Shitty repair tips

A great way to remove ball swirl marks is to use Windex and a magic eraser. Make sure not to be too gentle or you won't get the proper results. Works even better on non clear coated PFs.

#4 5 years ago

MRM

mrm_4

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 126K 6,214 11 1

A real trick of the trade that the pros use is to pack the light sockets with automotive light bulb grease if they are flickering due to a poor connection.

#5 5 years ago

DAN

GLSP3022

Pinside member

9y 82,550 1,727

Have a 2 prong outlet and a grounded cord? Just cut off that ground prong, grounding is over rated anyway.

#6 5 years ago

LKD

Luckydogg420

Pinside member

Kitchener, ON

11y 115K 5,862 14

B233D090-30FD-4B40-878D-1FF5363C2B12 (resized).jpeg

#7 5 years ago

ZAC

zacaj

RPC

Rochester, NY

11y 158K 10,387 85 122 1

Quoted from GLSP3022:
Have a 2 prong outlet and a grounded cord? Just cut off that ground prong, grounding is over rated anyway.

How else will I plug my game into this rat-chewed extension cord from the 60s?

#8 5 years ago

ROB

RCA1

Pinside+ Addict

St Joseph, MI

11y 128K 8,681 28 11

If you have a two prong polarized plug, just file the fat prong down so it will fit the socket either way.
If your game keeps blowing a fuse, just put a bigger fuse in. That's why they make multiple sizes. Keep trying until you find one that does not blow.

#9 5 years ago

QRK

Deez

Pinside+ Frequent

On barn find EMs, a great way to save time is to not dissemble and clean the steppers and relays, but to simply spray everything down in a heavy coat of contact cleaner. Make sure to power the game back up while it it still moist for the most effective cleaning.

#10 5 years ago

DJT

Taxman

In Memoriam

11y 90,950 6,228 34 30

If the score motor on an EM keeps running when you go to start a game it is not resetting properly.

So while it is running spray a liberal about of contact cleaned on those relays.

(Edit: beat me to the contact cleaner post while I was getting a picture)

ccfire2 (resized).jpg

#11 5 years ago

DTY

libtech

Pinside member

12y 82,650 1,958 42

OP
Quoted from Deez:
So my dad came over last night and I asked him how he was enjoying the EBD I just gave him. He said he liked the game but the right flipper was sticking but not to worry because he 'fixed it' with a heavy coat of WD-40. So in the spirit of fun lets all share our best shitty repair tips.
Disclaimer: Please don't actually use any of these.
I'll start.
If you have a pesky fuse that just keep blowing, a handy tip is to just take a piece of aluminum foil, roll it up into a solid metal piece and replace the fuse that keeps blowing.

I just bought a game with the exact same thing, left flipper was sticky, the coil stop had broke, so the guy oiled it up lol, never seen that before..

#12 5 years ago

MOO

snakesnsparklers

Pinside member

9y 92,800 4,828

When flame polishing ramps, apply heat until the surface just begins to bubble. This is how you know you've applied enough heat.

#13 5 years ago

QRK

Deez

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from Taxman:
If the score motor on an EM keeps running when you go to start a game it is not resetting properly.
So while it is running spray a liberal about of contact cleaned on those relays.
(Edit: beat me to the contact cleaner post while I was getting a picture)

Well yours is way better

#14 5 years ago

SunKing

Pinside member

Houston, TX

13y 130K 3,983 5 21

Don't bother turning off your machine when changing bulbs. You can see what you're working on so much better, and the chance of shorting something is really small.

#15 5 years ago

RUZ

ruzeo

Pinside member

Newtown, CT

6y 54,800 326 6

Replace all missing screws with thick wood screws drilled into the playfield to make sure they dont get loose.

#16 5 years ago

RON

Rondogg

Pinside member

11y 109K 3,341

The best time to move a pin into the basement is after a few beers, late at night, with no dolly.

#17 5 years ago

QRK

Deez

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from ruzeo:
Replace all missing screws with thick wood screws drilled into the playfield to make sure they dont get loose.

This also works at making the game easier by just drilling a few drywalls screws to block where the ball goes down the drain. It really improves scores.

#18 5 years ago

???

pinlink

Pinside member

Unknown

8y 72,150 2,205

OP
Quoted from Deez:
A great way to remove ball swirl marks is to use Windex and a magic eraser. Make sure not to be too gentle or you won't get the proper results. Works even better on non clear coated PFs.

If you're not getting the desired results, swap the magic eraser for sandpaper.

#19 5 years ago

ROB

RCA1

Pinside+ Addict

St Joseph, MI

11y 128K 8,681 28 11

Use plain old plate glass when you replace playfield and translite glass. Tempered glass is a waste of money.
Or use a sheet of beat up, old, cracked, scratched, yellowed plexiglass.

#20 5 years ago

RyThom

Pinball Land

Sparta, MI

11y 109K 948 43 182

Quoted from RCA1:
Or use a sheet of beat up, old, cracked, scratched, yellowed plexiglass.

The thinner the better! You want some "flex".

#21 5 years ago

DMD

songofsixpence

ThatOldPinball

Wharton, NJ

10y 79,050 706

Ever have a connector that was burned from all that GI amperage running through it?

Forget about replacing it - That's for chumps!

Just solder the wires directly to the header pins - you will never have to trouble with burned connectors again

#22 5 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

Fairview Park, OH

8y 99,600 3,565 8

You can save a lot of money on a good soldering iron if you just wrap exposed wire around coil lugs a bunch of times. It's not like there's a lot of moving parts that would cause it to fly off, shorting everything in its path.

#23 5 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

Fairview Park, OH

8y 99,600 3,565 8

Quoted from songofsixpence:
Ever have a connector that was burned from all that GI amperage running through it?
Forget about replacing it - That's for chumps!
Just solder the wires directly to the header pins - you will never have to trouble with burned connectors again

In my experience, this works best if you do it in a manner that's slightly different from how it was pinned originally, so the next owner has to spend 12 hours trying to figure out how to repin it and what exactly you did. It's like a fun game.

#24 5 years ago

QRK

Deez

Pinside+ Frequent

Have issues with burnt up wiring? Replace it with lamp cord from the local hardware store. It's thicker so therefore more reliable. Also, the next owner will know they don't need to worry about it since it is clearly nice new wire that's been replaced. I always keep a spool on hand for any repairs. It's especially handy to use when creating a jumper on the logic board to fix acid damage.

#25 5 years ago

Darcy

Pinside member

Leduc, AB

11y 124K 6,360 17

Lacquer Thinner cleans everything.

#26 5 years ago

???

FlippyD

Inactive member

7y 68,300 1,568

When finding random molex connectors inside a game that match the mod you just bought on eBay... plug those suckers in without checking the instructions or voltages; all matched connectors always carry compatible electric juices.

#27 5 years ago

WOT

Atari_Daze

Spd

Houston, TX

7y 141K 10,053 7

bullet (resized).jpg

#28 5 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/nerdygrrl-gets-knighted/page/2#post-4498497

Fuses cost money, metal rod is cheap and never fails.

If a 3 amp fuse blows, stick in a 20 amp.

All you need for tools is pliers, screw driver - only one - make it work, duct tape, and drywall screws.

Circuit board doesn't quite fit, don't turn it or find the right spot, cut off enough to make it work.

LTG : )

#29 5 years ago

WOT

Atari_Daze

Spd

Houston, TX

7y 141K 10,053 7

At the risk of stealing Nerdygrrl's thunder, timing was too good,
loose connections, try toothpicks.

toothpicks (resized).jpg

#30 5 years ago

WFC

Billc479

Pinside+ Frequent

Pleasant Plains, IL

9y 79,800 3,139 15

Use simple green and a power washer to get those really stubborn marks off the playfield.

#31 5 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

When asking for help. Don't tell the whole story, like what you did. And make lots of mistakes and use the wrong names for parts.

Makes help so much more interesting.

LTG : )

#32 5 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Quoted from Billc479:
Use simple green and a power washer to get those really stubborn marks off the playfield.

Wrong. Goof Off is best. Removes everything.

LTG : )

#33 5 years ago

???

fanuminski

Pinside member

Circle Pines, MN

11y 63,050 434 9

use rubbing alcohol to clean all your pop bumper caps - works much better than plain old water

#34 5 years ago

JAG

MadPole

Pinside+ Addict

Louisville, KY

11y 69,050 607 16

Quoted from LTG:
Wrong. Goof Off is best. Removes everything.
LTG : )

Dot 3 brake fluid works on playfields, plastics, cabinets and powder coated legs, rails, hinges and lockdown bars.

#35 5 years ago

RON

Rondogg

Pinside member

11y 109K 3,341

When you see that Houdini at the pinball convention has a long line, make sure you select a 4 player game even if it's just for yourself. You'll really get to know the software that way. Bonus points for putting your plastic cup of warm beer right on the playfield glass. Oh, and slap that machine around like it owes you money. For those 40 minutes, you own that machine, let everyone know it.

#36 5 years ago

TSC

Bowlingpin

Pinside member

Nassau County, NY

9y 62,900 636 3 41

When replacing a transistor.. just snip the old one off at the legs and solder the new on to the old...

31DA4EEA-B906-445C-BB3C-B65B59406EF3 (resized).png

#37 5 years ago

DJT

Taxman

In Memoriam

11y 90,950 6,228 34 30

Quoted from Bowlingpin:
When replacing a transistor.. just snip the old one off at the legs and solder the new on to the old...

I am actually impressed. This is a pretty neat job and a lot harder to do than doing it right.

I'm wondering if the person lifted a few traces in the past and is gun shy about cleaning out the holes.

#38 5 years ago

???

ShadowFlame76

Pinside member

Unknown

6y 23,550 118 1

Flippers not working? take them off and use toiler paper rolls and your hands to knock the ball around the playfield. This brings a new dimension of fun to the game.

#39 5 years ago

???

ccbiggsoo7

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 91,050 6,065 37 10 2

always wrap your fuses in aluminum foil, keeps em "fresher"

#40 5 years ago

FRN

Friengineer

Pinside member

10y 70,550 1,830 5

If the coins get stuck in the coin slots, pick the machine up by the front as far as you can. Then let go!

#41 5 years ago

TSC

Bowlingpin

Pinside member

Nassau County, NY

9y 62,900 636 3 41

Quoted from Taxman:
I am actually impressed. This is a pretty neat job and a lot harder to do than doing it right.
I'm wondering if the person lifted a few traces in the past and is gun shy about cleaning out the holes.

Nope, didn’t even work. Had the corresponding row of lights out when I got the machine.
Thankfully he/she didnt “try” to do it properly and possibly lift traces.

#42 5 years ago

AXL

Axl

KristianiaFlipperselskap

10y 84,050 1,226

When removing backbox, remember to cut all the cables.
For easier install later, make sure you cut out at least a foot of cable.

#43 5 years ago

???

wdennie

Inactive member

Canandaigua, NY

8y 37,350 1,321 17

Hole stripped out, just use a bigger screw!

#44 5 years ago

JWJr

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 61,300 765

How has this thread gone this long without someone mentioning drywall screws?

#45 5 years ago

LTG

Pinside member