permission to validate them, since he can read the PMs as they sit. He also has my permission to validate the PMs from Paul (Marco). You're out gunned here. I have the truth on my side.

As for pictures of my work, I don't feel the need to whore out every light bulb I change on a pinball machine, looking for approval. If you are so "tight" with Marco reps, why don't you ask them to look up the thousands I've spent this year there. Those parts weren't for hanging on a Xmas tree...

As for me sticking my nose in your GnR thread:

Is english a second language for you? You were bitter about me calling you on your lies in the Marco thread. I still stand by 100% in what I said. That GnR would be an easy refurb for anybody with skill beyond a "spit polisher". It's not my fault you can't read what's written, and insert your own interpretation.

In fact, I had every right to post in that thread. Especially since I DO have relative experience. See the OP here for that.

Well, then I suggest you post it. If what you're saying is true about Marco, they are making you look like a schmuck.

While you're at it, ask them about the iGlobal mess up that I agreed to buy. Better yet, ask them about the W2H0 topper plastic that they sent that was pooched, and I had to get the guy that I ordered it for, to try and straighten out.

Better yet, ask them to post a ratio of what they ACTUALLY had to replace vs my order history. Hell, ask them about the rubber kit parts that never arrived from that "Marco" post......

The funny thing, is that it's really not that big of an deal....at first.

What's blown this waaay out of proportion, is the issue of who's lying over this Marco issue. If B_R is being truthful, I can understand why he's upset. Then again, the onus is on him to show that Marco did pass along personal customer information. I can understand the reluctance to do so. Certainly if he has a close working relationship with the person. Again, I get that.

The Marco rep took the time to contact me, and tell me that it was not the case about passing any such information to B_R. He also said I was welcome to paraphrase his response in the forum. I shouldn't have to deal with this crap anymore.

I've stated my postion, and I'm fine with letting this issue lie at rest. I've shown my proof, and willingness for it to be verified. B_R and Marco can deal with it, but don't come swinging at me.... because I will hold fast as the injured party.