Corpus Christi, TX
Quoted from jwinn1812:From a Flash Gordon I was restoring.
That's pretty damn clever!
(Topic ID: 28788)
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Quoted from jmountjoy111:This dime was acting as a support for the ramp on my Hurricane. I mean come on. For that dime you could have gotten some washers that would have done the same thing
Destruction of govt property. Sending the police to your location now... 
Nice one! LOL
4 weeks later
1 month later
2 months later
3 weeks later
Whoah, whoah whoah!!! Hey slick, not so fast. You might just destroy the world's first pinball with built-in AI! I mean, have you fired this thing up in a machine yet? For all we know it'll say "good morning, Dave"...or "shall I open the pod bay doors, now" ...or best of all, "would you like to play a game?"
2 months later
Quoted from dothedoo:Ugh!!!
Dear God why? He doubled/tripled the workload? Not to mention the direct pin solder method... Wow.
3 weeks later
Quoted from lb45:P1010324.JPG
That's frightening.
7 months later
Quoted from wayout440:Actually a common and well known hack recommended when you are out of plastic keys. Better to key it with something non conductive than to not key it at all. Obvious also is that connector wiring is terrible though and needs repinned as well.
You'll probably see something similar to this when I assemble the acrylic Golden Gate. That thing is stupid heavy in wood.
Quoted from SealClubber:Let me guess, the flippers were bare plastic?
Right? No, but they did scrape down another ring to loop across the outhole to the right of the flippers behind the lower pop bumpers. (Future Spa) That way it was thin enough that the ball could roll past it to the flipper while it prevented early departure from the play field.
3 months later
Quoted from Tallon:I'm sure this is just a fuse right?
I picture some poor operator, late at night going "My Kingdom for some scre.... wait a sec. I've got zip strips!!!"
4 weeks later
Quoted from ForceFlow:the kickback coil's bracket was broken
1 month later
Quoted from adams_arcade:Doctor who left flipper ... Grrr
That is the funniest thing I have seen all day. Nice!!
Quoted from ChilePin:Cables soldered to the board
Typical GI toast! Someone needs to send me one of these so I can start making replacement sets.
Shawn
1 week later
Replacing connectors on a Bally Future Spa when I came across this. So I will reuse the housings because there is no reason not to. Unless they're toasty crispy I usually do. Easy enough to pull the old crimps, clip them off and put on a new. Wire by wire, slot by slot.
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Obviously it was well overdue.
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And if you haven't seen it yet...
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I'm picturing some random dude cursing and bitching about how hard it is to solder these little bastard crimps on the end of the wire and then insert them in the hole. I have to wonder; has he graduated from soldering the wires directly to the rectifier board or is that the next step? Eliminate the crimps and go for the direct contact? Oh, and heaven forbid we don't have the standard op fix of toothpicks for a key! Not a hack if it works, right?
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2 months later
1 month later
Quoted from pindel:Something about the doorbell. One is from the 50's, saw it on twilight zone
Stop! Stop! My sides are killin' me!! 
2 weeks later
Quoted from cottonm4:Not the worse hack compared to many in this thread, but it is a hack. this is a Stern Hot Hand I recently bought. Now I have to try and figure out where all these wires go.
Yikes. Too much mess there. You definitely got some work cut out for you. I would start out with a fresh rectifier board. I like the one GPE sells. Very solid. Good luck!
Verify the wiring in the games' schematic, but this should be pretty close.
Quoted from MrBally:Even suggested by the Bally & Stern service schools as not every technician carried connectors, pins and the proper crimp tool in the late '70's to mid '80's....
As I read this I'm trying to picture some poor tech in a dark arcade fixing the big money maker of the week as the owner/operator is breathing down his neck. I imagine it would be a lot quicker and easier to just solder to the board than trim/strip/crimp/plug all the wires.
2 months later
Quoted from Boof-Ed:Probably didn't even take it out of the back box.
That pic is like those internet click-bait meme things - "When you see it, you'll poop yourself!" And yeah, he probably didn't take it out. Might have been an on location type repair.
2 weeks later
Quoted from balzofsteel:Seller says pry bar "sounds good".
Ding, ding ding!!! We have a winner! LOL
3 weeks later
Quoted from superJackpot:Not the worst but a hack nonetheless... with coil backwards, shoddy wiring...
I... umm... just... aah.... rip it all out and start from scratch. That's my solution. 
1 week later
I once spent a ridiculous amount of time troubleshooting the electrical system of a 45' sport fisher. The wiring seemed to change color inside every bulkhead pass through. I'm pretty certain someone did that on purpose. I couldn't figure it out until I had a helper pulling on the wires as I labeled them. Probably part of the reason I am going bald. But I digress...
I once owned a Duotron that had all of the wiring to the head cut through. Came that way. It looked pretty much like the ones pictured above.
Quoted from polyacanthus:did they just not know how to operate their cutters?
I would guess they did not realize there were holes there? And soldered it on like a surface mount component? Just a guess...
1 month later
Quoted from Colsond3:Was that game bought down south?
Really, dude? Can't we just say there are stupid owners out there everywhere? I come to Pinside to escape the tired stereotypes. Thanks for that.
Shawn
That foil appears to be about a 40 amp fuse or so! Does the screw stick out the other side of the flipper button?
Craftsman now has a new owner and will be selling out of Ace Hardware stores I think.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/a24624/sears-to-sell-the-craftsman-brand/
1 week later
New to me - bought some boards to rehab and resell and didn't look closely enough at the pictures. Apparently we ordered the wrong part or just went with what the local Radio Shack carried. Not one, but two of the five had this mod performed. Did it work? Sure! is it hack-ish? Yep. Someone out there may even recognize the work...
Quoted from PghPinballRescue:sure looks like it worked.
yup! And I can't help but picture some guy in a little back room shop hitting these boards with a dremel and getting a face full of fibers...
1 week later
Quoted from sohchx:Inside the head of a strikes and spares that I picked up...
Aw nuts! Wire nuts that is... Too many connection points there!
Shawn
1 week later
Quoted from Travish:Don't worry, they will make more.
Yeah they will! And they are good at it! At least this guy didn't think to cut slots like the last guy...
1 week later
Quoted from AMBoggs:Space Station ramp fixed with a coffee can
I recommend upgrading while you have it out. Ditch the "Regular" ramp and go for the "Super" ramp!
Shawn
2 months later
Quoted from Drewscruis:I might have a few spare parts drop target assembly's.
That would be awesome! Just need 2 of the bracket guide, um, thingys. Not a clue what to call them. I will gladly pay shipping if you can spare them. Thanks!
Shawn
Quoted from Tallon:Pretty sure making everyone hungry for Panda is a party foul though
Sorry! They just opened a new one on the base. It is literally "on the way home." As for finding these, nevermind. I whipped out a couple in our machine shop in about 20 minutes. Good to go.
Shawn
Quoted from ajfclark:p-7939-1 Nut & Spring Bracket?
I started perusing the entire thread you referenced and began panicking that the one I have is wrong. It came from a Dolly Parton but thankfully is the exact match for the one in EBD. I suspect the only real difference between the "left" and "right" models is the top plate and the thing I'm replacing.
1 month later
Quoted from algrande:I found the soldering iron that a lot of operators used for board repairs!
I have a similar one at work. When we bend up big sheet metal drip pans we use it to solder up all the corners and seams. Works like a champ and I use my welding gauntlets when I handle it. Too much potential for disaster there!
Shawn
4 weeks later
Only for lefties like me! Actually, my logo is on the other side, but there is a rewrite in progress. Much more baloney to add and the logo is coming off.
Quoted from jmountjoy111:I am just trying to justify your reasoning in leaving out the classic “JD is a $1400 game folks”. Lol
Working on ver 2.0
2 months later
Quoted from gregh:Does this count? Holy hell
Counts times 10. Perhaps someone convinced him the red spade connectors are fuses? Just a thought... 
Quoted from Robotworkshop:Still trying to figure out just how the top of the board is so hacked up for U49.
Let me help you...
2 months later
Did a repair at a customer's house this past weekend. Couldn't really stop and take pictures but you'll get the idea.
First we resolved the non-working slingshot -
IMG_0554 (resized).JPG
IMG_0555 (resized).JPG
Next we made the sketchy GI a little more solid -
IMG_0556 (resized).JPG
And finally I put one of these on the CPU where there had been one of those giant wire-wound cement encased power resistors like you find on a rectifier board. Yikes. Yes, it worked and probably had been for years.
IMG_0557 (resized).JPG
Shawn
Quoted from MrBally:and the one you removed was "overkill"?
And then some.
10 months later
Quoted from tomdrum:I'd of just flipped the coin entrance plate around so it was blank, but this custom cut block off plate is a first for me.
I've seen brushed stainless blank plates in coin doors before, but not a "custom" job like this. Guess that guy couldn't get a hold of one. Or a new microswitch for that matter...
3 months later
No pics, but I recently worked on a customer's new (to them) Fast Draw. The game was started by pushing a piece of broomstick that was ziptied to the AX relay and then pulling it when the machine finished resetting. The GI fuse was foil wrapped. And best of all, the plunger was literally dripping with axle grease and had a pool cue tip! Awesome.
Shawn
1 month later
Quoted from Pecos:Need a place to put the free play button?
I guess they didn't have a spare doorbell button laying around...
Here's a quick once over on the new-to-me Bobby Orr...
My brother says it takes fans to watch a hockey game. Groan. I'm pretty sure this one has been here awhile.
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Classic...
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GI hack?
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New to me... Is this something an operator would have done or just someone's BS?
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Finally, not a hack but an observation. At some point in this poor pin's life someone replaced all the diodes and caps on all the switches with newer diodes and chicklets.
IMG_1617 (resized).JPG
This will be my winter project. Can't wait to dive deeper into it. All the flippers are frozen solid...
3 months later
Quoted from ForceFlow:Saw this video a couple weeks ago and found it interesting:
I found this quite fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I have rarely come across a Robertson screw, but oddly enough learned all about Torx when I began to have to work on my '87 Camaro which was assembled in Canada!
3 weeks later
Quoted from pincoin:I dont think 1987 Camaros were built in Canada, seems like they were made in either Norwood OH, or Van Nuys CA
So it was! That's a "fact" I have had in my head for over 30 years. Can't remember where I got it, heard it, read it or what. The things we thought we knew before the information age, eh? SMH...
6 months later
2 weeks later
Quoted from Brewchap:Not sure why yo would cut a wire bundle like that.
Plugs are complicated, bro!
6 months later
Quoted from Knxwledge:Way past my skill level to unhack this fuckery
My kinda challenge! LOL
7 months later
Quoted from Grandnational007:Not sure anyone has ever asked a question here, but...
Would you consider this a "hack"?
I have a janky 11pin IDC connector that also has a burnt pin (or at least starting to get dark from a resistance buildup from the shoddy connection over the years) on a GI connection of a WPC game.
I HATE IDC, and usually replace them with the corresponding number of pin position molex connectors when they eventually go bad. I checked my bin, and of course, I'm out of 11 pins. I do, however, have plenty of 5 and 6 pins.
If I matched the key position up and stuck a polarizing key in the corresponding connector so it could never be inserted incorrectly, would anybody consider placing the 6 pin next to the 5 pin molex to make the 11 pin a hack? I don't feel like paying shipping on a dozen or so 11 pins when I don't have anything else to lump into an order at this time (Of course I just placed a large parts order a couple of weeks ago...but hey! That's the nature of pinball parts ordering!)
Just lightly sand the two ends and join with a drop of superglue. Works quite well, just be sure to have them lined up and correctly oriented.
Shawn
3 weeks later
I've encountered a few of the blown out(mushroomed) shooters. I would remove the playfield and then cut the damaged portion off with a dremel cutting wheel while still place. Much faster than filing. Replace, vacuum, play.
Shawn
5 months later
When our Radio Shacks were on the way out I bought every little last baggie full they had. Still using them.
1 month later
Quoted from cottonm4:wait until you need a 28 pin wafer and they can't be bought.
Steve at PBR has them. He was the other guy that had them made with Ed at GPE. Bought a hundred from Ed as my last giant order from him. Gonna miss that guy and his store.
Shawn
2 months later
Quoted from Gornkleschnitzer:I'm finally digging into the "cursed Pinbot" that I was lucky enough to acquire after it passed through three owners
My kind of game!
1 month later
"this mpu connector from a black hole pinball is pretty bad."
I'm thinking he used the drip method? Like they literally poured solder from a tinning cup or something? Wow!
Shawn
5 months later
Quoted from alf_1968:Jones connector madness
Wow. Just wow. I would have started with a fresh rectifier board and then snip every wire before the Jones and after the rectifier. Holy cow!!
Quoted from iamdrunker:They must not understand what it's for.
The fact that there is an entire thread on here where folks argue the merits of 2-prong vs 3-prong plugs tells me all I need to know. I have also seen posts where folks talk about how all those grounds in the cab for the side rails, plunger, coin door frame parts, etc aren't necessary because "no one has ever been shocked and killed from a pinball machine." Gee, I wonder why? The designers knew what they were doing. How fast would an arcade go out of business with one accident? I went through the military's basic electronics and electricity course at the beginning of my career and it taught me enough to be respectful. Disrespect it and it will bite you.
Quoted from alf_1968:If we're going to be creative... lets be creative inside and outside. Miechica! XD
[quoted image][quoted image]
I want to know how they tightened the screw BEHIND the stand-up target!
2 months later
2 weeks later
"Williams - Flash
Bad overlay attempt, bad repairs, bad hacks. Even the backglass are a fake/fail print. All in one package, poor Flash."
Wait, you're going to tease us with tales of a bad Flash backglass with no pictures??? C'mon! Show us the real goods! The original art was such a winner I just gotta see the bad...
6 months later
Quoted from alf_1968:One of those bad-hacks I really hate to see is damaged coin doors.
Bad, but I'll take it over the 4 holes drilled either side of the coin door with the steel bar.
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