(Topic ID: 28788)

Worst hack/repair you ever saw.

By mcclad

11 years ago


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  • 4,635 posts
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  • Latest reply 6 days ago by jibmums
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    There are 4,635 posts in this topic. You are on page 39 of 93.
    20
    #1901 5 years ago

    I just pulled out a flipper link that was made from a carved up drop target from a Stern Lightning project.

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    #1902 5 years ago
    Quoted from Eric_S:

    I just pulled out a flipper link that was made from a carved up drop target from a Stern Lightning project.
    [quoted image]

    Maybe we need another thread for out of the box hacks that worked. I'm assuming it was working? If so, great hack!

    #1903 5 years ago
    Quoted from Shredso:

    Maybe we need another thread for out of the box hacks that worked. I'm assuming it was working? If so, great hack!

    Yeah, it was working when I noticed it.

    #1904 5 years ago
    Quoted from Eric_S:

    I just pulled out a flipper link that was made from a carved up drop target from a Stern Lightning project.
    [quoted image]

    Nice field repair, looks well crafted too. Kudos!

    #1905 5 years ago

    Here is the autolaunch mechanism from a Lethal Weapon 3 I rebuilt today. It was terrible, see for yourself. Unfortunately I can't find a replacement plunger for less than $25 so I kept the original which is still good, just old. I also replaced the coil with one I had on hand.

    Before:

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    Solder splat that cooled and I picked up after removing the old solder from the old coil:

    1434 (resized).jpg1434 (resized).jpg

    After:

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    17
    #1906 5 years ago

    Here’s a repair in a pinball 85 years old. I was lucky to be able to purchase a World’s Fair Jig-Saw build by Rock-Ola in 1933.
    I know the full history and that’s quite exceptional I think. At a certain moment in its long history someone decided that the broken rebound spring needed replacement by this coil spring. To be honest it worked well.

    But the original looks a lot better!
    Proud to restore a piece of American history.
    Bought it from rockola.buckwerx.com. Great site for these vintage pinballs. Courtesy to Nathan Thompson.

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    #1907 5 years ago

    Previous hacks done to a poor DE board out of a Rocky and Bullwinkle. This has already been completely cleaned up along with a few other hacks and the board is back in service working well again. I have another on the bench that I am almost done with but luckily it didn't quite as many hacks on it....

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    #1908 5 years ago
    Quoted from Stokoloog:

    Here’s a repair in a pinball 85 years old. I was lucky to be able to purchase a World’s Fair Jig-Saw build by Rock-Ola in 1933.
    I know the full history and that’s quite exceptional I think. At a certain moment in its long history someone decided that the broken rebound spring needed replacement by this coil spring. To be honest it worked well.
    But the original looks a lot better!
    Proud to restore a piece of American history.
    Bought it from rockola.buckwerx.com. Great site for these vintage pinballs. Courtesy to Nathan Thompson.[quoted image][quoted image]

    Where did you find the correct spring?

    #1909 5 years ago
    Quoted from Crash:

    Here is the autolaunch mechanism from a Lethal Weapon 3 I rebuilt today. It was terrible, see for yourself

    This reminded me of a pair of flipper coils I replaced on a Guns N Roses

    IMGP3877 (resized).JPGIMGP3877 (resized).JPG

    #1910 5 years ago
    Quoted from dasvis:

    Where did you find the correct spring?

    From Nathan, see his website

    #1911 5 years ago

    Were talking working hacks right? I got in a Power Play once with the worst plumber/failed electrician hacks ever. Saber sawed holes to get to the back side of the board with wires, not realizing he could just as well gone around the outside edge. High voltage section nightmare. Reused electrical tape. But it was in there and working and I am still kicking myself for not taking pictures. This came about just a few weeks before Steve Kulpa had put together his hack hall of fame, pretty funny if you haven't seen it.

    2 weeks later
    #1912 5 years ago

    When you don't have the correct hardware but need this part installed...

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    #1913 5 years ago

    When doing new GI connectors, make sure to solder them also to the board, in case it does not work...

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    #1914 5 years ago
    Quoted from lanfeust:

    When doing new GI connectors, make sure to solder them also to the board, in case it does not work...

    [quoted image][quoted image]

    If that GI works you may have found a source of free electricity

    2 weeks later
    #1915 5 years ago

    Capacitor in a galaxy I just picked up. Original was replaced on the board with one with 6 legs then another large capacitor added inside the cab.

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    1 week later
    #1916 5 years ago

    Just came across this gem while going over a Stern driver board for a friend. Creative use of solder wick but unfortunately a fail. This is now properly repaired and a new connectors installed.

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    #1917 5 years ago

    A repair done on my Dr Who prior to our purchase.... It works, but assuming this may be a fire hazard (?). Will need to figure out how to fix after I get through my other repairs/updates.

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    #1918 5 years ago
    Quoted from neemypeemy:

    A repair done on my Dr Who prior to our purchase.... It works, but assuming this may be a fire hazard (?). Will need to figure out how to fix after I get through my other repairs/updates.
    [quoted image]

    just need a new coil.

    #1919 5 years ago

    No fire hazard at all. Especially if the electrical tape is really covering everything and it is not Harbor Freight junk tape.
    That said, a dab of Silastic on the wire and tab to hold it in place will save you the expense of a new coil. Aten't they like ten bucks apiece these days?

    I don't keep up with coil prices as I have all I'll ever need....

    #1920 5 years ago
    Quoted from MrBally:

    No fire hazard at all. Especially if theelectrical tape is really covering everything and it is not Harbor Freight junk tape.
    That said, a dab of Silastic on the wire and tab to hold it in place will save you the expense of a new coil. Aten't they like ten bucks apiece these days?
    I don't keep up with coil prices as I have all I'll ever need....

    Hi MrBally , I haven't used Silastic before, is it basically this? https://www.amazon.com/MMOBIEL-Multipurpose-Performance-Industrial-Transperant/dp/B07B9YBT9W/ref=sr_1_3

    #1921 5 years ago
    Quoted from Marvin:

    just need a new coil.

    But that bolt on the bottom stop is that supposed to be there?
    And plunger bracket bottom of coil is missing a screw.

    #1922 5 years ago

    This Motordome is for sale in Belgium !!

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    #1923 5 years ago
    Quoted from pascal-pinball:

    This Motordome is for sale in Belgium !!

    WTH? I hate that Midway used that fiber board on the cabs, so either that thing was severely damaged, or someone wanted more protection than Fort Knox. And what a shame that somebody put a bunch of screws through the playfield.

    I really wish Bally would’ve put cabinet artwork on the cabs of some of the alphanum games.

    #1924 5 years ago
    Quoted from jorro:

    But that bolt on the bottom stop is that supposed to be there?
    And plunger bracket bottom of coil is missing a screw.

    Thanks jorro , not sure about the bolt, going to post a pic on the Dr Who thread to have someone confirm the next time they are under the board. I just put in that missing screw.

    #1925 5 years ago

    Some people don't understand that many parts are readily available. When I bought my first pin I didn't know that the PF raised up. I sold a Prototype FH with the STEPS targets that worked because I had no Idea how to repair it. I bought a STTNG in perfect condition from a gut that didn't understand you could buy the molex plugs to repair the game. He told me you had to get them off another game because they didn't make those plugs anymore. I just smiled, gave him the money and loaded it in my truck. I repaired it in 10 minutes.

    #1926 5 years ago
    Quoted from neemypeemy:

    not sure about the bolt

    A nut does go there, but that's not the right one.
    Also that's not the right spring on it, that looks like a flipper spring.

    #1927 5 years ago
    Quoted from neemypeemy:

    Hi mrbally , I haven't used Silastic before, is it basically this? amazon.com link »

    This is what I mean:

    3M RTV Silastic (resized).PNG3M RTV Silastic (resized).PNG
    #1928 5 years ago
    Quoted from chipleader:

    A nut does go there, but that's not the right one.
    Also that's not the right spring on it, that looks like a flipper spring.

    May be the right spring but installed backwards. And something is being held together with zip ties!

    #1929 5 years ago
    Quoted from Colsond3:

    WTH? I hate that Midway used that fiber board on the cabs, so either that thing was severely damaged, or someone wanted more protection than Fort Knox. And what a shame that somebody put a bunch of screws through the playfield.
    I really wish Bally would’ve put cabinet artwork on the cabs of some of the alphanum games.

    remember.. this is after the crash... they were looking to cut costs everywhere they could in that period. The number of games produced went to like 1/5 they were making just a year prior. The cost cutting sucked... and it's reflected in the desirability of these mid 80s SS now

    #1930 5 years ago
    Quoted from aobrien5:

    May be the right spring but installed backwards. And something is being held together with zip ties!

    I did check and it looks like the zip ties are just there to keep the wiring tidy.

    1 week later
    #1931 5 years ago

    So not sure these are hacks so much as just weird wood modifications. Seems some owner of this game thought wood, carriage bolts, and nails were the solution for everything. Bent a leg, so filled in all the legs with 2 X 2 wood with carriage bolts. Put plywood reinforcement behind top of back box cover. Nailed plywood over cabinet bottom, and had to remove bottom switch to do it and just left it laying in bottom of cabinet still connected electrically. Put small nails on all sides of shooter housing. Reinforced the sides of the back box with metal angle brackets, with you guessed it, carriage bolts through the cab. And I just bought the game last night and started working on it today. Who knows what will find next.

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    #1932 5 years ago

    My Pinbot had this lift ramp repair made with a hinge. I guess it was better than nothing, but it looked like hell and the ball jumped badly when it hit the knuckle. (New ramp from @freeplay40 and decal from @chaskett.)

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    #1933 5 years ago
    Quoted from DCRand:

    Reinforced the sides of the back box with metal angle brackets, with you guessed it, carriage bolts through the cab.

    Must of suffered from a whole bunch of shaking and nudging.

    #1934 5 years ago

    When you want to make a Molex connection; but don’t want to spend all that money ...

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    22
    #1935 5 years ago

    Not a hack, but sure was someone cross-eyed.

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    #1936 5 years ago

    Not as bad as missing the toilet!

    #1937 5 years ago

    new uses for automotive fuel lines - works as a shooter rod tip & a tilt bob of sorts plus they kindly left enough inside the machine to make more !

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    #1938 5 years ago

    That would be a tilt deactivate device....slap .99c on it and sell them

    #1939 5 years ago

    I love this thread but cant shake the feeling that most of these recent posts belong here https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/worst-hackrepair-you-ever-saw

    26
    #1940 5 years ago

    I can’t shake the feeling you just linked the same thread within itself.

    #1941 5 years ago
    Quoted from TecumsehPlissken:

    I love this thread but cant shake the feeling that most of these recent posts belong here https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/worst-hackrepair-you-ever-saw

    *Clicks link.*
    *Scrolls to latest posts.*
    *Sees this post.*
    *Clicks link.*
    *Scrolls to latest posts.*
    *Sees this post.*
    ........

    #1942 5 years ago
    Quoted from robertmee:

    That would be a tilt deactivate device....slap .99c on it and sell them

    Three bucks at Marco....

    14
    #1943 5 years ago
    Quoted from MrBally:

    Three bucks at Marco....

    Plus 8.95 to ship it.

    #1944 5 years ago
    Quoted from TecumsehPlissken:

    I love this thread but cant shake the feeling that most of these recent posts belong here https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/worst-hackrepair-you-ever-saw

    wash . . . rinse . . . repeat . . .

    #1945 5 years ago

    ooops yeah I lost track of where I was & thought I was over in this other thread

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-horror-pics/page/33#post-4807569

    #1946 5 years ago

    I found a "repair" might be worthy of posting.
    While taking apart Motordome for restore this evening, saw this solder job, er glob.

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    #1947 5 years ago

    Behold!

    1577C10C-94F9-4467-99BE-2ADF83AC7BDE (resized).jpeg1577C10C-94F9-4467-99BE-2ADF83AC7BDE (resized).jpeg34BE7145-D644-4E95-B416-6F4208DC03D5 (resized).jpeg34BE7145-D644-4E95-B416-6F4208DC03D5 (resized).jpegB7F66D38-7AC5-4DB9-96BF-34D8E9015C25 (resized).jpegB7F66D38-7AC5-4DB9-96BF-34D8E9015C25 (resized).jpegE2D04F11-843C-4360-ACC1-52878791B962 (resized).jpegE2D04F11-843C-4360-ACC1-52878791B962 (resized).jpeg
    #1948 5 years ago
    Quoted from jasonspoint28:

    Behold!
    [quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

    That third pic is probably the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Really?

    #1949 5 years ago
    Quoted from Scoot:

    That third pic is probably the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Really?

    I've got something like that on Solar Ride I may eventually fix, in the uppermost right playfield plastic. It was literally easier for a prior owner to move the post than to fill the hole with something that would enable to screw to bite back in at the original spot.

    #1950 5 years ago
    Quoted from Darcy:

    Must of suffered from a whole bunch of shaking and nudging.

    And the reason they probably bent a leg.

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    There are 4,635 posts in this topic. You are on page 39 of 93.

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