Disassembled the pop bumpers (not triggering well) and flippers (sluggish) on my 1966 Kicker. The pop bumpers were covered in grease. This has been a theme on this machine. Whoever had it before fixed problems by using this thick and sticky grease. Waiting for my PBR order to arrive to finish this.

Every time I look at the playfield I wish I had the artistic ability to retouch it and make it better, but that is beyond what I'm comfortable doing.

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Finally got the Little Chief cabinet rebuilt and the head back on so I can start working on getting the game to play again. On the first try, the scoring motor is turning, unfortunately other than a few bulbs on the playfield GI, not much else is alive. I have a schematic and a voltmeter, let the fun begin!

Leg bolt plates are on their way - the saw horse is going to have to suffice for now.

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The back was the worst part. Rotted out from getting wet. Some of the head mount needed to be shored up too. I’ll make it look better once I know the game will work.

drsfmd,

As a restoration newbie, I have a question - how do you reflow paint into the bumper caps? My guess is you are getting the letter and details to pop again? I would love to do the same to the flippers on my Kicker game. The blue lettering is all faded.

Alberto

Working on two of them, one if a Little Chief which I've had for about 3 weeks now and making slow progress on. The second which I picked up this weekend is a Skylab. This one is going to a friend's house. She loves the space theme, this game will be well-cared for there once I'm done with it.

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I found the same issue on the Ship Ahoy I finished a few weeks ago. Faulty light sockets, specially on the ships wheel.

Started work on this machine last night, this is the second Gottlieb machine I've worked on. So far there is no +25V coming out of the transformer so not getting very far but I have some things to try out recommended from the EM Tech post I started on the issue.

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Only if the transformer in mine is shot, hopefully it does not come to that.

John - PM sent

Thank you!

Just finished up this Skylab. It's going to a friend's house who loves the space theme. Last thing to go on it are black legs, for now I'm letting the kids run as many "test games" as needed.

Alberto

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Dave

You are going to love working on this game. I got lucky with the cosmetics on mine. It’s a fun game to play too. Easier, but rewarding.

Alberto

EM-PINMAN

The playfield and backglass look great!

Nice find

Been working on this Gottlieb Soccer for the last few days. Backglass has some flaking. Playfield is in good shape. Cabinet and coin door have some wear so I'm thinking about making it the first cabinet I sand and re-paint. Internally there are a couple burnt out wires and a few broken switches and pop bumpers. Should be a fun one.

Alberto

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No, I got it down in CT.

Alberto

DCRand nice job! For the cabinet, did you do a full strip and re-paint or touch-up work? If it was touch-up, how did you do this?

Alberto

dgAmpGuy

Nice find! Trade you for a Little Chief that blows fuses and is stuck in a scoring motor loop!

Alberto

Pinball Resource is your best bet. If not Marco Specialties.

Alberto

It's been a long and slow process but finally got this Little Chief from a water damaged cabinet to playing.

Lots of thanks to many pinsiders on this board.

Alberto

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nice work! How did you make the stencil?

That game is in gorgeous shape. Nice find!

Par for the course. Working on EM’s is awesome

For the inserts, could you touch them up and then clear coat them flat? I have done that before with success.

This one was sitting in a boarded-up bus station. I'm going to try my hand at repainting and stenciling after I get it running and fix the cracked head and cabinet.

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How did you do the webbing on your Gigi? I think Domino also had webbing. What you see on the Domino cabinet is paneling wall paper. Should be fun to remove.

Alberto

Domino is disassembled. After a thorough vacuuming and wipe-down, I'm working on putting it back together. The cabinet is glued back together, the backbox is getting fixed, and the board where the transformer sits is getting cleaned and sorted out. Cleaning and checking all of the mechs and switches. The backbox board and the playfield will get the same treatment.

Tracing paper has been ordered to make the stencils prior to stripping the cabinet (the paint is flaking off - the wallpaper that this machine was wrapped in did a number on the paint) and re-painting it. I have never done a strip and re-paint so this will be a learning experience. I'm spending alot of time reading about stenciling cabinets. I will have to make my own stencils since they are not available commercially.

Should be fun.

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Nice! It is the same pattern - I have not done a stencil before. If you don't mind, can I send you a PM with some questions?

Regards,

Alberto

Will you clear coat the PF after cleaning and touch-up?

Alberto

Have you cleaned the playfield and waxed it? Probably a dumb question but I wanted to make sure.

Starting the repaint of a Domino. First time I’m doing a repaint.

Updated with the after photo

Alberto

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Those are awesome! Much better than the paper stencils and tape I’m using.

Where did you get those made and what material are you using?

The Domino I’m painting is all straight lines, I would not try it if it had any curves

Picked this up today, I love spinner games so I'm looking forward to getting it playing again. There are a couple other projects sitting in front of it, but it's always good to have too much to do rather than not enough.

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There was some pivoting involved (Friends reference) but no issues for two people. Only about 6 steps to deal with.

The strip and re-paint of the wallpapered Domino continues. The backbox was done a couple weeks ago. The front, back, and one side of the cabinet were just completed. One more side left to go before I can start to re-assemble the game.

The bottom of the front (looks all blue) was just a piece of tape I forgot to remove.

I had never stripped and painted a cabinet before. It has been a fun learning experience but I'm not sure I would get into another project like this one.

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Starting to put the Domino I stripped and re-painted back together. The inside of the cabinet had so much mold and mildew that after sanding and treating, I decided to Kilz it and paint.

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John

What are you using for clear coat?

Alberto

Started taking the playfield plastics off this Super Spin. I have never worked on a vari-target before so I’m looking forward to that. Backglass is in great shape. Cabinet is good. PF and inserts do need some work as do the pops.

Some of the scoring switches are not registering, but where is the fun if everything works?

Alberto

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Do a search for “Vid’s Guide to rebuilding pop bumpers” it will show you how to remove the pop bumpers.

Alberto

Picked up this machine on Sunday. 1975 Top Score by Gottlieb. It might be a few days until I can get it setup in the shop but I’m always excited to have a new project.

This one is going to a good friend that has been wanting an EM for some time.

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Got the Top Score setup. It’s on saw horses since the leg tees are stripped. Backbox turns on but the PF is out. It’s stuck on Tilt and the scoring motor keeps spinning.

Checked the backbox and all 10 bonus balls are there.

Debug starts tonight, check all of the Tilt switches and go from there. Fortunately it came with the schematic and manual.

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That's one of my favorite games! I have one in the game room - the kids love to play it.

Alberto

Starting to debug this Sky Kings. First Bally machine I’ve worked on. The fuse block has some hacks that will need to be undone. One fuse is air wired, the other two are soldered in.

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Steve

Thanks! I will do this. Is the photo from a Sky Kings? I see that you have one in your collection. It will help me unravel the hack. The fuse label on mine is pretty much faded. Looking at yours, does it say 15A-10A-10A-8A? My guess is the 8A one is a slo-blow?

Regards,

Alberto

wolverinetuner

Those are awesome results from the Minwax. I have only used it with a dropper to fill cupped inserts but never thought of using to clear a whole PF. Is it just a regular foam brush that you are using? If you don't mind, would you share the prep you do to your playfields and steps used to use Minwax as a clear coat?

Alberto

Murphdom

Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date!

Alberto

I also have a Golden Arrow and can confirm that is the correct mech.

Finally pulled this Big Deal out of storage. I have not found much info on the game play online. I do have the schematic, but does someone have the manual to understand the game play?

Lots to sort out before this game is done.

Alberto

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Starting to figure out the rules by actuating switches and looking at the schematic. The Advance Unit stepper was seized (no surprise) along with the credit unit and the match unit. That’s all being sorted out.

I’m looking forward to getting this game playing

The latest project out of storage next to the current one. I have only worked on one Bally machine before. I’m looking forward to getting this Hokus Pokus up an running.

Alberto

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Just finished getting this Big Deal flipping again. Only missing the drop target decals which are being re-created and re-chroming the lock bar end caps.

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I got really lucky with this find. There was a big mouse nest at the top of the playfield that did no damage. The rest was just years of dirt.

This Solar City sat in an attic above a garage for about 25 years. All the scoring reels and steppers are seized up, but with some coaxing I was able to get it to finish a reset cycle.

I’m looking forward to bringing it back.

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Wow! Those look untouched

Working on this Solar City. All the mechs under the playfield have been taken apart and cleaned. The bonus counter does need some adjusting as it only counts to 9, not 15 but that will come once the game is put back together.

Top of the playfield was stripped down and cleaned. I still need to remove the apron and clean inside there.

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Please do, this game is a keeper for me so I’d like to add that mod.

Alberto

Rejuvenating the roto-target on a Domino with decals from Pinball Rescue. What a difference! I’m going to miss being able to get such good products from those guys.

Alberto

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Keylines on the inserts are repainted and inserts have been filled with Polycrylic. Next step is a good cleaning then two coats of wax and repopulate.

I’m really looking forward to playing this machine.

Alberto

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Dueling Dominos. The one in the front of the photo almost has a perfect BG. Those will get swapped.

For now I’m using the restored one to help me fix all the issues with the other one.

Alberto

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That is excellent. Are you brushing or air brushing?

Solar City is getting a full shop job after sitting in an attic for 20+ years. Everything was seized up but it’s slowly coming along.

Playfield side is done. Working on the power board and cabinet now.

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That’s gorgeous work on Flip Flop and the 4 Million BC

There’s a Domino in the background of the Lariat backglass. Don’t think I’ve seen that before

I forgot about Playmates. When I think of Domino (which recently left my game room), I always associate it with Grande Domino and forget about Playmates.

Alberto

Set this pin up in the shop today. Not working after sitting untouched for 20+ years. All steppers are frozen. There’s a couple hacks on the coin door which hopefully don’t affect the game being able to play.

First I need to get the steppers working again.

Alberto

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Working on this Ship Ahoy. Playfield is all stripped and inserts are being glued down.

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Zaccaria games are so gorgeous. Supersonic is #1 on my dream list.

Alberto

That’s a gorgeous looking playfield!

Is that a Super Soccer?

Getting closer to powering up this Lucky Hand. Soldering the pop bumper lamp sockets is next.

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Pulled the relay board out of the Lucky Hand. Kept having to adjust switches, might as well clean it up and look at all the switches.

Alberto

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Still regret selling my Super Spin

Got this one setup after it sat untouched for almost a year. Will be nice to work on a pinball that is not a Gottlieb. The last four before this one were Gottliebs.

Forgot to take a picture before stripping it down. PF is OK, previous owner tried to touch it up. Plastics are WAVY. BG is good. All steppers are seized up. Could not fire it up because Bally fuse holders.

Should be a fun one.

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Picked up this game today. Very good shape cosmetically, have not fired it up.

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The Pro Pool playfield cleaned up well. In the process of inspecting and cleaning the mechs so I can put together my PBR order for it.

Alberto

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The old playfield is not in bad shape. Are you going to keep it as art?

Would be a good one to practice color touch ups, air brushing, and stuff like that

Did you get new decals for the roto target? Those look great.

Alberto

Pro Pool is starting to look like a pinball again as opposed to an empty cabinet and a pile of parts.

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That is a really clean machine other than the BG. Great find

Starting work on a Groovy that has seen better days.

A number of cut wires, busted bottom cabinet where the coin box would have gone, and I’m pretty sure that big electrical cap and diode circuit is a hack

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Same Groovy from above. Previous owner used a sheet of 3/4” plywood to cover the vandalized cabinet. Time to repair this in a slightly nicer way

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Continuing to work on Groovy. Top of playfield is stripped. Pop bumpers are going to need a touch up but the rest of the playfield should clean up OK.

Underside of the playfield is getting close. Lots of black grease everywhere. Also a number of those sockets will have to be replaced.

My schematic is on order, does anyone know the flipper coil part number?

Alberto

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Hoping this one is ready for Pintastic

Working on a Groovy. The mylar plates were so old that pieces of them were attached to the playfield. As if they had bonded with the clear coat. I have not seen that before.

Removing them is going to be a slow process. I was planning to mask and re-spray the pop bumper circles so it should even right out.

Alberto

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Good point, either way it’s been awful to get off. I’m still working on the blue one.

Alberto

Pushing to have it ready for Pintastic

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This Far Out is next on the queue. Cabinet and coin door/legs are nice. BG has some flaking across the top, but that is now all stabilized. Playfield is not the greatest, planking, ball swirls, and sunk inserts. Unfortunately the previous owner covered it all with mylar (very nicely cut and applied).

Thanks to help from the gurus on this board, it now plays well, just a few scoring issues to take care of and it will be done.

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It has been a fun game to play, looking forward to having it all done. If the PF was not so beat up and mylared it would be so nice.

If I could find a repro or a less beat up playfield I would think of doing a swap.

Alberto

She’s all done. Thanks to the EM board members for helping me resolve some of the issues.

Initially this was going to be a get running and sell game, but after playing it for a couple of days, I really liked the game play so now it’s staying.

BG is not great and neither is the PF. Previous owner mylared (a great job) right over planking, sunk inserts, and dirt. I’ll just keep an eye out for a better playfield and then upgrade the BG.

All in all, a good LEP buy ($250) that turned out to be a fun game.

Alberto

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Working on two 1975 Bally’s. Hokus has been a pain, fix an issue, two more show up. Knockout plays but all the moving parts need a good cleaning and the flippers are weak and need to be rebuilt.

Looking forward to playing them both to see which one I like better.

Alberto

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Almost done with Knockout, some of the alternating bonuses don’t work, need to download the schematic and get that fixed.

This one came out nice.

Alberto

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