Tips From the Moving Company Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Maker
With pinball making a big renewal across the country, Mild Giant wants to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being transported. Oh, and we want the individuals moving them to be safe, too.
In the beginning glimpse, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, size, and weight. Thankfully, our competent Giants have a couple of tricks up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of modern-day pinballs (made in the last Twenty Years or so) have a hinge system which enables the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball makers had their headboxes bolted on, utilizing either two or four bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs utilize this system, in addition to the early Solid State machines.
Later on makers have hinges and use a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There might likewise be 2 bolts inside as added safety, in case the lock is broken or mistakenly un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you have to eliminate the headbox rear gain access to panel to access to the bolts and plugs inside. Typically this panel has a lock on it to keep it in place, however with time the key may have been lost. Quite frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in location.
As soon as inside, remove the bolts and disconnect the big adapters that have wiring going down into the device. You might desire to label these connectors to put them back in the best area, however they should be different sizes, making it tough to plug back improperly.
You can now get rid of the headbox completely, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Make sure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to protect 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 have to get rid of the back glass. There is a lock located on the headbox in one of three places: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side on top or on top of the headbox in the center.
When 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 lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out towards you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to lift up the light panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are within, you can get rid of the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the maker. You may want to label these plugs to put them back in the best spot. You might not have to get rid of the plugs, as the circuitry needs to be long enough to allow the headbox to be folded down.
At this point, you can lock up the lamp panel and replace the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable lock system situated at the back of the headbox. Utilizing 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.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Ensure you use 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.
If you can not fold the head box down, then you have to get in. There is a lock located at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied key to unlock, and remove the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and after that pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will need to remove the display panel. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a separate amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later Sega and Stern pinballs use a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
Remove the two bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make sure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to protect the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will also help keep the back glass in place.
Removing the Legs.
Pinball Machine legs are held in place by 8 bolts. They will be either 5/8 inch or 9/16 inch heads. The modern pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into. These bolts can be removed, and the legs will come off.
These threaded plates and captive nuts can be harmed, and the usage of additional nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will have to open up the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar latch across and remove the lock down bar. Then slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise up the playfield by positioning your hand where the ball drains pipes, and raise have a peek at these guys the playfield up.
You must now have access to any nuts that might have been used. When any nuts have been removed, replace the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Be sure to mark or remember which legs are for the front and back, as they will be changed in a different way to suit.
Loading the Pinball.
You are now all set to carry your pinball maker. Prior to you pack it, ensure you eliminate the pinballs so they don't bounce around during transport.
It might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the machine if you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV. Get a good friend to have and assist one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs. Slide the machine in, check over here and then get rid of the back legs. It is much easier to load the machine front.
Ensure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want it moving if you have to stop unexpectedly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you require 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 using a van or SUV, it may be easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to packing the device. Grab a good friend to have and assist one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs.