Tips From the Moving Business Pros: How to Move a Pinball Device
With pinball making a substantial resurgence throughout the nation, Gentle Giant wishes to make certain that these traditional, stunning machines stay damage-free while being carried. Oh, and we want individuals moving them to be safe, too.
In the beginning glance, pinball devices can appear frightening to move because of their fragility, weight, and size. Fortunately, our knowledgeable Giants have a few techniques up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of contemporary pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years approximately) have a hinge system which allows the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball devices had their headboxes bolted on, utilizing either two or four bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs utilize this system, along with the early Solid State devices.
Later on machines have hinges and use a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There might also be two bolts inside as included security, in case the latch is broken or unintentionally un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you have to eliminate the headbox rear gain access to panel to access to the bolts and plugs inside. Normally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, but in time the secret might have been lost. Quite often, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.
As soon as inside, remove the bolts and unplug the big adapters that have wiring going down into the device. You might desire to label these ports to put them back in the best area, but they ought to be different sizes, making it tough to plug back improperly.
You can now remove the headbox totally, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will help keep the back glass in place.
Early Strong State Pinballs
For early Strong State Pinballs, you will require to remove the back glass. There is a lock located on the headbox in among 3 areas: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the center.
Once unlocked, eliminate the back glass by raising it up utilizing the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), then pull it out from the bottom.
Open up the back box light panel by raising the latch located on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out to you, and provide you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs need you to raise the lamp panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are inside, you can eliminate the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the maker. You might wish to label these plugs to put them back in the right spot. You might not require to get rid of the plugs, as the wiring ought to be long enough to enable the headbox to be folded down.
At this moment, you can secure the light panel and change the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable latch system located at the back of the headbox. Using the provided secret, turn the lock 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can quickly unlatch the back box at the back of the machine. This is a simple setup and requires no tools.
You're done if you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make certain you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will also help keep the back glass in place.
If you can not fold the head box down, then you need to get within. There is a lock find more info situated at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied key to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and after that pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will have to get rid of the display screen panel. You can do this by raising it up and out. Open the lamp panel. There will be a latch located on either the right-hand or left-hand side. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a different amp panel, it becomes part of the back glass panel. And later on Sega and Stern pinballs utilize a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
Eliminate the two bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will likewise assist keep the back glass in location.
Getting rid of the Legs.
Pinball Maker legs are held in place by eight bolts. The modern pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.
But these captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and using more info extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will need to open the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise up the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar lock throughout and get rid of the lock down bar. Move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise the playfield by positioning your hand where the ball drains pipes, and raise the playfield up.
You need to now have access to any nuts that might have been utilized. As soon as any nuts have actually been gotten rid of, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Make certain to mark or keep in mind which legs are for the front and back, as they will be changed in a different way to match.
Filling the Pinball.
You are now all set to transfer your pinball device. Prior to you pack it, ensure you eliminate the pinballs so they don't bounce around during transport.
It may be easier to remove the legs simply prior to filling the maker if you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV. Get a pal to help and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs. Slide the maker in, then get rid of the back legs. It is much simpler to fill the device front initially.
Make certain you strap the pinball in, as you do not desire it moving if you need to stop all of a sudden!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you need to eliminate the headbox rear access panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs inside. (Some more recent Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a different amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later on Sega and Stern pinballs utilize a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the machine. Get a good friend to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs.