(Topic ID: 28788)

Worst hack/repair you ever saw.

By mcclad

11 years ago


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  • 4,665 posts
  • 733 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 5 days ago by mojonitro
  • Topic is favorited by 313 Pinsiders

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    There are 4,665 posts in this topic. You are on page 58 of 94.
    #2851 3 years ago
    Quoted from DCRand:

    When you absolutely positively don’t want to tilt.
    [quoted image]

    That just happens all by itself on one of the machines I have.

    #2852 3 years ago

    Had a couple of plastics with a real ugly fix in my Lord of the Rings..
    Replaced them with new ones (top new, bottom old)

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    1 week later
    15
    #2853 3 years ago

    When a ring is broken and you have to get the machine going.

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    #2854 3 years ago
    Quoted from Billc479:

    When a ring is broken and you have to get the machine going.
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    How big is that ring supposed to be??? Yikes. It looks like the largest ring ever.

    #2855 3 years ago

    It’s a five inch ring used on Gottlieb’s 2001

    #2856 3 years ago
    Quoted from JethroP:

    or cut a wire bundle like this:
    I've actually had two projects where the wires were cut like this rather than unplugged at the connectors in the head box![quoted image]

    That doesn't look that bad... try doing it on a 60's bowler. at least you have color there to help you.

    19
    #2857 3 years ago

    Cleaned up one WPC power driver board. 7 connectors needed replacement after being switched to "fixed" wiring.

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    #2858 3 years ago

    Someone out there needs their drywall screws back.

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    #2859 3 years ago
    Quoted from Skidave:

    Someone out there needs their drywall screws back.
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    At least that's easily repairable since they were screwed into the holes where the screws are actually supposed to go. Often times, that's not the case

    #2860 3 years ago

    This is the worst repair/hack (6th wire from left) I have performed, cramming some paper into the housing. It is temporary of course. Upon replacing the displays with LED's I had one minor issue, It looks as if the crimp connection is bad as re-tensioning the connector did not help. I Just have to find the edge connector crimps.

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    #2861 3 years ago
    Quoted from sixpakmopar:

    This is the worst repair/hack (6th wire from left) I have performed, cramming some paper into the housing. It is temporary of course. Upon replacing the displays with LED's I had one minor issue, It looks as if the crimp connection is bad as re-tensioning the connector did not help. I Just have to find the edge connector crimps.
    [quoted image]

    That could potentially be a fire hazard.

    #2862 3 years ago
    Quoted from ForceFlow:

    At least that's easily repairable since they were screwed into the holes where the screws are actually supposed to go. Often times, that's not the case

    Yes. The holes were so enlarged. I used the toothpick and wood glue method to fill the holes.

    #2863 3 years ago

    A Whitewater I did up a few years ago. Yes someone had put a post up into the ramp. Must have made for interesting ball travel. And those flipper links and return springs are way too expensive and hard to get. Pulled a flipper coil to replace a sleeve as the plunger was incredibly loose, only to find there was no sleeve provided and the coil fell apart as the bobbin was worn out. Lucky the windings didn't short.

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    #2864 3 years ago
    Quoted from Skidave:

    Someone out there needs their drywall screws back.
    [quoted image][quoted image]

    I could finish a basement with all the drywall screws I’ve seen in pinballs over the years. Those were an operators best friend back in the day.

    #2865 3 years ago

    Not the worse, but nice way to keep the score reels from falling out or scooting back.

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    #2866 3 years ago

    Sometimes the GI is out and you just know what you're gonna find before you even look at it.

    Not the worst, but hilarious this was the fix/result from a full shop out job. I swear as long as some people are in business, I'll never run out of things to fix.

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    #2867 3 years ago
    Quoted from Billc479:

    Not the worse, but nice way to keep the score reels from falling out or scooting back.
    [quoted image]

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    11
    #2868 3 years ago

    A good use of wire nuts instead of an connector.

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    #2869 3 years ago
    Quoted from Brewchap:

    A good use of wire nuts instead of an connector.
    [quoted image]

    That guy must have been a house electrician

    #2870 3 years ago
    Quoted from Brewchap:

    A good use of wire nuts instead of an connector.
    [quoted image]

    Ahhh, let me guess.. F-14 Tomcat?

    Looks like a whole pack of wire nuts in that sucker. I wonder; transformer replacement due to bridge failure / harness got burnt up?

    Richard

    #2871 3 years ago

    This threaded hook will work for a leg bolt right?
    Might as well put a nut on the backside as well.

    The cabinet was so rotten it was easiest just to pull the bracket straight through the corner, poor Dolly.

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    #2872 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jahkub:

    This threaded hook will work for a leg bolt right?
    Might as well put a nut on the backside as well.
    The cabinet was so rotten it was easiest just to pull the bracket straight through the corner, poor Dolly.
    [quoted image]

    Ingenious, hold on the leg. And give you a place to hang your purse.

    19
    #2873 3 years ago

    Corroded batt holder, leads soldered directly to battery and covered with silicone and jammed back in holder.

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    #2874 3 years ago
    Quoted from zippydapinhead:

    Corroded batt holder, leads soldered directly to battery and covered with silicone and jammed back in holder.
    [quoted image]

    #2875 3 years ago
    Quoted from someotherguy:

    Ahhh, let me guess.. F-14 Tomcat?
    Looks like a whole pack of wire nuts in that sucker. I wonder; transformer replacement due to bridge failure / harness got burnt up?
    Richard

    Yes, it was an F-14 Tomcat.

    23
    #2876 3 years ago

    “I’m an electrician and I didn’t know how to turn it on/off so I installed my own switch”

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    #2877 3 years ago
    Quoted from goodypin18:

    “I’m an electrician and I didn’t know how to turn it on/off so I installed my own switch”
    [quoted image]

    So you're telling me if that guy got the machine with the actual power switch in the off position he would have sold it as "not working"?

    #2878 3 years ago
    Quoted from daveyvandy:

    So you're telling me if that guy got the machine with the actual power switch in the off position he would have sold it as "not working"?

    No idea but he was shocked when I showed him where it was located. His switch was nicely mounted on the back of the machine though lol.

    #2879 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jahkub:

    This threaded hook will work for a leg bolt right?
    Might as well put a nut on the backside as well.
    The cabinet was so rotten it was easiest just to pull the bracket straight through the corner, poor Dolly.
    [quoted image]

    Tote bag holder

    #2880 3 years ago

    Nevermind the switch... What's up with the backbox latch? Not saying it's a hack, but why the need to swap to accommodate a padlock?

    Maybe the original got damaged and that was a replacement handy on hand?

    Or was the padlock because they didn't use the bolts in the head?

    #2881 3 years ago
    Quoted from Jahkub:

    This threaded hook will work for a leg bolt right?

    Only if it's on this pin.

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    #2882 3 years ago
    Quoted from goodypin18:

    No idea but he was shocked when I showed him where it was located. His switch was nicely mounted on the back of the machine though lol.

    Maybe he was a time traveler and only played newer Sterns, and he left this as a clue on how to place a switch correctly.

    #2883 3 years ago

    Recent Gottlieb system 80 with battery pack mod. LMAO

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    #2884 3 years ago

    Why rebuild your flipper mech when you can shove a totally different make/footprint that doesn't fit in there? It'll hold fine with 2 screws partially threaded in, promise!

    Bonus points as this flipper coil melted down from the obvious garbage job, popping the solenoid fuse, which caused poor Hardbody to go into hibernation for years.

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    #2885 3 years ago

    #game-show Not sure what they were trying to do here

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    #2886 3 years ago
    Quoted from koen12344:

    The Bally Game Show Not sure what they were trying to do here
    [quoted image]

    That's where my speaker wire got to. LOL

    13
    #2887 3 years ago

    Worst packaging? Slid out of my hands and onto concrete.. double ouch! Im gonna feel thisone for a while i think..

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    #2888 3 years ago

    Pinbot in for desperately needed service

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    #2889 3 years ago
    Quoted from pinballplusMN:

    Pinbot in for desperately needed service

    I'd love to see the "after' pics when you are done!

    ///Rich

    #2890 3 years ago
    Quoted from eckelpeckel:

    Worst packaging?

    Something similar happened to me but only one display 6 digit, ouch that's painful.

    #2891 3 years ago
    Quoted from CNKay:

    Recent Gottlieb system 80 with battery pack mod. LMAO

    I should explain. The blocking diode is facing the wrong direction so when game was on the batteries where being charged, and regular batteries don't like that.

    This would be a great picture for pin wiki as a DO Not example.

    #2892 3 years ago
    Quoted from jibmums:

    Only if it's on this pin.[quoted image]

    LOL

    #2893 3 years ago
    Quoted from CNKay:

    Something similar happened to me but only one display 6 digit, ouch that's painful.

    Someone shipped me some old Williams displays but didn’t wrap them individually and broke off a couple of the glass nipples ruining the displays. Sad since the glass was nice and had board issues that were easily fixed.

    1 week later
    #2894 3 years ago

    WTH???

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    #2895 3 years ago
    Quoted from algrande:

    WTH???
    [quoted image]

    Looks like a hack to increase the voltage to run an outgassed DMD

    14
    #2896 3 years ago
    Quoted from algrande:

    WTH???
    [quoted image]

    Diode hi five...

    #2897 3 years ago
    Quoted from chad:

    Diode hi five...

    It's a BORAT diode.

    #2898 3 years ago

    Replacing a diode and having to risk solder heat to only leg/pad is my guess. Or just being lazy.

    #2899 3 years ago

    Not pinball related and hopefully never!!

    #2900 3 years ago
    Quoted from algrande:

    WTH???
    [quoted image]

    Oh, an RD Network. Covered in Circuits 205....

    There are 4,665 posts in this topic. You are on page 58 of 94.

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