(Topic ID: 151851)

Please read if you own a pinball machine or are thinking of buying...

By pinballjames

8 years ago


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  • 50 posts
  • 40 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 8 years ago by Colsond3
  • Topic is favorited by 2 Pinsiders

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    #1 8 years ago

    Hi, I've run into this a lot lately and had to say something. When you tighten the bolts on your pinball legs you do NOT need to over tighten until you can't possibly turn the leg bolts anymore. Good and snug is plenty good! You WILL strip out the metal plates and have to replace them if you go too far. If you are going to use a drill with a bit to put on your legs, set it on low enough torque that you don't strip them out. If you add a drink holder, a leg/cabinet protector AND the metal or plastic separator so the legs don't scratch your precious, for the love of all that's Holy, please buy the longer leg bolts. Pinball Life and most everybody that sells your favorite pinball parts have these regularly in stock AND you'll get an even better deal when you get a bunch of them, you know you'll need them. When you add all these EXTRA things, some people are even adding LEDs, your original leg bolt is barely in there. If you enjoy tilting and nudging you really should have a system in place to tighten your leg bolts every couple months anyway. If that machine falls on you or your guests's foot it's not gonna be pretty. It is a pain in the ass to move a machine already and set it up when you have a stripped out plate, so do yourself and the next guy that gets your machine a favor and don't over tighten them bolts! I had a machine I was moving earlier by myself and the leg and bolts went flying off, pinball smashed to the ground and busted up the corner a bit. Thank God nobody was hurt, the machine got a little damaged but nothing serious and it got me thinking, if the last person would've just done it right, this wouldn't happen. Check your machines, are you guilty of this? So....

    If you add leg protectors to your machine, which just damages it worse unless you get the cabinet protectors and put it on first... Get longer bolts
    If you just did a nice restore on your beauty and are adding cabinet protectors...get longer bolts
    If your adding a Drink Holder... Get longer bolts
    If you're LED crazy and have to have LEDs on the legs fine, but... Get longer leg bolts
    Now you can maybe get away with regular bolts if you add just one of these but come on, you know something else glittery is gonna come along that you just have to put on those poor legs so... Get longer leg bolts
    If you like to be a little rough on your machine... Tighten leg bolts every couple months or so
    If you use a drill with a bit to put on the legs... Lower that torque
    If your muscles are so hurt after tightening the legs... Go back to the top
    If the machine is wobbly, don't keep tightening... You need to adjust the leg levelers dummy ( there's even a App!)
    If you're dog and your wallet are both on a chain... You might be a redneck
    If you don't understand how machine screws go in and out... Ask Dad or someone that knows
    If you have a dumb question... Ask it, so you learn

    Thanks for listening. Hope this helps some people out.

    14
    #4 8 years ago

    Just how many problems did you actually have with leg bolts?

    #5 8 years ago

    Lol

    37
    #6 8 years ago

    I install all my leg bolts with an Impact Driver and only stop when the battery dies.

    You want that pin to fall on your foot? Id rather those bolts be tight than to rehab broken bones.

    I started using those U-bolt style to further keep the legs on tight, you just need to drill some holes through your cabinet to install.

    Long-Tangent-U-Bolt_(resized).jpgLong-Tangent-U-Bolt_(resized).jpg

    #7 8 years ago

    I can add to this post.

    I have an old car that's a little weird, anyways there's a guy in town that specializes in working on this old car. It had an engine problem, the car is only worth about 2 grand.

    I picked the car up after him working on it for months, and drove it across town to my house. When I got close to the house, I started hearing some noise from the wheel, and feeling a little vibration.

    When I turned to pull into my driveway, the back wheel fell off because he didn't tighten the lug nuts.

    #8 8 years ago

    >>>If that machine falls on you or your guests's foot it's not gonna be pretty.<<<

    Has anyone actually heard of this ever happening? Maybe it's just me, but I never have. At least not with the bolts and legs already on the game.

    #9 8 years ago
    Quoted from centerflank:

    You want that pin to fall on your foot? Id rather those bolts be tight than to rehab broken bones.

    No problem on breaking bones.... they heal eventually.... the real problem is breaking the machine!

    #10 8 years ago

    My 3 legged dog Willie never falls over, I just weld all the leg bolts, If you need to remove them, just beat the legs off with a sledge hammer

    #11 8 years ago
    Quoted from ForceFlow:

    Just how many problems did you actually have with leg bolts?

    I've had problems with a few. It's pretty common on an older game to have at least one bolt cross threaded. I've only had one game that seemed like the last owner put the bolts in with a lug wrench and stripped them all. Ended up replacing all the plates and bolts.

    I've never seen a game that had been set up fall over though.

    #12 8 years ago

    I own a pinball machine *and* I'm thinking about buying one!

    #13 8 years ago

    Wait, I'm suppose to put the legs on my machine? I thought they were for swinging around when I reach Wizard Mode!!!

    #14 8 years ago

    its really no big deal, these are only $5
    http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/01-11400-1

    image_(resized).jpegimage_(resized).jpeg

    #16 8 years ago

    It sounds like someone manufactures long leg bolts, or at least owns a shares in a company that makes them.

    BUY LONGER BOLTS!

    #17 8 years ago
    Quoted from Luckydogg420:

    It sounds like someone manufactures long leg bolts, or at least owns a shares in a company that makes them.
    BUY LONGER BOLTS!

    It actually sounds like someone has a severe case of hindsight. In hindsight, he should have checked to make sure the legs/bolts were tight before trying to move the machine with the legs on. Coming here with the PSA makes it all feel better.

    It is good advice, the longer bolts should be used if you have anything other than the bolt(s) and the leg(s) going on the machine.

    #18 8 years ago
    Quoted from centerflank:

    I install all my leg bolts with an Impact Driver and only stop when the battery dies

    Made my morning CF !

    #19 8 years ago

    I like my bolts hand tight so I can shake the machine easier

    #21 8 years ago

    pinballjames
    President and CEO
    Longer Leg Bolt Co., LLC

    #22 8 years ago

    Where can i purchase these bolts?

    #23 8 years ago

    Where can I purchase stock for the manufacture of these longer bolts?

    #24 8 years ago

    If you have a fuse blowing...get longer bolts

    #25 8 years ago

    Bolts?

    It's all about ball bearings!

    #26 8 years ago

    I don't own a pinball machine, but am thinking of buying leg bolts. What length should I buy?

    #27 8 years ago

    But shorter leg bolts are more economically friendly. They are cheaper, and create less waste in the environment when you replace them after the manufactures recommended changing after 20 plays on your machine. Think of the environment before you post!

    #28 8 years ago

    this thread has all the ingredients to become a masterpiece....

    #29 8 years ago

    I think I just pissed myself... LOL

    #30 8 years ago

    While you're at it just use some loctite or add lock nuts then they will never come off.

    #31 8 years ago

    I will not use leg bolts shorter than 15 inches. It just isn't worth the risk.

    For a while I tried welding regular leg bolts in place as described above, but the cabinet fires were even worse than the loose legs.

    If they interfere with anything under the playfield, it is usually best to just cut that stuff away with tin snips. Most of my slingshots don't work, but my legs are all solidly in place.

    #32 8 years ago

    reminds me of an awesomely bad youtube video of a teenage kid attempting to set up his new game (I thinka SMB) and he was doing it all wrong.

    #33 8 years ago
    Quoted from Whysnow:

    reminds me of an awesomely bad youtube video of a teenage kid attempting to set up his new game (I thinka SMB) and he was doing it all wrong.

    Yeah that's what it was...

    #34 8 years ago
    Quoted from pinballjames:

    Hi, I've run into this a lot lately and had to say something.

    It happens to professionals too... I've had leg bolts and plates stripped from the factory

    #35 8 years ago

    I always put a touch of Anti Seize on every leg bolt thread, just be careful not to get it on fingers and touch anything else it will make a mess.

    #36 8 years ago

    I use 3/8" all thread, double nut them on both ends with lock washers between. There's always plenty of bolt for any extra added LED leg mods. Heck, I can even drill two holes through bricks and use them as spacers between the legs and cabinet to make the game more stable. Occasionally, I get those fancy chrome bullet nut caps from the hardware store to mod it up a bit at the legs.

    Steve

    #37 8 years ago

    I did a google image search on "bolt porn", and got some unexpected images.

    #38 8 years ago
    Quoted from nosro:

    I did a google image search on "bolt porn", and got some unexpected images.

    Thanks. Some things cannot be unseen......

    #39 8 years ago

    A few years ago, someone would have posted some boobs and we'd be off topic already

    #40 8 years ago
    Quoted from thedefog:

    A few years ago, someone would have posted some boobs and we'd be off topic already

    Now we have LMGTFY:
    [link removed by moderator; it's a little risque for a thread outside the basement]

    #42 8 years ago
    Quoted from nosro:

    Now we have LMGTFY:
    [link removed by moderator; it's a little risque for a thread outside the basement]

    Thanks a lot, nosro. I wonder if there is a single Disney flick that hasn't been twisted like that. I doubt it.

    #43 8 years ago

    I just placed an order from Marco AND Pinball Life over my lunch break. Guess what I didn't buy? Longer leg bolts. #Rebel.

    #44 8 years ago
    Quoted from woody24:

    I just placed an order from Marco AND Pinball Life over my lunch break. Guess what I didn't buy? Longer leg bolts. #Rebel.

    I hope you'll consider building an under cabinet auxiliary substructure for when the inevitable happens.

    #45 8 years ago
    Quoted from anthony691:

    I hope you'll consider building an under cabinet auxiliary substructure for when the inevitable happens.

    Already on it. Contacted my local welder. He's building a rolled steel frame to place under the cabinet. He said it's going to be stronger than a demolition derby cars frame. Heck ain't nobody going to tell me what kind of bolts to use on my cabinet.

    #46 8 years ago
    Quoted from woody24:

    I just placed an order from Marco AND Pinball Life over my lunch break. Guess what I didn't buy? Longer leg bolts. #Rebel.

    You may as well tempt fate! This is what happened the last time Todd didn't use longer leg bolts!

    ToddTuckey_(resized).jpgToddTuckey_(resized).jpg

    #47 8 years ago

    What would Elvis do? In this photo, he was actually thinking "I wish this game had longer leg bolts, it feels kind of unsturdy."

    Or "Maybe I should stop playing these woodrails and start eating jelly donuts."

    image_(resized).jpgimage_(resized).jpg

    #48 8 years ago
    Quoted from Colsond3:

    What would Elvis do? In this photo, he was actually thinking "I wish this game had longer leg bolts, it feels kind of unsturdy."

    Speaking of wobbly legs...

    elvis_hips_(resized).jpgelvis_hips_(resized).jpg

    #49 8 years ago

    Now I finally understand why Pacak is limping around Expo and riding the scooter all over the Chicagoland parking lot. Pins falling on his feet for 50 years finally took its toll.

    #50 8 years ago
    Quoted from JoeGrenuk:

    Now I finally understand why Pacak is limping around Expo and riding the scooter all over the Chicagoland parking lot. Pins falling on his feet for 50 years finally took its toll.

    LMFAO.

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