Hello popeye fans.

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Mine has 3 d one. I love it!

I have worked on blutos mouth a few times on mine. Best advice I can give if switch itself doesn't look perfect or like new replace it. I don't necessarily mean wire part. Also the ball gate or flap needs to be in good condition too.
Pinball resource has gates for Popeye. If you replace gate replace the pin also. It's to hard to reuse the old one. Trust me its only like 2 dollars.

Popeye was my first pin. Still like it. Fun game. Leds sure brighten it up.

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Came that way. Like the sea hag pic. Nice job.

The plastic piece above my sweet pea ramp is 6 3/8" inches wide.
3 1/8" inches front to back.
Round the front corners off.
At lowes home improvement store you can by a pretty hard or tough piece of lexan (red label) for under $5 dollars.

Just thought I would share this with all, popeye owners. I got pretty cool score cards for my popeye from pinballcards.com. They are free and the seizing is correct. Use photo paper follow instructions. Cut right to the edges.

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I put color dmd in mine too. Great game, the color dmd takes you more into the cartoon theme of the game. It's awesome.

Just a added reproduction bluto face, old one was breaking. Titan pinball translucent rubbers, look great. If you get some and it seems a bit tight use a bigger size or they will break.

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This is a great place to ask all questions. If you have checked the shooter lane micro switch and its good. These machines along with Judge Dredd have ball trough opto problems. This most likely is your problem easy fix both boards updated reproduction are about 60 or 70 for the pair. Transmitter and receiver boards. I replaced both on mine problem fixed.

On the trough opto board possible problem. Using a ball or a piece of paper in front of optos can be a good test. Watching switch matrix in test mode. Maybe you can adjust optos a bit slight bending of them. However, on mine it looked good but wasn't. For the optos being weak. Best sign I can tell you about was on mine it was slow at player change sometimes taking 10 seconds or so. Sometimes not so bad. Showing swirling on display when it should just change to next player. Once in a great while it would pop another ball into shooter lane. New trough opto boards solved all of the problem. Now player change is instantaneous. I really don't remember what my voltages were for that. Dont think they were low though. Optos can and do get weak after a while.

Leds, popeye needs to go little britter. For the GI's I used are 4 and 4+1. the 4 ones are brighter than 4+1.

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I wanted to say the book is wrong on rubber ring sizes, and so are most sellers of ring kits as that is where they get there info from. I wish I had posted this along time ago. 5 or so of the ring sizes are to small.
If they are to small dont use then they will break. This machine has up to 6 ball multi ball. Which is hard on rubbers that are stretched to tight. Most of which are hard to get too when they breat.

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Maybe your machine is missing this piece. You can make one. If needed. Seems alot of theses machines need one. I think when some parts break people just take them off. Also I have a reproduction head you will need a bright led for his nose. Original nose for 3d face more clearish plastic.

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I think I have an earlier post with the dimensions for this piece. I have made two of them. I used a piece of plexiglass. Actually called lexan the last time. It's really hard tough clear plastic, from Lowe's home improvement. About 6 dollars. Red label one is the laxen.

Just wanted to add, PinballLife. Has really thin wall post rubbers. You will probably have to call and ask for them.
I got some for my popeye sweet pee ramp post.

Popeye is a really great underrated game. I have had years of fun with mine.

Post is same on mine. Really looking good there getting your Popeye all dialed in, great game. I added an extra led under that ramp as the is an unused hole there.

The bluto mouth or trough assembly. I think some maybe have cracked weld but still work.
Just the metal part. I would buy it if I needed it. Mines fine.
For the novice person. If he is tired of working on it.
He would definitely want the thing ready to plug and play.

Outstanding restore!

Mine came with that plastic on the sweet pea ramp. I have also made 2 replacement ones as this piece takes a beating. It is necessary, It keeps air balls in control.

The bluto weld mont has a curve ant the exit. Or slight bend at thend or exit. Mine always shoots to the right flipper.

Center weld mount A-18000. The bluto ball trough. I think mine needs replaced, so yes I would want one too. Did any one find a seller for this item? I have seen some cliffys come up for sale too. I think that was on ebay though. I would probably do both at same time.

Great game. I have owned mine for many years. Still enjoying it.

I have not seen one of those for sale in the last 5 years. I wish I had bought one. I just polish mine about every 3 years it turns out good, with novus.

I put a piece of peel and stick foam back there to add some height to the ramp. On the upkicker problem the ball is not resting in the in slot on the bracket that holds the ball at correct angle on the vuk bracket. Bend the bracket slightly. So the ball sets at at slight angle. Yes, it truly is a great underrated game.

Strange, I have had my machine for about 7 years now. It gets played alot. Always seems to be sent to the middle of right flipper. It sounds to me like someone has bent the exit part of the weldmount in the past. One time I thought mine was bent slightly when I had it out. Then I realized it is supposed to be that way so the ball comes out towards the right.

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Isn't there optos for the cam gear under the skill shot wheel. I am thinking flaky opto. But hard to tell.

Yes, I would buy bluto through also.

It's been many years ago. In a previous post. Someone wanted to make and sell a replacement bluto weldmont. Could not get enough interest at the time. I think he was around the 200 dollar range.

There has been many people looking for one of these over the years. I would say most of the Popeye machines need one of these. Good choice for a new part to make. Yes, I want to buy one. I really want one with new decal for it though. Do we have a decal specialist that would make us some?

Very nice game, no complaints from me. I have had my Popeye for 8 years or so. I have seem some reviews of that say they hate the game because they cant see the ball all the time. I also have a TZ. I cant see the ball all the time on it either. Popeye is a fast and fun game. Offers great bang for your buck.

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Reproduction bluto for face. The book is wrong on rubber sizes. The 2 far back bottom rubbers are 3 inch not 2.5. plus add 4 extra 2.75. Titan cleer rubbers look good.

If it was me, I would replace micro switch and the diode. As neither cost much. The micro switches can be flakey sometimes and the diodes are to cheap to try to reuse.

Hello Popeye owners. Just saw a nice update on EBAY. Its a sticker or decal kit. Right now he is working on adding the boat bow decals to the kit so it will be complete. Finally someone is working on a decal set. I am waiting for the addition of boat decals but here is the link.(soon) Popeye Saves the Earth Pinball Decal Set. . . EBAY #284013075901
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He has added a second set of popeye decals on ebay.

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Ok I want to chime in. First thinner post rubbers on sweet pee ramp, thin wall ones. Pinballlife has them. Next this will help too. New return springs on your upper flipper mechanisms. It will pull the flipper back quicker, so you can rehit the ball a split second sooner/quicker.

Also popeye owners check back gate springs for back loop. The very back of pinball machine. I had both springs stretched and came unhooked and one of the gates or flap was broken.

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Can some of the Popeye owners give this great game a decent review? It’s pretty low on the list. There is a lot of Popeye haters. Isn’t it like 260 on the list. It’s a top 100 game!

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When I got it it was blue themed LEDs. So when I did the restore on it. I kept that theme, as when I fell in love with the machine.

Welcome to our Popeye family!

That and or a couple buy ins.

It’s in adjustments settings along with buy ins and free play. It’s ok to ask, we are all friends here. If you want to call me, send me pm. I can walk you through it? These games are pretty smart. Popeye is a great game. In settings you can set it for up to 7 seconds before the ball gets shot to upper play field. Great for people who don’t play the game all the time. Gives you chance to get ready.

If it is a twist in bulb socket. I would do this first. Remove the board from machine. Add/Flow some more solder on the board where the legs for the bulb socket touch the board. It could either be worn down or really didnt get enough solder when the board was made.

We should reach out to them. Starship fantasy. They will say 6 months. And maybe more like 3 years. If we are lucky.

Blown fuse?

You probably have a credit dot /slash error also. In menu go to switch edge test. Check the switch there on the upper play field that goes to ramp. The switch sounds like it is stuck on. May have to lift up upper play field to replace switch. I am not in front of my machine? Not as bad as it may seem.

Right ramp. That is wimpy ramp. I will look closer. Tonight, it is hard for me to picture it in my head. Anyway I am pretty sure it is the switch on right, upper playfield exit. That ramp leeds to the skill shot wheel that turns.

I have owned my Popeye for 10 years. I will try to good advice. I am not perfect.

Popeye is a great game. It will make everyone smile while they are playing it. The theme is s as spot on for the whole family.

I have mentioned before. This information is for everyone with a Popeye game. On the rubber rings. The book is wrong. Order extra 3 of 3” and 3 of 2.75”, rings. As for all games, if you are stretching the rubbers a lot to get it on. It is to small it will only break in a few months or so. Also pinball life has thin wall rubber sleeves for the sweet pee ramp. Otherwise it’s almost to narrow for the ball to fit through.

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I think if Bluto nose is flashing. That means your bluto mec is trying to spit out a ball. There are several switches in that mec. More info please?

Hard not to love Popeye. It has a lot of the smile factor. Video and call outs. Hard to beat that.

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Popeye offers more smiles per game.
Then any of the top 10 games can offer.

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Just thought I would mention. On eBay there is something like a Cliffy from Porchiego. It’s for the bluto VUK. I put one in my Popeye.

Picture is good so someone can see it? Then we can help.

I have had my Popeye for 12 years. Popeye was my first pinball machine. The music and call outs still make me smile.

No worries, Little Shop of games. It should look like this. Your hand is blocking the other end.

Bell Armature Plunger Assembly for Bally Williams Pinball Machine 02-4668
$10 bucks

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Just thought I would mention. Planetary pinball has the reproduction version 3d Bluto face. Is it as nice as original, no way. I have one and it is better than a broken one.

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Yes, in switch test mode. I would try shooter lane switch. sounds like it know the through is short one ball and machine doesn't know where it is. Switch could need adjusted or metal wire.

Welcome aboard. I have had my Popeye for 13 years. The call out’s still make me smile. For some, it is still the house favorite.

Nice to have people join the club. My opinion. The best most beautiful score cards for Popeye are from pinballcards.com Also if you print them on the metal/photo paper. They are outstanding. If you want to see a picture. Let me know. I might forget to upload. Also share the love, this fellow, ask for small donation. If you download. He has cards for several games. Uncheck box on printer setting. Expand to print. If it is to small try with box checked. Something like that?

My first question is? Is your game slow during player change? Showing spiral swirl? Or does it seem normal?

Ok, that helps. Pinball machines sometimes it is something simple or maybe not. Please check your shooter lane switch. Maybe sometimes it thinks there is a ball in shooter lane you can test switch in switch test mode. Also after that. With a cable tie, with electrical tape on the end like a flag. Take balls out. In the switch mode test your trough optos. It won’t hurt to wipe off your optos with q tip, also.

You can post pics, also. As for someone times we call the same thing something different, terminology.

Ok, check for loose wires or wires that may have fallen off. I would have replaced both sides emitter and receiver boards as it is updated boards. But yes that can fix it, too. Usually just emitter is weak.

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Sounds like you are doing great job bringing, Popeye back to life. So all the optos. For the trough. Test prefect in switch test mode, and you can see the leds turn on. On the opto boards, register/lite up if you pass a cable tie with a piece of electrical tape on the end? So you are saying led #3 on opto board is flashing? If so that is your problem. Then it is slow during player change? Please try to be extra clear. What you see and what its doing or I cant be much help.

Ok, sounds like this is your problem. One of your diodes for a lite is in backwards. Yes, done at factory 29 years ago. When start button is flashing and it is not supposed to be flashing. Find a light on playfield or back box that is flashing also. The diiode polarity is reversed. In backwards. Or diode has shorted. Or has continuity in both directions. Hope this is clear enough. The manual will show on schematic what direction the diode should be.

Also I would like to know? Is launch button flashing on and off at the same time or in sequence as the 2 lights on playfield?

I think pinball life has a few different colored ones.

I always wondered why they did not make a clear one. I like the blue one, it came with. Or maybe just used to seeing blue.

Try pinball center, Australia. I my self have never seem that piece for sale.

Cool I am listening. Keep us posted, and thanks.

Never on mine. My machine gets played a lot. Had my game for 12 years, now.

Also do not turn off your game. In the middle of a game. B/W games do not like it.

Maybe you have lost ground for coin door? If the game does a reset. Check to see, 5 volt supply on power board just dropped below say 4.8v dc.

Silicone flipper rubbers. Coil sleeves. Flipper return springs.

Lithium is great. Just have to test them every couple years. I had like 10 machines. Only 2 or 3 bad batteries. Out of all.

The brackets for the legs on Popeye. Have 3 positions for the leg bolts. I had decided to drop mine down. So like 2 inches shorter, now. Had to drill 4 holes in cabinet. If any game needs it it’s this one. Yes, let’s give Popeye some love. Leave a review. This game should be in top 150, at least.

Nice mods. This is a halmark xmas ornament. See upper left. By animal ramp.

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No one has. I have been looking for the plastics up there for years. They don’t have to be the same for me. Just fit the theme.

Also too. There is a fellow on EBay who does sell some popeye decals, just not the ones you are asking about. You could ask him. He must have a Popeye as I have emailed him before he does have passion for the game.

Check bushing for ramp solenoid. Mine was broken even though it seemed to work.