Okay guys, I'm really confused. WTF.
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What the hull happened here? I mean, if temps got SO hot to melt them, then ALL of 'em would be melted, yes? Not just.. odd locations like this?
What's the best way to clean up this .. melted rubber (that seems hard as a rock, now) off the playfield?
Is this recent damage, on a machine you know the history of? I.e. the machine was fine and then you or someone else came in one day and found it like that? Or are you looking at a machine that's new to you, and the damage occurred at some unknown point in time prior to your first time seeing the machine?
If the former: is the machine located near a window? Any chance there's some window glass nearby that might have focused sunlight and heated the rubber up? Or maybe a hanging decorative prism/crystal/etc. If the latter, I guess the "why/how did this happen" isn't all that important.
As far as cleaning up, I don't know. I guess someone who knows playfield restoration can give better advice. Maybe the "compressed air upside down" trick can freeze the rubber hard enough it will pop off on its own, or at least with just some gentle persuasion. Or maybe a light touch with a heat gun could soften it enough to clean it up without damaging the paint underneath.
Some good advice in this thread=
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-melt-flipper-rubbers-and-ruin-your-day
Quoted from pete_d:If the latter, I guess the "why/how did this happen" isn't all that important.
The latter, actually. And while, no, it doesn't really matter, I am ... curious. I've never seen anything like this before.
I AM wanting to know how to clean it up though.. preferabl without ruining the field. 
Quoted from Staffan:Some good advice in this thread=
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-melt-flipper-rubbers-and-ruin-your-day
I'll be a monkey's uncle, thanks!
Interesting, this is also a Gottlieb, BUT - the flippers are fine. In fact, they're still 'bouncy' It was only a few places, pictured. Heh.
Quoted from Coyote:I'll be a monkey's uncle, thanks!
Interesting, this is also a Gottlieb, BUT - the flippers are fine. In fact, they're still 'bouncy' It was only a few places, pictured. Heh.
Hi uncle!
Anyway. It’s possible previous owner had the machine sitting by a window or some other obstruction saved the rubbers from damage. Maybe someone just did a partial rerubber too.
It’s possible degradation caused part of this but heat from sunlight more likely. Each day the sun wears it down a bit more.
I’ve probably seen this on 8-10 different games.
Quoted from Coyote:The latter, actually. And while, no, it doesn't really matter, I am ... curious. I've never seen anything like this before.
I AM wanting to know how to clean it up though.. preferabl without ruining the field.I'll be a monkey's uncle, thanks!
Interesting, this is also a Gottlieb, BUT - the flippers are fine. In fact, they're still 'bouncy' It was only a few places, pictured. Heh.
Happens on old arcade games all the time:
The rubber is spontaneously reverting to its non-vulcanized state.
Here’s a cool article about the science behind this: https://functions-enable.com/qa/why-does-old-rubber-get-sticky.html
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