Twilight Zone
Bally, 1993Quoted from Kerry_Richard:Did you tumble the coil brackets, or just Blech-White them?
Amazing details you have done... it really shows.
Thanks for posting the progress.
Kerry
Just bleche white and a brush they are plated from the factory so they clean up great.
Are you installing anything on the edge of the playfield to make sure it doesn't destroy the inner cabinet decals when you lift it up and down?
I've heard of people using a felt tape or something, but didn't know if there was an "industry standard".
Quoted from Miguel351:Are you installing anything on the edge of the playfield to make sure it doesn't destroy the inner cabinet decals when you lift it up and down?
I've heard of people using a felt tape or something, but didn't know if there was an "industry standard".
I use felt tape from pinrestore it is the perfect length and does two playfields, you can see it installed in the photos.
very nice work. i am looking to do this type of resto to one of my funhouse machines.i will keep up with your progress
My TZ is in need of a top-side teardown and cleaning, but I am pretty intimidated by the prospect of stripping that playfield. It'd be the first time I tore down a game, so I think I am procrastinating due to my intimidation 
Yours looks awesome though, and just makes me want to do it more! Of course, I wouldn't be removing stuff from the underside of the PF (besides the subway) because there is no way I'd ever get it back together!
Quoted from pzy:My TZ is in need of a top-side teardown and cleaning, but I am pretty intimidated by the prospect of stripping that playfield. It'd be the first time I tore down a game, so I think I am procrastinating due to my intimidation
Yours looks awesome though, and just makes me want to do it more! Of course, I wouldn't be removing stuff from the underside of the PF (besides the subway) because there is no way I'd ever get it back together!
If you take a bunch of photos it is not that difficult to do. Just keep track of how it all came off, so you know how to reassemble. Worst case scenario you get stuck and forget how something works, thats the great thing about pinside there are alot of tz's out there so you have plenty of help.
Finishing up the remaining playfield machinery today, got my pop lamp sockets coming in tommorow then I should be able to finish up by friday. I rebuilt clock new lens, case, back, rottendog clock board, and cleaned and polished all parts. Smae goes with the gumball machine, cleaned all parts, and installed pblife gumballs, now if only pinbits would have the gumball light mod back in stock but I will have to install the later.
you're doing a very fine job and everything looks beautiful. congratulations!!
I really love the chrome legs and the upgraded speaker system
looks great. Btw, it doesn't take 4 months to have something clearcoated. If you just need basic clearcoating, I could have turned it around in 2 weeks, tops.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:looks great. Btw, it doesn't take 4 months to have something clearcoated. If you just need basic clearcoating, I could have turned it around in 2 weeks, tops.
Out of curiosity, how long do you suggest waiting before repopulating?
Nice resto, looks like you've done a thorough job!
Quoted from CaptainNeo:looks great. Btw, it doesn't take 4 months to have something clearcoated. If you just need basic clearcoating, I could have turned it around in 2 weeks, tops.
dammit ! well next time I will send one out to you everyone else is 3-4 months
For repopulating, you can repopulate as soon as you get it back. Just don't crank everything down super tight. I can be out 3-4 months, but for fields that just need couple layers of clear, I turn them around right away.
Stephen,
Dude, you are sooo much braver than I. I would really like to do a total resto, as you've done on your machines, but the complexity and time involved has kept me at bay. Bravo!
I'm just south of you in Wooster, would love to see the finished product once you are done.
cheers,
rody
Quoted from Rody:Stephen,
Dude, you are sooo much braver than I. I would really like to do a total resto, as you've done on your machines, but the complexity and time involved has kept me at bay. Bravo!
I'm just south of you in Wooster, would love to see the finished product once you are done.
cheers,
rody
I grew up in wayne county, I noticed you have a CFBL and SS in your collection. I want to do a CFTBL restoration next is it for sale, or do you want to have it restored ?
amazing work, looks beautiful
Quoted from stephenshane237:I am installing the new mini pf switch kit from GPE.
Do you have a link for this?
Quoted from CaptainNeo:I put that kit in mine. It was a PIA to get in, but worth it.
The kit uses 1/8 pop rivets to rivet the boards to the metal plates. With the boards installed on the plates soldering is almost impossible, so drill out the pop rivets all boards are the same on each piece. After the boards are free from the mounts solder all wires to the solder pads and install new pop rivets this maks the install way easier. The added benefit to the mini switches is the adjustability to make the switches ultra sensitive comared to the old ones.
Been working on TZ all day today, finished rebuilding all remaining solenoids and brackets, solder new EOS, target, and pop switches today. Installed GI harness and installed in machine to do test all works great really looking good now. Next up is the switch harness follow manual to make sure you dont get any positions mixed up.
I was very shocked by the ease of putting the harnesses back in they kind of hold their shape so if you do one at a time is pretty easy GI, then switch, and solenoid harness. All that is left to do on the underside is double check all switch positions, and solder all solenoids onto the harness. Then tidy the harnesses up a bit will zip ties and should be on to the topside which is cake compared to the rest.
Quoted from TheLaw:Been thinking aboot doing the underside of my W?D which is just filthy as hell. Done a few top tear downs but not bottom...still a little scared...but it's gotta happen at some point.
Don't fear it I always have plenty of pics, and also HEPs website has some great hi-res photos of the underside that I refer to alot.
Quoted from tamoore:Couldn't be more impressed with this.. Amazing work.....
Thanks ! remember for anyone that is afraid to tackle this, it is my first restoration never more than a typical top end tear down so it went easier than I expected. Hopefully it work when I'm done I was so excited when I put the PF in the cabinet after the GI harness and seen all the leds shining bright.
I just keep them intact then I will replace the wire ties with new ones once in the playfield. I do make sure that all connectors and harnesses are blown off with compresses air after cleaning. I use a golf club scrub brush and a few toothbrushes to scrub them all they come out pretty clean. The weirdest thing is assembling a playfield without getting black gunk all over you. The bleche white does wonders for bracket and playfield components here are pics of brackets and coils with new wrappers on them ready for install.
Never heard of Bleceh white.
Is this the tire cleaner?
And you use it on the wires and metal brackets?
Quoted from Arcade:Never heard of Bleceh white.
Is this the tire cleaner?
And you use it on the wires and metal brackets?
I will agree with this. I hear people say it all the time but when I look it up I see tire cleaner. Prob same thing as i usually use Simple Green for same type things.
Quoted from TheLaw:I will agree with this. I hear people say it all the time but when I look it up I see tire cleaner. Prob same thing as i usually use Simple Green for same type things.
Bleche white is the name you get it at autozone, it really brings out the brighter colors the best stuff i've used so far.
Quoted from Kerry_Richard:Did you run anything thru the dishwasher?
Kerry
Nope never heard of doing that with anything just brushes and bleche white thats it.
Quoted from TheLaw:I will agree with this. I hear people say it all the time but when I look it up I see tire cleaner. Prob same thing as i usually use Simple Green for same type things.
The new Bleche Wite formula doesn't work nearly as well as the old. I've quit using it and found something called Purple Power, also found in auto retail stores, and I think it works better than the old Bleche Wite.
Simple Green doesn't do a thing compared to Purple Power. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
Stephen,
The CFTBL is not for sale though it is in need of some love...would be glad to let you come play her a bit 
May be able to help you with your playfield clear coating conundrum, we should make it a point to talk soon.
cheers,
rody
Quoted from robertmee:Agreed....The new bleche white in the black bottle is garbage. You need the old one in the white/red bottle. Purple power is my go to now.
I agree you have to get the old white bottle stuff Autozone carries it in the old white bottle.
Quoted from vcloverjr:Great work, especially being your first restore. Any tips on removing wiring harnesses and keeping track of all the solder points and the re-assembly work?
Thanks,
The only solder points are coils and switches you can refer to the manual for the switch colors, and also take pictures for the coil points. Its not as hard as you think the wiring harness holds its shape pretty well.
Quoted from Rody:Stephen,
The CFTBL is not for sale though it is in need of some love...would be glad to let you come play her a bit
May be able to help you with your playfield clear coating conundrum, we should make it a point to talk soon.
cheers,
rody
If you ever want to restore her I have all the tools needed, rottiserie, rivet press, ground braid air stapler, and soldering tools. I would be glad to lend them to you if you wat to do your game after I get my IJ done. http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/indiana-jones-high-end-restoration-thread-my-high-end
Quoted from Kerry_Richard:Did you run anything thru the dishwasher?
Kerry
I've read many who have run there, ramps, boards and wiring harnesses thru dishwasher. But NOT in the drying cycle. I have not tried it, however.
I too like / use Blech White (white bottle) on wire harness, metal, white bushings, well just about everything (except coil labels). I use it on my Harley Davidson's 2" white walls. I wear rubber gloves... that stuff burns!
Bryan Kelly... Thanks for the tip on the Purple Magic stuff. I'll have to give that a try.
Kerry
I agree you have to get the old white bottle stuff Autozone carries it in the old white bottle.
The white bottle has nothing to do with it , you have to get Westley's and to the Black Magic. The bottles look almost identical with only the name being different .
Black Magic = garbage .
Jim
Quoted from Kerry_Richard:I've read many who have run there, ramps, boards and wiring harnesses thru dishwasher. But NOT in the drying cycle. I have not tried it, however.
I too like / use Blech White (white bottle) on wire harness, metal, white bushings, well just about everything (except coil labels). I use it on my Harley Davidson's 2" white walls. I wear rubber gloves... that stuff burns!
Bryan Kelly... Thanks for the tip on the Purple Magic stuff. I'll have to give that a try.
Kerry
That's "Purple Power", Kerry.
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Medina, OH
Bayswater
