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(Topic ID: 287013)

Well worn MEDUSA advice

By billccm

3 years ago

Topic Stats

8 posts
6 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 3 years ago by ForceFlow
Topic is favorited by 2 Pinsiders

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#1 3 years ago

BJB

Hello:
Spent a few hours on my friends MEDUSA machine. It is well worn and has evidence of sloppy and quick repairs. A few drop targets are broken. The complaint is the machine has various intermittent, weak flippers, buzzing sounds, and lots of lamps out.
I took an entire can of DeOxIt and about half a can of CRC Silicone Spray and a few hours of cleaning, spraying, wiping, etc. Amazed that I brought back over 75% functionality.
My assessment going forward is:
1) Rebuild flippers.
2) Order capacitor kits for Squawk and Solenoid PCBs.
3) Replace all drop targets.
4) Rubber kit.
5) Replace bulbs.
Any other advice form the experts that I should look into?
Thanks for the time, and have a nice day, Bill

#2 3 years ago

DAV

DaveH

Pinside+ Frequent

Boston, MA

11y 121K 7,881 21 13

OP
Quoted from billccm:
and about half a can of CRC Silicone Spray

Pardon my naivete, but where were you using half a can of Silicone Spray on a pinball machine?

(I'm actually not naïve at all, and I can't come up with a single reason why this would be something you would use in a pinball machine where it wasn't a bad idea).

#3 3 years ago

EEE

Pinside member

Tucson, AZ

12y 80,300 2,124

Replace power supply board.

#4 3 years ago

BJB

billccm

Pinside member

Tucson, AZ

8y 20,400 57

All of the drop targets that were not broken needed a good flushing and lube. Heck, even the ball plunger needed a good shot of silicone spray. This machine has probably never had a PM. Lots of wire nuts and hacks.

#5 3 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

Fairview Park, OH

8y 99,600 3,565 8

OP
Quoted from billccm:
All of the drop targets that were not broken needed a good flushing and lube. Heck, even the ball plunger needed a good shot of silicone spray. This machine has probably never had a PM. Lots of wire nuts and hacks.

The drops probably needed cleaned off or just replaced and rebuilt with new springs, etc. Plunger probably just needed new springs, cleaned, etc. I would not go spraying lube into a game ha. All the stuff you are talking about should work smoothly with out any.

#6 3 years ago

BJB

billccm

Pinside member

Tucson, AZ

8y 20,400 57

I understand what you are saying, and you probably visualize a haphazard spraying everywhere carelessly. I use CRC brand silicone spray to gently flush and wipe clean surfaces. It is safe for plastics and does not attract dirt, etc.
Anyhow I appreciate your critique, but I was actually asking for any advice concerning the components such as capacitors, PCBs, etc.
Thanks again and take care, Bill

#7 3 years ago

DBR

DBaron

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 41,050 55

Since you seem to be pretty new to pinball, I can recommend some light reading.

Start here: https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Beginner%27s_Notes
Then here: https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=General
Read this section twice: https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=General#Lubrication
Then head over here for system/game specific info: https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bally/Stern

My friendly recommendation as far as the boards go is to troubleshoot and fix what is wrong rather than shotgunning repairs. Often you can do more harm than good. Follow the guides linked above for your specific problems. If you get stuck, please post back with a detailed description and pictures, and I'm sure we can help you get up and running.

#8 3 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

9y 238K 31,369 268 14

OP
Quoted from billccm:
I took an entire can of DeOxIt and about half a can of CRC Silicone Spray and a few hours of cleaning, spraying, wiping,

OP
Quoted from billccm:
needed a good flushing and lube

OP
Quoted from billccm:
It is well worn and has evidence of sloppy and quick repairs.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you're just adding to those.

Pinball machines require no lubrication (other than grease in gearboxes, which this game doesn't have).

You're just putting a band aid on a problem that will just become a problem again after a few plays.

OP
Quoted from billccm:
Any other advice form the experts that I should look into?

You should properly disassemble, clean parts, and rebuild things *without* using deoxit or silicone cleaners.

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