(Topic ID: 69394)

Paragon Club... the Valley of Demons

By schwarz

10 years ago


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  • 1,901 posts
  • 255 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 2 hours ago by Deadlander
  • Topic is favorited by 111 Pinsiders

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Topic index (key posts)

12 key posts have been marked in this topic, showing the first 10 items.

Display key post list sorted by: Post date | Keypost summary | User name

Post #103 Sound Board Pins/Wires - Photos Posted by BC_Gambit (10 years ago)

Post #183 Rectifier Board - J1, J2 & J3 wire photos Posted by Cheddar (8 years ago)

Post #269 Mini Flipper - Stock Black Lettering Posted by Captive_Ball (7 years ago)

Post #274 Cabinet Stencils - Pinball Pimp Posted by Captive_Ball (7 years ago)

Post #287 Bally Flipper Bat - Pinball Life Posted by Captive_Ball (7 years ago)

Post #301 Bally AS-2518-18 Rectifier Board - Wiring Key Photos Posted by zombywoof (7 years ago)

Post #384 Removing Metal Spacers from Plastics Posted by Captive_Ball (7 years ago)

Post #515 MPU J3 Connector Photos Posted by Captive_Ball (6 years ago)

Post #608 Mini Flipper - Buy it at PBR Posted by meSz (5 years ago)

Post #622 Saucer coil stop = A-61330 Posted by Captive_Ball (5 years ago)


Topic indices are generated from key posts and maintained by Pinside Editors. For more information, or to become an editor yourself read this post!

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#839 3 years ago

Hello everyone! It's lookin like I may be joining the Paragon owner's club this weekend, but as it's only my 3rd pin I have a couple questions I was hoping some of you might be able to help clear up?

1) Being a widebody, I assume this is *heavy*. Does it fit on any sort of dolly/lift cart for easier transportation? What might be the best option to get it down bulkhead stairs?

2) I don't own a truck so I've got to rent a Uhaul. Would this machine fit in a cargo van, or will I need to go full-on box truck? I'll be driving ~220 miles with this so the "friend with a pickup truck" option won't be adequate. I really hope I can get away with the van but I value your experienced opinions!

Thanks so much for your time and feedback! I look forward to bugging all of you again once it's in my home.

#842 3 years ago

Awesome, thanks for the info! I remember moving a Williams Big Ben EM into my basement last year and it was a heavy sonnofagun so your responses make me feel a bit more confident about the task ahead.

I ended up renting a cargo van, so that's an awesome tip for the rolling it in, thank you! I was previously just planning on bringing some old blankets/towels and pushing it back, but that seems it'd make things a bit easier for sure.
Will definitely post an update afterwards. Thanks again!

4 weeks later
#852 3 years ago

Hi all, and thank you (again) for all your detailed replies! I am pleased to report renting a cargo van from Uhaul was reasonably priced (no mileage!) and it had PLENTY of space for the machine. The floor even had this sorta rubber-y coating on it so I didn't have to worry about anything getting scuffed in transit.

As far as the machine goes... she's a little rough around the edges, but still got it where it counts. I found the seller neglected to mention it needed a new lockdown bar, but by the time I got to his place and saw, I was already in it for 4 hours of driving and the cost of the rental van, so wasn't a whole lot I could have done at that point (grr, there went another $75 for a replacement).

At the top of my "fix list" now is definitely the playfield. It's a bit more weathered than I expected (you can see more if you zoom in on the pic here), with some noticeable cupping and planking, and some spots of paint seemingly wearing away more with each game I play. I know a full playfield swap is pretty complicated, but is it something an inexperienced (yet determined) greenhorn might be able to accomplish solo? I've looked into options, and was wondering what you all might recommend- just sticking on an overlay, or should I wait and drop the coin for the next restock of a CPR Repro? A hardtop overlay unfortunately isn't an option for Paragon (yet), or else I'd likely go that route.

Last question (for now) is what kind of wax/playfield cleaner should I use? Would a cleaning/waxing help reduce cupping/planking effects and paint getting worn away so quickly? I see options from GameRoomGuys and Mill Wax, while other threads mention Novus 1... don't know if there's any "preferred" type?

I'm also hoping to rehab the upper pop bumpers and kickouts too, but I'll save those questions for another time. For now, here she is all set up with my Big Ben and Stop-N-Go.
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2 months later
#910 3 years ago

Congrats on finishing the CPR restoration- looks amazing. I'm hoping to one day (eventually) go that route for my own machine but a project of that magnitude is definitely still outside my own comfort zone/skill set.
In the meantime though, the plastic on my upper-left pop bumper split apart over the weekend. What's the best way to go about replacing? They were already a little (ok, REALLY) worn so I'm thinking a rebuild is in order. (Images attached)
I'm browsing Marco specialty now but they don't seem to offer any bumper rebuild kits- would I notice any improvement if I just replace the plastic skirt, base, and body? The caps are still fine.
They bumpers still have a strong "pop" when they are triggered too so I don't think I'd need to replace the solenoid or whatever does the actual popping, but what do you guys think is the best course of action here?
Also I have yet to lift up the playfield too so I really don't have any idea of the condition of the wiring, etc underneath...
(man I hope this doesn't end up being a can of worms...)

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#912 3 years ago

Update... I opened up my game to remove the broken bumper plastic. Unscrewed the pair of tiny screws, took out the broken chunk. Easy peasy. I then lifted the playfield to try and figure out how to go about swapping out some of the parts I'd need to access from underneath.
I didn't trust the "stand" (a long thin piece of flimsy-looking metal that came to a point and didn't appear to latch into/onto anywhere), so I just ended up sliding the playfield back into place without ever propping it up with anything but my hands for a few moments.
I put the glass back on and started a game to see if it still worked fine, and... the lower-left flipper is now unresponsive to the flipper button. The upper-left mini flipper works just fine. So now I gotta troubleshoot what I could've possibly messed up in those moments. yeeesh HERE WE GO

1 month later
#930 3 years ago
Quoted from BallyKISS1978:

Joining the club soon. Getting delivered this Saturday locally. Thanks Ned! Got on CPR’s list for playfield and will restore the cabinet. Playfield not horrible by any means. New Alltek board and all LEDs.

Congrats on the acquisition! That's a really nice-looking machine; that playfield especially. Since I've got mine I've played it damn near close to every day, and I'm still so happy to have one I can call my own. Hoping you enjoy yours just as much.

Sharing an update to my previous posts:
After one of my pop bumper plastics completely broke apart a month or two ago, I ended up calling a local tech who really fixed things up for me quite a bit (Ken at Northeast Pinball; such a great guy).
Added 4 brand new pop bumpers, upgraded the lighting to LEDs (with a couple *tasteful* color accents) and added an Alltek board, replaced the malfunctioning credits/match display with a PinScore, and got a fresh wax and new posts & rubbers. He also added a lock to the door and replaced the old and overly-sensitive flipper buttons. It's playing like a brand new machine and was definitely worth the investment. I also bought some replacement plastics on eBay and swapped out the mangled piece featuring the spear-dude on the upper-left corner.
While the playfield is still worn in spots and the backglass has unfortunately flaked a little more at the bottom, those are (relatively) minor cosmetics in the grand scheme of things. Would love to go with a CPR playfield eventually, but after dropping the coin on these upgrades that's probably a ways away.

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1 month later
#949 2 years ago
Quoted from FLASHBALL:

Forget the CPR. Your playfield looks really nice. As long as it plays well Id forget about the cosmetics and just enjoy it.
...
Its pinball, enjoy it.

Thanks- good perspective! I have been enjoying it, and I'll try and worry less about the cosmetics now that everything's in good working order.

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