So this is a place holder for my TZ restore. I've already purchased way more than I should have- but that's how most of us roll right? I had to take the head off to get this monster down into my basement. It's put back together but now I have to reconnect everything. Fingers crossed I don't mess it up.

Thank goodness for Escelera. For the first time I gave it a try by myself....a little scary but I was able to do it without much trouble. Man that thing was well worth the price!

A full list of my restore items- and pics soon.

I will likely be pulling off a few mods in case anyone is looking for anything.....stay tuned!

Thanks!

I just reconnected everything....fingers firmly crossed before I power it up. Gonna check my wires one....last....time....then START.

I'll update later how it goes. There's always that thrill of fear before I power up a machine I've taken the head off on....

Here are some of the pics-- once I got the head off I gave my Escelera a go by myself for the first time. BEST PURCHASE EVER!!- worked great.

Pics are removing the cables, taking the head off, down the stairs - and in my line up.

Next pic- I pray will be it lit up and working....

Then the restore.....the best part (usually).

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PHEW!- It's alive! I turned it on and only had GI- after a few minutes realize I left off a connector to the driver board. Good thing that I took it slow, labeled everything- and took my time putting it back together.

Here's the machine up and running- with a pic of my collection of parts I've been gathering. I have more on the way!-- way too much invested already....but as I said before since when does Pinball make sense?

The bubble wrapped packages are full flipper mechs. I like to replace the whole thing, not just rebuild. I have invisiglass that will be the final piece installed....I was told the chrome was by Mike Chestnut (RIP).

I know it looks good now-- but I want to make it look new....

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Today I added a bunch of coin taker led gi- including redoing the full back box. BIG difference- really nice and bright. I also added in the evo brights that I picked up at pin life. Last I replaced the shooter with an all chrome one to match the rails.

More to come!

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Well I've been neglect on posting pics but A LOT of progress.

All the flippers/mechs are brand new, I upgraded the mini play field with the Great Lakes Switches (awesome!)-- fully LED (cointaker), working from the bottom up to replace all plastics and ramps (with new repros), all new rubbers - and some new mods including an upgraded slot, and backboard (from treasure cove).

I'll post more eventually....but thankfully it's going well. Next major thing to do is the rebuild the clock using new housing/gears/ingo board etc. Assuming I don't screw it up the only thing original on them will be the hands.

Seriously considering the pinsound board.....

All this Pat Dialed in nonsense made me feel it was my duty to get back into my TZ restore.... pics,later but I replaced the plastic ramp with a new one today....more to do but way less expensive than Batman66 or dialed in lol

I replaced the ramps- (metal and plastic)- at this point about 90% of all plastics to tell the truth- and unfortunately I'm having trouble with the balls not loading correctly now. In another thread I've been trying to figure out how to fix it unfortunately.

The upside it is looks GREAT!- the down side is it's currently art- since it doesn't work....lol. I'll figure it out. After a number of hours I needed to take a break from it.

I've called in the top gun - Ron of NYPinball to see if he can see what I'm not seeing....this is only the second time in 7 years I've needed help- but that's OK. Ron's a great guy- and I'm sure he'll help me figure this out.

Here are some pics....

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FINAL UPDATE!

Well I've taken my time and I consider this project complete.

I got stalled for a few weeks with a mod that created chaos with the switches causing me weeks of frustration- but with the help of some determined pinsiders we figured it out.

Check out this thread for the gory details:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fun-new-problem-twilight-zone

Anyway, all I have left is my inside TZ art blades and my invisiglass to add- and I will be complete.

Here's an overview of what I've done (including a few items that were added by the prior owner - noted with a *):

All new flippers/and full mechs/coils
New plastic ramp
New metal main ramp
Brand new clock with Ingo board, new gears etc.
Low profile mini playfield switches
All new pinball decals stickers
4 spotlights
Chrome "missing" spiral sign
Backboard sticker
Backboard lighting
TZ chrome street lamp *
Fully LED
Added led mod behind door on backglass
Color DMD *
Full set of Mike Chestnut chrome *
New coin door *
All new pinballs with brand new powerball
Added lit slot mod
LED pop bumper caps
All new plastics
All new rubbers
Polished playfield
New plunger
New flipper buttons
New proximity switch set
Driver board repaired by Clive at Coin Op Cauldron (it wasn't fully working)
Brand new start/continue buttons

I think that's it.

As with all of my restorations- I spent too much, but man this thing shines!

Thanks for following along!

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