Restoration and repair of electronic pinball machines (1977-89)
In the following we will show you how a restoration of a Solid State (early electronic pinball - ca. 1977 - 1989) pinball is done. Here we show you the restoration of level 1, as well as some additional services. The included services for the different restoration levels can be found in the list at the end.
The initial situation
Even with devices of this age, use over many years has left its mark:
- Damaged housings
- Heavily worn playfield components such as plastics, mail, etc.
- Partial rusting of metal parts
- Playfields with clear signs of use
- Damaged boards due to corrosion and moisture - Leaking batteries
- Worn wear parts....uvm.
The checklists
As with all our restorations, we work strictly according to checklists. On the one hand, we want to ensure the greatest possible transparency in a sometimes very opaque market - after all, we want our customers to know what they are spending their money on. On the other hand, we also want to ensure a consistently high standard. Our employees thus carry out the same work over and over again strictly according to the checklists - so no point is overlooked and everything is worked through bit by bit.The procedure
First functional test and inventory
First, an intensive functional check is made. This allows us to make an inventory before disassembly, order appropriate spare parts and make recommendations to the customer.
Disassembly
Then the pinball machine is disassembled into all its components
Reconditioning of the various components
The various components of the pinball machine are reconditioned in a variety of ways to bring them to new condition, or very worn parts are replaced with new parts right away.
Small metal parts
Small metal parts such as screws, nuts and posts are treated in the tumbler. Here they are polished by different granulates and polishing agents over approx. 3 days and look like new afterwards.
Ball guides on the playing field
The ball guides (ball light sheets on the playing field) are polished and thus the running marks are removed and the original polish is restored. These can also be polished to a mirror finish (at an extra charge).
Assemblies
The assemblies are disassembled and cleaned. Small parts are treated in the tumbler - the rest is ground or polished - either by machine or by hand.
Other metal parts
All other metal parts are either ground, polished by machine or, in the case of parts that are difficult to access, polished by hand using a polishing agent.
Playing field plastics / plastic repros
Plastic repros and clear plastics made of VivakThe actual playing field plastics are polished up by means of polishing agents and polishing machine or flame polished and can thus be restored to a very good condition. Of course, the "yellowing" of the plastics due to material fatigue cannot be corrected. Many plastics are available on the market as new parts or high quality plastic repros can be produced for parts that are no longer available. The transparent plastics are usually replaced immediately by new plastics, laser cut from high quality VIVAK material, which is extremely flexible and therefore almost indestructible.
Playing field components
The supply of spare parts for equipment of this age is very good - almost all common parts are available on the market as new parts. Of course, the original parts can also be refurbished and put into a very good condition
New wear parts
We recommend to replace all wearing parts of the pinball machine with new parts, because they are responsible for the later fun of playing. Strong pinball fingers, popbumper and slingshots, jagged droptargets etc. simply give the feeling to play a new pinball. Therefore, you should replace them right away if everything is already dismantled anyway.
Cable harnesses
The cable harnesses are machine washed and look like new afterwards.
Renewing the reel papers and service stickers
New coil papers and service stickers inside and outside the cabinet make for a clean overall look and are an uncanny visual upgrade to the pinball machine.
Technical restoration or repair
Circuit board service / assembly with new components
A service program for circuit boards is already included in the offer price of our restorations. I.e. if the boards are in the usual condition and still all work, we replace as a precaution various components of which we know that they will fail sooner or later. We also check all soldering points for cold soldering points and re-solder all pin headers and check the board connectors as a precaution. We ask for your understanding that we can not repair completely damaged boards within the complete price, because this can sometimes take days. We clarify this with our customers on site when inspecting the boards.
Board repair vs new boards
Nowadays there are high quality board repros for all needed boards of the Solid State Generation. Depending on the condition of the boards, we can highly recommend these repros: equipped with new components, they guarantee unrestricted gaming pleasure for many years. Of course, all original boards can be repaired - but you simply cannot give a functional guarantee over a long period of time, since the components on them are sometimes decades old and you simply cannot say if and when they will fail. A board repair is always offered separately and depends on the basic condition of the boards.
New platinum connectors
A main reason for many malfunctions are the connectors. Due to aging processes, heat and environmental influences, the pins in the connectors and the pin strips on the circuit boards can corrode. This means that there is no longer a clean connection and malfunctions occur. We recommend replacing the connectors, which are known to be weak points, as a precaution.
Re-soldering pin headers
With this generation, all pin headers of the boards and displays should be re-soldered as a precaution. Barely visible "cold solder joints" are a common source of errors that are best eliminated from the outset.
Latest software / IC burning service
It will be checked if the latest version of the factory software is installed. If necessary the IC's are burned again and/or also defective IC's are exchanged - these are socketed directly, so that these are more easily accessible in the future.
Removing the battery holder
The battery holder is moved to the side of the cabinet to prevent batteries from leaking over the boards. We recommend changing the batteries once a year during operation.
New lamp bases
Flickering bulbs or bulbs that only glow with half their luminosity are a permanent nuisance. The "restoration" or repair of the lamp bases makes little sense. We therefore recommend replacing all lamp bases that show weaknesses with new ones.
Housing
Included in our offer price is an intensive cleaning of the housing inside and outside including all components such as checkout door, lockbar, the lock, wiring harnesses, tilt pendulum, power transformer, cable holder, etc.. Likewise small color corrections are made at the housing.
For an additional charge, the housing can be partially refurbished - as seen here. With the units of this generation, it is always recommended to refurbish and repaint the backbox rim. This results in a wonderful, clean picture.
For a perfect result, the housing of the pinball machine should be completely renewed and repainted - as seen here:
Playing field
Playing field polishing
The playing field is polished to a high gloss using a multi-stage polishing system. In the process, sunken or raised inserts are also brought into line with the playing field. This not only makes the playing surface smooth and highly glossy, it also makes the colors much richer and more vibrant.
Partial restoration
Likewise, minor damage can sometimes be partially repaired (depending on the substance of the actual paint and print) and partially painted or protected with a mylar film. This service is calculated separately and is not automatically included in the restoration.
Complete playfield restoration
For a very good result, however, the playing field must be completely restored and painted - here are some galleries of solid state playing fields:
Assembly and functional test
After all parts have been refurbished as described above and the electronics have been reworked, the pinball machine is reassembled piece by piece. Afterwards the commissioning takes place: intensive tests of all functions, switches, contacts, etc.. Finally, approx. 50-100 test games are made.
Fine tuning for a perfect playing feeling
Benefit from our many years of experience and our passion for pinball: we have played all current models many hundreds of times over the past decades. We know exactly how the ball should run, how the pinball fingers should stand optimally. Droptargets that drop easily and smoothly, spinners that don't just spin - they have to be smooth - there's nothing better than a rich spinner shot with spinners that spin seemingly endlessly. A pinball machine can look as fascinating as it is - all this only makes sense if it plays just as well. Especially on the fine tuning we attach great importance and sometimes spend many hours until the pinball plays exactly as it should.
Prices
As mentioned, we work according to checklists that include well over 150 points in the highest level. In the following we give you a rough overview of the included services - detailed lists are available on request.
Restoration level 2
Included services (procedures as described above):
- Inventory with test of all functions upon delivery
- Research and procurement of spare parts within the usual scope
- Complete disassembly of the top of the playing field
- Cleaning and reconditioning of all pitch components:
- Cleaning and polishing of the playfield plastics
- Cleaning and polishing of the targets
- Cleaning and polishing of all metal parts (removing ball marks, grinding of metal parts that were original with grinding, mirror polishing of all other metal parts like lane guides, ball guides, etc.)
- Replacement of wear parts:
- Disassembly of slingshot, pop bumper, flipper finger and other moving assemblies, intensive cleaning and fitting with new wear parts.
- Fitting with new rubbers
- Fitting with new bulbs or LED's
- Fitting with new playfield components according to agreement
Playing field:
- Intensive cleaning, multi-stage polishing of the playing field and sealing with wax. Minor touch-ups in the black area (insert borders)
- All inserts are cleaned from the bottom
Case:
- Intensive cleaning of the case and components (without disassembly).
- Reconditioning (grinding) of the lock
- Reconditioning (grinding and polishing) of the lock bar
- Cleaning and polishing of the checkout door
- Cleaning of flipper finger buttons
Technique:
- Service program for the circuit boards as described above within the usual framework
- Equipping the boards with various new components (as a precaution)
- Cleaning and re-soldering of all pin headers
- Checking of all board connectors
- Installation of an external battery holder
- Assembly of the pinball machine
- Intensive function test of all functions over approx. 8-10 days
- Fine tuning and adjustment of all functions (we know exactly how a perfectly working pinball machine should play)
- Approx. 50-100 test games
Workload: approx. 40 hours
Price: from 2.500 Euro* incl. VAT
*Price is for one pinball machine in usual/typical basic condition. Price may vary depending on initial condition, model and special requests of the customer. The basis of the offer price is a calculative hourly rate of 40 hours. We work with a detailed time recording system. If the total hours are significantly exceeded, the price for the restoration will increase analogously. We discuss this with our customers during the restoration.
Restoration level 1
Included services (procedures as described above):
Includes all services as in Level 2 plus:
Playfield:
- All components of the underside of the playing field are also disassembled and cleaned
- All wiring harnesses are machine cleaned
- All assemblies are disassembled and cleaned
- All coil papers are replaced with new ones
- The side wooden strips on the playing field are refurbished or repainted
Housing:
- All components of the case are refurbished and metal parts are polished, wiring harnesses are cleaned.
- The bottom of the case will be intensively cleaned.
- All screws are refurbished and polished.
Workload: approx. 60 hours
Price: from 3.500 Euro* incl. VAT
*Price is for a pinball machine in the usual/typical basic condition. Price may vary depending on initial condition, model and special requests of the customer.basis of the offer price is a calculative hourly rate of 60 hours. We work with a detailed time recording system. If the total hours are significantly exceeded, the price for the restoration will increase analogously. We discuss this with our customers during the restoration.
Other costs:
- If applicable, flat rate for research and spare parts procurement (this can take a few hours depending on the model) if this exceeds the usual expenditure
- Spare parts after arrangement with the customer
- Flat rate for consumables during restoration (approx. 40-100 Euro)
- Flat rate for small electronic material during board repair (approx. 30-70 Euro)
- If necessary, collection and delivery of the pinball machine (incl. commissioning)
Additional services (on request or by arrangement):
- Galvanizing
- Chrome plating
- Partial touching up and painting of the cabinet
- Partial touching up and painting of the playing field
- Exchange of defective, ailing lamp bases per piece 5,00 Euro plus base (1,50-2,00 Euro)
- Board repair which exceeds the usual "board service
- Renewing of PCB connectors per piece 12-18 Euro incl. material (depending on size of connector / number of pins)
Upgrades:
- Superfluxx LED's (Optifluxx) for inserts incl. installation approx. 130-170 Euro
- Superfluxx LED's for general lighting incl. installation per piece approx. 2,50 Euro
- Sound system on request
- Bronze axle bearings incl. installation per piece 35,00 Euro
- Stronger flipper coils incl. installation per piece 15,00 Euro
