I had been searching for a BK for months, but nearly every machine that was coming up for sale was around 2-3k for machines that were pretty beat. Finally two weeks ago a BK popped up for sale about 3 hours from my town and it looked to be in decent condition and the owner was asking 500 bucks, so I made the drive to pick it up!

When I got to the sellers house I started going through the machine. It would go into attract mode but wouldn't start a game. I messed with it a little to see what was wrong and finally got it to play. Cabinet looked to be in decent condition but the top of the backbox was warped. Plastics were all intact but warped and the Playfield was in decent shape. After doing a little more inspecting I tore it down and hauled it off back to my place.

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When I got it home my plan was to first get it playing good. I took all the boards out of the backbox and re flowed solder on them, replaced and re pinned a few connectors, re-capped the sound and speech board, took out the AA battery holder that had corroded posts and replaced it with a CR2032 button cell.

After that I attacked the Playfield that had a few switches that needed adjustment, cleaned and waxed the Playfield, and replaced a few rings and flipper rubbers that were busted with some spare rubbers I always keep on hand. After that I fired up my first real game in a BK and I was impressed on how fast this game is! I was really happy with my purchase and even more pumped that I got it for 500 bucks!!

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After playing about 50 games on the machine I turned my attention to the underside of the Playfield. I started replacing all the coil sleeves, cleaning the drop target banks and replacing bulbs with LEDs. I also rebuilt the pop bumper because the lower plastic switch plate was broken.

After I finished under the Playfield I started Replacing the GI bulbs with LEDs. I used pinball life 4smd bulbs on all GI and insert lighting. I also added some light towers at the slingshots to add a little more lighting to the center of the Playfield. I do this to all of my games. I also ordered some drop target decals, prototype lane guide plastics, stamped pop bumper cap and a Titan pinball glow in the dark ring kit.

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I wasn't happy with how some of the plastics weren't lit. Like the center plastic between the two right ramps. It's lit on the bottom portion but not the top so I added a 44 socket under the top portion of that plastic and I think it made a world of difference! I also lit the shooter lane with a color changer. I kept re-arranging the GI colors too and finally think I have them the way I want.

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I can agree with you and have done that in the past. The guy I was dealing with was really cool though and just wanted the machine gone. Not something I would do with every pickup though .

Thanks for the heads up! I'll be picking up one of those next month. But for now I touched up the backglass. I'll post picks right now

Next was the backglass. You can see the amount of flaking on the glass and how much light is shining through. I decided to try and touch up the areas that were flaking off. This is the result of my attempt so far. Im not finished with it yet, but already I think it looks better.

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Illuminated the backglass looks dark in some areas, but in person it looks pretty good. It still needs work and I know I can make it look better.

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Wow that's one heck of a deal! I bought JJ last year for a grand from a doctor who's wife bought tha machine at an estate sale. They didn't want it because they knew nothing about pinball. That was one of those deals where I walked in, loaded it up and drove off lol.

Thanks man! Really loving the game !

This is what it looks like at its current state. Still needs a lot of work, but an excellent players machine as it sits!

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I still have some auto clear left over from my last Playfield job so once I finish touching it up I'll spray it with that.

Good point. I noticed it was flaking when I was airbrushing the art yesterday. I have a few rolls of Mylar laying around. I may do that instead. Thanks for the tip!

LOl rainbow knight

Playfield on your BK is nice. Mine needs some touch up