Picked this up as a trainwreck back in the fall. Got it running and played it for a few months before I started teariing into it around the hollidays.

First thing that was noticed was the game went haywire whenever it seems like flashers were suppose to go off. Which is almost constant on this game. Even under the passanger inserts there are flashers. Game would try to pop a ball out of a saucer and turn on a flasher to correspond with it but instead another coil would rapid fire. Combine this with hitting something with the bell and you'd have 4 or so coils rapid firing and the bell going off. Game scared the hell out of everyone near it. Found an AC select relay stuck on the aux driver board. It basicly switches between a bank of grounds ( A bank or C bank) so that each transistor can fire 2 solenoids usually 1 coil and 1 flasher based upon A or C. Being stuck in A made it so when it was trying to ground a flasher it was grounding coils instead. Replaced that and I was good.

I had about 6 coils not working. The pop bumper coils were out due to a blown fuse because of some stuck close switches. Got that squared away easy enough. I had another coil for the catapult that was instantly blowing another fuse. Coil was fried and internally shorted. Transistor and pre driver both fried and locked on as well as a big tip36 on the aux driver board. Replaced all those and changed the coil with a close enough temp replacement.

So after a week of busy nights scratching my head and chasing crazy electrical issues the game played, but boy was it rough. The cab has dings and scuffs everywhere and the art was rubbed off in areas. Two huge worn out holes in the front from the biggest lock bar holes I've ever seen. Inside was stained and crusty and reeked.

Playfield is trashed and someone along the way pulled the Mylar but never pulled the glue and those areas just attracted more grime that stuck to the glue. Ramps are all cracked but work. Even the topper crumbled to pieces when I unbolted it from the head.

This will be an easier restore than highsped as I have a new CPR playfield for it as this one is way far gone to be worth the time to touch up. High speed was probably crazy with the time the touchups took me as well but it's all I could do at the time

Quick shot of it setup in the lineup before I started stripping it. I didn't remember to take any close up shots to show how bad the outside of the cab was everywhere.8E807D43-3704-4378-B9C9-7D9442E9440D_zpsezaad2uq.jpeg

Some shots of the nasty inside as I was tearing it down.IMG_8604.JPGIMG_8605.JPGIMG_8607.JPGIMG_8608.JPGIMG_8609.JPGIMG_8610.JPGIMG_8621.JPG

Filling, sanding, filling, sanding, sanding, sanding, sanding.......IMG_8690.JPG

Cleaned the bottom. Inside and out. Much better!IMG_8679.JPGIMG_8692.JPG

Time for a simple green bathIMG_8717.JPGIMG_8718.JPGIMG_8722.JPGIMG_8723.JPGIMG_8716.JPG

Little hand polishing afterwardsIMG_8736.JPGIMG_8731.JPG

Cab painted inside and decaled.IMG_8799.JPGIMG_8800.JPGIMG_8801.JPGIMG_8803.JPG

Ground braided. Ran it in my own route that was very close to orginal but made it look my nicer and with cleaner lines.IMG_8819.JPGIMG_8820.JPGIMG_8821.JPG

All parts cleaned, polished or painted and sorted out.IMG_8822.JPGIMG_8823.JPG154B7E73-953F-4A0B-AA39-85DD93D9C153_zps6znb71ek.jpg

Transformer cleaned/painted.IMG_8840.JPG

Took care of this back panel for the head where the boards mount.

Saned it with 120, 220, 320 and finally 400 with my DA sander. Not shown is a couple must coats of krylon clear after to keep it from corroding or oxidizing.IMG_8721.JPGIMG_8747.JPG

Cleaned the boards with scrubbing bubbles. Sprayed them down. Let them sit for 1 minute. Used a cheap 2" paint brush to give them a quick scrub then rinsed off. Blew them out with compressed air after and a quick hit with a hair dryer. Won't get dirty working on the boards.

Replace all the old caps in the power supply board for good measure.IMG_8844.JPGIMG_8843.JPG

Coin door all painted, parts cleaned, new labels, harness washed.IMG_8862.JPGIMG_8806.JPGIMG_8863.JPGIMG_8867.JPG

Hand polished the side rails. All stained and tarnished.

Before:

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After:

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New Stainless steel lockdown receiver from Kerry Stair.

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Cabinet wrapped up. Few details like topper and backglass still need to go in.IMG_8897.JPGIMG_8898.JPGIMG_8899.JPGIMG_8902.JPG

Since the playfield was still populated I plugged it in outside of the cabinet to make sure I had no issues.

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Had a little Banzai taxi/ Taxi run action going on

Thanks for the kind words. You don't want to hear me sing.

End is nearing any day now......

Few shots of what the playfield looked like and the packing tape ramps.

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Tumbler running for days upon days polishing all these playfield parts. Everything else getting cleaned in the ultrasonicIMG_9407.JPG

Coils wrapped

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All the mechs polished and rebuiltIMG_9428.JPGIMG_9429.JPGIMG_9436.JPG

Regraining the ball guides.

Half done:

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One done and one not.

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Both Done

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Little washing with grease lighting to get rid of all the metal dust and all the grim on the backside of them.

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The nice thing about restoring a playfield is repopulating it is a breeze and everything lines up perfectly.

Repro you have to drill all the dimples and widen every post hole. And a lot of the time the holes don't line up. IMG_9410.JPG

Lots of new parts and ramps

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Mechs and ground brain on:

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Wired:

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Half of the topside done:

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Just the ramps left to go on. While everything is easy to get to still I put the playfield in the cabinet and fired it up. Went through all the tests. Had a couple defective new fuses and bulbs and that was it. Every switch, coil and lamp works.

Attempted LED's in the GI. The light it gives off I think looks like poo in Taxi. Ordered a new 100 count box of #44's to swap them out. Only have 47's and I like to use the 44's for a bit more light as this game will never be on non stop for endless days anymore.

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Thats where I sit as of tonight. Should be playing it this weekend with only a few minor details to freshen up a few things. Will ride this thread until the end. Can't wait to bring it to Allentown. It will be set up for freeplay and will also be used in part of the tournament.

-Jim

Also I have a Marilyn CPR backglass being brought to the show for me. Roms are already in. Game will 100 percent be a Marilyn now.

Yup. CPR. This taxi playfiel was so far gone it wasn't worth the time to restore it with fresh repro's out. If it wasnt horribly trashed I would of touched it up instead as repopulating an original is so much easier and better than a repro.

I really want to keep this one around. Its one of my favorites and I regret letting High Speed go last year at Allentown. Python passing really bummed me out too and unfortunately Popeye left last night to make room for another restore for some one else so I think I need to keep this around.

As I say that if some one throws a crazy offer at me at the show I might have to let it go.....And I mean crazy.

In case anything else wasn't clear there is a ton of new parts in this game. Playfield, ramps, speaker panel, plastics, lockdown receiver, chrome legs, all pop bumper parts, posts and all that little sutff. If it didn't look new or could be polished/painted to be new it was tossed.

Yup Wolf! Decepticons all the way. I really need to own a Decepticons LE at some point

Somehow I knew you would say that.

With putting the Cpr playfield in there is no choice. I suppose I could of re airbrushed her back to a Lola and re clear it. Didn't seem worth it. Plus I'm a fan of Mrs Monroe's . I still have the Python t shirts you ordered. I will bring then to Allentown if I don't see you before then

Haha. Make me an offer I can't refuse

I have a PDF file of the system 11 sticker and I reenter the info on it for the game I'm working on.

I would definetly keep that one original. That head can be filled and touched up easily. Keep the screened art and sand down the inside and repaint that part to clean it up.

Really anxious to start playing it again.

I took in my decals in to have a paint match made.

With the red circle you could always mask it with frisket and airbrush. Fairly simple area to cut out and you can repaint the whole circle the closest stock shade you can find and not have to wory about never matching the colors perfectly.

-Jim

No from pic of the gaping holes? I forgot to snap those ones as well.

You are more than welcome too. Definitely hit the show. Such a blast! I will bring the Python shirts for you as well!

I use this. Works great. Home Depot carries them. image.jpg

image-703.jpgFinally put the topper on.

Had to make a new one of these. It mounts to the side of the right ramp. Does not come with the ramp or the plastic set. Old and yellowed next to nice new clear rampsIMG_9486.JPGIMG_9487.JPG

Cut a new piece out of plexi glass

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Riveted it onto the new ramp.

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Everything is back in and fully operational. Few bulbs to mess around with still and needs sone instruction cards
And another odds and end or two. image-102.jpgimage-466.jpgimage-448.jpgimage-325.jpg

No adjustment needed for mine. What was off on yours?

Yes just sanding. Lots of it

Yup. Both. Orbital to start. You won't get all the corners without hand sanding.

Thank Bryan. Means a lot coming from someone of your caliber. Can't say I haven't learned a trick or two from you over the years

I like to think that. Working on this and running the Python tournament and doing the t shirts all at the same time felt really good but hit even harder when the news came through.

See you in less than 2 weeks. Can't wait for Allentown.

-Jim

Hey Paul. Did you get the Python shirt I sent you yet? Known if you are coming to Allentown with James? Would love to meet you. This taxi will be there

You bringing any system1 goodness?

I think I'm doing the opposite. Going down with one and coming back with two. Will also have liquor though

Good to know for the next one

Everything's for sale 8). I don't want to let it to but if the right offer comes along I'm sure I would take it so feel free to make me an offer.

Game was having an odd warm up issue. Ended up being some old battery corrosion that wasn't fully cleaned up buy a previous owner. Rottendog is bringing me a new MPU Friday morning to throw in so this game willbd bullet proof after that.

Running on a buddies MPU now and the game is playing flawlessly and is a blast. Will be set up on freeplay Friday and will be in the tournament bank Saturday as its probably one of the toughest taxis right now

Couple details going on tonight to tie the whole room together

Can't wait to see everyone at Allentown.

-Jim

Thanks you two. You're great people as well.

Thanks everyone.

Games was priced so it gladly came home with me. Everyone wanted a number even if I said not for sale. It's stashed at my buddies house ready to be used for our league which starts Monday night! After this season of league I will contemplate selling it.

-Jim

Totan for someone else. And then a Rocky after that.

-Jim

Nope. The rocky belongs to some one in NJ that I will be doing for them. Did see the one in the flea market though. What was the price on it?

I never got a chance to play wwf still. Even after talking about that.

Correct. Repro is only dimpled. Not actually drilled for most screws. You don't want to split the wood or snap a screw. Also some don't line up or are missing. Through playfield holes are also too right for bolts or wire guides to fit into.

Time to finally let this one go and move into new projects. Game is for auction on ebay. 1$ No reserve.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fa-my-fully-restored-taxi-1-no-reserve#post-2084309