I love dirty to clean progress pics so hopefully someone else does too.. enjoy

www.pinballrestore.wordpress.com

Comet_-_Day_7_010.jpg Comet_-_Day_7_014.jpg Comet_-_Day_7_026.jpg

some more

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Still to go:
Pop bumper overhaul
Flipper overhaul
Ramps
Target decals
Cabinet touchup
Board work

No touch ups on this one but lots more pictures on the website in the first post if you're interested. Just click on comet in the first post.

You need to lighten up crash.

Just because we're Tennessseans doesn't mean we're stupid, just saying.

Who said anything about Tennesseans? I've lived in this state for 16 years Crash, more than I've lived anywhere else. As far as stereotyping operators, it wasn't just "one wirenut that I needed to put on in the field in order to get it up and earning again", it's 8 wirenuts on a lamp matrix column where the header pins and connector were replaced. 8! And there's 4 more in other places in the machine on top of that.

And really, it's a blog dude. I wrote it with humor in mind to keep from it getting so boring.

I'm over it.

Just so we're all clear, this is what we're talking about:
"So let’s open up this backbox and see what we got going on. Holy crap.. what the hell is that? Yeah, I smell chicken fried chicken too. That connector there, the one that’s a lot “whiter” than the others under all that black crap, burnt up probably a number of years ago and was replaced. Johnny fix-it apparently knows how to replace header pins and crimp trifurcon connectors.. good job Johnny. But he was obviously hungover for the “don’t use wirenuts in a pinball machine… ever..”-class. Honestly I have no idea how you can go through the trouble of pulling the board, desoldering header pins, reinstalling them, cleaning it up, probably fixing traces, and then wirenut the wires together.

Have you ever seen a wirenut in a desktop computer? Do you wirenut your shoelaces together before leaving for work?

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_{Post edited by absocountry2 : Parts of posted edited to comply with forum rules}

New post is up. Crash and I hugged it out.

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/flippers-ducks-and-rabbits-an-exhaustive-reverie/

Target decals if you can find them. The foam backers are a no-brainer. Cheap and quick to remove/install and on those machines where the plastic doesn't cover the backing it looks so much better. Plastic acorns or nylon locknuts (depending on game) are cheap. Anything else is going to be more high dollar: ramp protectors, new plastics, etc.

That's about it on top. Obviously on the bottom: flipper rebuilds, all coil sleeves, general cleaning (wood, lamp inserts). I always vacuum the cabinet out and usually wipe down all the wires (yeah.. all of em).

trip to the DeePo is in order!

everyone likes pop bumpers.. and more pictures!

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/bumpers-and-ramps-ramps-and-bumpers/

Planetary pinball had one set. Little shop of games had the other. Still can't find the single drop target decal though. Thinking about going custom on it as I can't even find a good picture of it.

This thing should be out the door by next weekend if all goes well. No more room in the shop budget for new ramps unfortunately. We'll just make do with what we have! (after some repair)

That's it! Man I swear they didn't have that last week.

Playfield getting close.. some more lamps to replace, million decal, drop target decal, fix the corkscrew ramp and topside is done. More board work than I expected.. will post more later.

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updated.. thanks grh450 for the image, I posted it as well in case anyone is ever looking for them again.

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/re-assemble-re-e-assemble-and-some-more-board-recon/

Bah no packages today... Cabinet touchup tonight?

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/patina-is-for-coin-collectors/

Thanks! She's getting there Joe! Almost sad to see it go back on route.

Same laundromat. Hopefully it won't get trashed too soon.

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/1119/

https://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/enter-the-dragon-err-hakko-808/

I figured it would work well but it certainly exceeded my expectations. I don't know why I didn't get one sooner.

So after fixing quite a few board issues I've got it narrowed down to a small laundry list:

Switch matrix: every switch in column 4 causes it's corresponding row to activate. I'm going to have to double check the transistors I put in. That part was pretty hacked up and I had to use two jumper wires on col 4 & 5. Col 5 works fine though. Disconnected the pf connectors and jumpers col 4 to isolate to the board.

Spec solenoids: f2 blows at startup unless you remove IJ19 connector to the spec solenoids. Transistors down there are a little hacked up too so I'll have to take a closer look at that as well.

Not actively looking for advice but feel free to offer since I'm just sitting here at work now anyway.

http://pinballrestore.wordpress.com/