Pinbot
Williams, 1986I picked up my first pinball machine a few weeks ago and it also happens to be the first pinball I ever played.
Given my love of the game, I've decided to clean her up and make her looks as good as possible.
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Love Pinbot - it's the first game I played too. Cab is beaten up but the playfield does look good, as you said. I'm on the hunt for one, too. How much did you pay for it?
Quoted from Frogman:Love Pinbot - it's the first game I played too. Cab is beaten up but the playfield does look good, as you said. I'm on the hunt for one, too. How much did you pay for it?
i payed $1200 and I feel like that was a good price.
Quoted from WhiskeyTango:My "Increase Energy Value" insert is hosed. It looks like there was an error in the past, causing the flashes to stay on, and it melted the insert. You can actually set a ball in the pit and it will not move.
Op saw the response, no longer feel like being helpful overall.
Quoted from WhiskeyTango:i payed $1200 and I feel like that was a good price.
glad you're happy, but in the condition I think that's too high. but at least you got it.
Quoted from WhiskeyTango:My "Increase Energy Value" insert is hosed. It looks like there was an error in the past, causing the flashes to stay on, and it melted the insert. You can actually set a ball in the pit and it will not move.
That's too bad. The bitch of that insert is that if you could find an original insert to replace that one, the white printing can't be duplicated on a laser printer. Maybe you can sand it flat and fill in the divot with some 2-part automotive clear to at least make it more playable.
Pinbot is a classic!
Quoted from volcanodiver:glad you're happy, but in the condition I think that's too high. but at least you got it.
Perhaps. It is all LED and came with a new vortex ramp that I haven't installed.
Flippers are original. I'm thinking of replacing the entire assemblies with fliptronic style.
Has anyone done this? Thoughts? Should I just do a regular rebuild kit?
Here are the preliminary parts I've put together:
Flipper kit: http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=172
With the SFL 19/400 - 30/750 coil, A-12111 Coil Stop and the 03-7811 Normally Closed EOS switch.
Flipper bushings http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=270
Am I missing anything?
Quoted from dmbjunky:I've always liked Pinbot's shrug of indifference on the side of the cab.
"Whattaya gonna do?"
lol... Yeah your ball drained right out from pop bumpers. So... What are you gonna do about it?
You got a good deal. Looks like the plastics have been replaced and the playfield recently rerubbered. Swapping those plastics can be a 2-3 hour job and $140 expense
Also visit here for the pinbot fan club:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinbot-fans-and-owners-club
Mike V
Quoted from RacingPin:You got a good deal. Looks like the plastics have been replaced and the playfield recently rerubbered. Swapping those plastics can be a 2-3 hour job and $140 expense
Also visit here for the pinbot fan club:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinbot-fans-and-owners-club
Mike V
It also has a set of plastic protectors.. 
So I got the new vortex ramp and I noticed a problem.
The still fall is too high(about 1/8") and does not allow the ball to travel up easily. You can hear it hit pretty hard.
Does anyone have experience getting this to sit properly? I've tried bending it but can only get the edge to cooperate.
Quoted from WhiskeyTango:So I got the new vortex ramp and I noticed a problem.
The still fall is too high(about 1/8") and does not allow the ball to travel up easily. You can hear it hit pretty hard.
Does anyone have experience getting this to sit properly? I've tried bending it but can only get the edge to cooperate.
Do a search for the Pinbot owners (club?) thread. This is a common issue with replacement ramps.
So I started taking things apart for cleaning and encountered a lot os mismatched or incorrect screws & posts.
The plastics over the "Advance planet" target are not even close to level. Can someone take a similar picture of their board to confirm?
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Also, there appears to be a bunch of missing acorn nuts that have been replaced with nylon ones. Not a big deal, but it bothers me.
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Thanks for the pics. I'm looking into my mini play field issue.
Right now it's bowed from top to bottom. I believe that the screws/post in place might be incorrect. Can people upload a nice top view of their play field and any close ups of the post/screws form the side? I think I'm going to have to source a bunch of new hardware.
Thanks!
Quoted from WhiskeyTango:Thanks for the pics. I'm looking into my mini play field issue.
Right now it's bowed from top to bottom. I believe that the screws/post in place might be incorrect. Can people upload a nice top view of their play field and any close ups of the post/screws form the side? I think I'm going to have to source a bunch of new hardware.
Thanks!
I know when I installed it on the one I did, it bowed in the center a little, I had to play with the screw to get them in. Like the top and bottom screws were a touch to close together. But when I started playing it, all seemed fine.
This is a site I found, that had a lot of pictures I found helpful when trying to make sure how things are supposed to go.
http://www.enteryourinitials.com/category/pinball/pinbot-williams-1985/page/6/
Not sure if this is a member here, but if so, thanks for all the great documentation.
Here is another with a lot of pictures.
http://www.aussiearcade.com/showthread.php/24964-PinBot-(picture-overload-warning)?s=383a2db0dc98cdba0f068a8ca9090c7d
there is no star post under the loewst part of the mini PF, its a post with a tapered yellow rubber
http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1796&picno=21843
Enjoy working on this one!
Some things I learned that may help you save time:
• Don't loose the damn nylon washer/bushing that goes on the end pin of the visor motor's armature - Eventually you'll probably take this apart to clean it. When you do, make sure you don't forget to put it back on the end & inside the bank or else you'll wonder why your visor is broken and wanna blame something else (like the motor itself).
• Be careful working around the visor target bank under the PF. The target wires are prone to breaking off easily. Just looking at them funny will do it. You might wanna reflow solder on them just for insurance.
• Settle with close enough with the visor set screws. You simply can't get it 100% level when closed, and it isn't even always consistent with the close position anyway. Occasionally the ball will get stuck in the gaps too.
• Test the damn bulbs under the vortex ramp BEFORE putting the ramp back in place. 
• The Flash Bulbs inside the visor ARE NOT #89's. You need to replace them with #1251s. All 4 of them inside the visor area. You can get away with #89's everywhere else though (since all the others are never locked on). I think the manual calls for 1251's in other area though. They'll be brighter, so personal preference there.
• You can install LED flashers in the topper and never have to open it again, but you'll need to clip the cement resistors out of the PCB inside the top of the backbox to do it. You can just clip one side of these in case you change your mind later.
• You may want to put a very small amount of oil/grease/lube on some of the metal on metal hinges to keep them moving better, like on the visor and ramp. That helped mine with consistency a good deal. Sometimes my ramp would stay up, or the visor would suddenly pop up near the end of the bank coming up.
-
Quoted from thedefog:The Flash Bulbs inside the visor ARE NOT #89's. You need to replace them with #1251s. All 4 of them inside the visor area. You can get away with #89's everywhere else though (since all the others are never locked on). I think the manual calls for 1251's in other area though. They'll be brighter, so personal preference there.
This -- 1251 are 28V bulbs: https://www.grainger.com/product/GE-LIGHTING-Miniature-Lamp-1C995
There are six -- four in the visor and two in the backbox (behind Pinbot's face)
I have had luck replacing them with 24V BA15S LED auto bulbs (used for tail lights). Which you can find colored. E.g., ebay.com link: 2X Red 13 SMD 1156 BA15S 1459 P21W R10W 1141 S25 LED Tail signal Lights 24V
Quoted from lyonsden:This -- 1251 are 28V bulbs: https://www.grainger.com/product/GE-LIGHTING-Miniature-Lamp-1C995
There are six -- four in the visor and two in the backbox (behind Pinbot's face)
I have had luck replacing them with 24V BA15S LED auto bulbs (used for tail lights). Which you can find colored. E.g., ebay.com link » 2x Red 13 Smd 1156 Ba15s 1459 P21w R10w 1141 S25 Led Tail Signal Lights 24v
i think its eight, 4 in the visor, 2 under the pf under the visor, and 2 in the backbox.
Quoted from Insane:i think its eight, 4 in the visor, 2 under the pf under the visor, and 2 in the backbox.
You are correct! I forgot abou the two under the PF.
Quick update...
Ordered some parts (bolts, screws, springs, sleeves, flipper assemblies, etc)
Ordered a new playfield & mini playfield
Picked up a rotisserie http://www.wildwood4.com/pinball-rotisserie.html
I'm set to get a bunch of stuff done. The real question is where to start?
Personally, I'm leaning towards getting the cab done first as it's the worst part of the whole machine.
Sweet, now you need one of the awesome mirrored real backglasses from CPR to really make it shine.
Pinbot rules, I think its an undervalued game considering everything it has going on.
I've been looking at the LED setup and it's getting on my nerves. I'm going to rip out the blue/red GI lighting and go with white. The colored lamps really make the plastics look crappy. The only question is whether to go warm or cool white.
I went cool (natural) white on mine and think it looks great. Sunlight is very good too if you already have those on hand.
I'm leaning towards the cool white for that crisper sci-fi feel.
When I get a chance, I'll order them. Too many other irons in the fire right now. lol
Quoted from Plumonium:Where did you get your new playfield from? New or used?
Good luck with the restoration.
I ordered a CPR that was never installed.
Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of disputing the transaction as it got lost on it's way to me. So, now I''m without a playfield and putting this on hold for now.
Quoted from ToucanF16:Was it just delayed in shipping?
Over two months. Lost en route.
Quoted from ToucanF16:Shipping company?
DHL
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Orlando, FL
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