Mr. Pinball Repair Tip Archive
1972 Gottlieb single-player start up sequence (Flying Carpet 03-72) 1973 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Jack in the Box 05-73) 1974 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Magnotron 08-74) 1975 Gottlieb 2-player start up sequence (Out of Sight 01-75) 1975 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Super Soccer 03-75) 1975 Gottlieb single-player start up sequence (Atlantis 01-75) 1976 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Royal Flush 04-76) 1976 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Spirit of 76 03-76) 1976 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Surf Champ 10-76) 1976 Gottlieb 4-player start up sequence (Target Alpha 11-76) 1977 Gottlieb 2-player start up sequence (Mustang 05-77) 1977 Gottlieb single-player start up sequence (Bit Hit 06-77) 1977 Gottlieb single-player start up sequence (Centigrade 37 08-77) AM radio = tool A benign way to set up machines for free play A better way to fix stripped playfield screw holes! A bucket of sand A worn flipper link can burn out your coil Adjust flipper tension spring with cotter pin Adjusting blade switch contacts Adjustment of the Flipper End Of Stroke Switch (EOS) Aligning the 0-9 discs and wipers on an EM Gottlieb 'AS' relay An Alternate Crimp Pin Removal Tool Another handy restoration tool Another leg leveler fix Another method for removing rusted leg levelers Backglass lockbar can scratch your glass Backglass preservation options Backglass preservation using mylar Backglass protection while shipping Backglass restoration reference Backglass touchup bleeding Bad solder joints on circuit boards Ball Feed Problems with WMS Opto Trough Ball hits glass too much Ball removal Bally 6800 weak solenoids Bally EM Coil identification Bally EM will not start and has no lights Bally SS Molex connectors check Bally Solenoid Driver/Voltage Regulator Board Test Points Bally bingo constantly tilts Bally drop targets resetting too high Bally early solid state MPU LED blinks 5 times Bally early solid state MPU LED doesn't blink or just stays on Bally electromechanical fuse holders Bally general illumination connectors Bally old-to-new coil numbers cross reference Bally solid state standup targets sometimes fail to score Bally solid state weak solenoids Basic tools needed Battery-damage can travel along wire harness Battery-damage seems eternal Be Sure to Mark Connectors Best use of mylar Bizarre behavior on machines with large relay banks Blade switch quick repair Blow the boards Bolt head polishing Bright lamps in flaked areas of backglass Brightening dim Gottlieb displays Bulb removal Bulb removal tool Bumper cap keeps coming off Bundling legs for moving or storage Burned LOCK relay Burnish switch contacts Buying leg bolts Cabinet Side Rails Cabinet speckle coat Calm Repair Cap nuts on playfield plastics Capacitor resurrection Changing AC flippers to DC flippers Changing batteries Changing battery without losing settings Changing display color Cheap Glass Cleaner Cheap desoldering tool Cheap fuses Check all flipper plungers for mushrooming to prevent solenoid burn out Check coin path Checking for bad fuse holders Chicago Coin EM Coil identification Chime rubbering Chimes hum slightly but do not ring Clean-cut slingshot mylars Clean solenoids Clean your playfield completely Cleaning Catlin backglass animation balls Cleaning Plated Parts Cleaning Playfield Posts Cleaning Prior To Clearcoating A Playfield Cleaning WMS Twilight Zone Power Ball Cleaning backglass problems Cleaning enclosed areas Cleaning glass dirt that doesn't come off with glass cleaner Cleaning light sockets Cleaning metal and plastic parts easily Cleaning metal ball guides Cleaning metal parts Cleaning metal parts Cleaning nylon acorn nuts Cleaning out main cabinet Cleaning playfield glass Cleaning playfield metal easily Cleaning playfield posts and other parts Cleaning playfield rails Cleaning playfield rubber rings Cleaning playfields including Diamond Plate Cleaning rubber rings Cleaning score reels Cleaning solid state gold contacts Cleaning solid state switches Cleaning soot from EM score reels and plastics Cloth vs plastic insulated wires Coil Repair Coil identification Coil modification and substitution Coin lockout buzzing Coin mechanisms Color matching comparisons Color mixing guide Common Gottlieb flipper problem Connector testing problem Cover your game in storage Creating your own mini vacuum Dealing with overheating connectors on early Bally games Debugging intermittent problems Debugging with jumper wire Desoldering braid substitute Determining rubber ring sizes Dim lamp Dim lamps Dim or unlit lamps Diode replacement and substitution Diodes use on coils Display break in Displays don't work Do not overtighten lock nuts Do not use playfield prop sticks Document Your Game Documentation for your game Don't RELAMP just UNLAMP Don't blow new fuses Don't forget coin door lights Don't plan to fix yourself Don't use an emery board to clean switch contacts Dot matrix display broken lead repair Doubled rubber rings Dress up your Gottlieb or Bally with new white posts Drop target decal preservation Drop target painting Drop targets on Capt. Fantastic EM liberal vs conservative options EM machine lights but does not start EM machines won't count balls EM silent scoring ones or tens EM sticky wiper unit Early Bally solid state battery type for replacement Early solid-state Williams bridge rectifiers Earthshaker shaker-motor Easy access to under playfield components Easy flipper alignment Easy way to go through a machine completely Easy way to move machines very short distances Eject holes eject too strong Electromechanical AC flippers buzzing loudly Emergency contact adjuster Emergency driver board transistors Emergency flipper rubber repair Emergency rubber repair Emergency rubber ring cleaner Evaluating an electromechanical pinball for purchase Extending scoring reel life Extra bonus during countdown FREE circuit board removal tool Factory errors Faster game Finding pinball balls locally for your machine Fix them mechanical bells Fixing (and preventing) broken ramp entrances and diverter problems Fixing Stripped Screw Holes On Playfield Fixing flaked paint on backglass Fixing intermittent, heated up, optocouplers (Solid state switches used on TZ clock and flippers) Fixing slipping belts Flashing lights Flattening warped plastics Flattening warped plastics slowly Flipper bushings Flipper causes points to score Flipper causes reset or game over Flipper chatter Fractured Plastics? Free play on older SS games Free repair tools Freeing frozen coil plunger Frozen leg levelers Funhouse general illumination blown fuse problem Fuses can save your components or fry them Fuses that look okay but are bad Game does not turn on Game goes immediately to game over or shuts off Game goes to game over too soon, or never leaves game over General illumination not working entirely Get a dentists mirror in your toolbox today! Glass cleaner Gluing flat playfield plastics Gold plated contacts Gottlieb EM Coil identification Gottlieb SS System 80 does not start Gottlieb SS will not start Gottlieb System 1 freezes and has all the coils pull in Gottlieb System 1 main problem Gottlieb System 1 power supply problem Gottlieb System 80 bumper problem Gottlieb drop target and sequence bank reset Gottlieb electronics Gottlieb em match problems Gottlieb flipper button quick fix Gottlieb leg styles Gottlieb roto-target restoration Gottlieb rubber part numbers Gottlieb speed nut application Great tool for handling small parts Ground yourself, but don't get killed Hand protection Hard to find 7.5w 110V light bulbs Help identifying off-board connectors How to clean the back side of the backglass How to play when the baby is asleep IC mounting--cleaning mount holes IC socket poor connection fix IC socket removal IC sockets Identifying legs for moving or storage Identifying resistors Improve coil action Improving Williams Flipper Action Inexpensive chime solenoid plunger nylon shaft replacement Infra-red LED (optos) testing Installing a headphone jack Intermittent failures can be due to floating ground Intermittent lamp sockets and connectors Isolating blown fuse problem Keep cabinet mechanics clean while restoring playfield Keep from stripping hole threads Keep old bumper caps from rotating Keep your hands clean Keeping playfield clean longer Key safety Keys and locks Knocker doesn't work on Williams em Lamp Socket Fix Lazy Data East/Sega/Stern pop bumpers Leg Bolt Fix Leg bolt mounting plate quick and temporary fix Leg bolt mounting plates Leg bolt overtightening Leg bolt sizes Leg bolts when moving Leg levelers Leveling a machine Light bulb efficient replacement Light bulb insertion/removal Lights dim when solenoid fires Loading a disassembled game into vehicle Lock removal Lock without a key Long lasting lamps Longest lasting bulbs Look for quick fix work that's been done Loose IC sockets Loose and rattling backglass Loose contact points Lost Key/Lock Removal Lost PCB connector key plugs Lost head key Lost head key on newer Williams/Bally Loud buzzing noises Machine assembly Machine grounding Main line fuse blows immediately Majority of solid state problems Make any screwdriver hold screws Make knocker louder Making mylar more invisible Making replacement one-way gates using ski lift ticket wire Many uses for weather stripping Match lights do not work on EM Matching cabinet paint colors Minimizing bad displays Missing a solenoid Missing ground on A/C cord Mixing epoxy Mixing paint tools Modification notes More Dot Matrix Display Repair Info More extra balls Most commonly broken EM solder joint Motor care and repair Moving An Assembled Pinball Yourself Moving machines on hard floor Moving makes the machine stop working My Bally MPU LED glows dim and the game doesn't start My electromechanical doesn't award a credit for a match My game keeps resetting the drop targets and clicking at the outhole My machine kicks out two balls to the ball shooter Mylar thickness Mysterious general illumination blown fuse, or machine resets during game Never lubricate solenoids Never use tape to close doors New bumper caps New leg levelers No more toothpicks Novel contact cleaning method Novus Old EMs without on/off switches should not be left plugged in Opening a machine Ordering Data East or Sega parts Ordering parts from suppliers Other excellent on-line pinball repair guide Outlanes too wide Overheating lamp cause PCB pass thru and foil repair Parts machines Pinball machine dimensions Pinball toolbox Pitch and bat game has weak or non-functioning bat Plastic pieces cleaning tip Playfield Illumination Options Playfield Preservation Playfield angle Playfield changeover Playfield changeover labels help Playfield glass replacement Playfield insert touchup Playfield lights and inserts Playfield painting Playfield pitch indicators Playfield post liberal vs conservative positions Playfield restoration Playfield shipping box Plunger repair Polish balls in a rock tumbler Polishing Polishing balls Polishing chrome parts Poslishing playfield posts Power surge damage Prevent total damage! Preventing broken coin lockout from locking out coins Preventing lost cabinet keys Preventing mylar from lifting over playfield inserts Preventing small gauge coil wire breaks Preventing translites from adhering to glass Protect hard to reach areas Protect your Bally backglass from further damage Protect your CPU from leaking batteries Protect your paper scoring reels Protecting Theatre of Magic magic trunk sticker Protecting playfield around pop bumpers Protecting score and instruction cards Quick check for gas plasma displays Quick fix to stripped screw holes Re-inking flipper lettering Reading EM schematics Realigning misaligned flippers Reasons for backglass peeling Refinishing gold pinball legs with oven cleaner Regluing stickers and relay labels Reinstalling Screws Through Harness Relettering playfield Remember to unplug your game Remove awkward marquis when moving Remove balls when moving Remove batteries before storing Removing Backglass without lift channel Removing Circuit Boards Without Removal Tool Removing PCB components for replacement Removing all playfield pieces Removing cabinet paint while preserving original cabinet graphics Removing dark half-circles from playfield Removing flipper rubber residue Removing flipper rubber stains Removing glue and other residue Removing latex paint from repainted cabinet Removing playfield inserts Removing playfield mylar Removing rusted leg levelers Removing sticky tape residue Removing stubborn bolt Repainting cabinet basecoat Repair of white scoring reel mask Repairing plastics Repairing rollover buttons Replace playfield screws with bolts Replacing Bally mushroom bumper rubber rings Replacing a playfield insert Replacing fuse clips on circuit boards Replacing one way gate wires Reproducing score and instruction cards Resetting high scores Residual magnetism Restoring Gottlieb System 1 blue-green display filters Restoring Rusted Stepper Plungers Restoring metal legs Restoring playfield insert labels Restoring playfield plastics shine Restoring scratched plastic Reusing stickers Reviving burnt coils Rubber Cleaner Rubber parts substitute Rubber ring sizing Safety tip Save your latch Save your old toothbrush Save your paperwork Score Window Masking for Backglass coating Score motor cam removal Score motor problems Scoring reel or drum unit cleaning and maintenance Scoring reels spin past zero when resetting Sealing a backglass Selenium rectifiers on old games Sending boards out for repair Setting games since Twilight Zone to a quarter per play Setting up a game of unknown condition Setting up free game Setting up free games on EM--Another technique Setting up free play on electromechanical machines Setting up free play on solid state machines Shipping backglasses Shocking Gottlieb flipper buttons Shortage of bulbs Shorting protection Sliding A Game With Contractor Garbage Bags Socket screwdriver Software bugs can appear to be a hardware failure Solder handling Solder removal Soldering dangers Solid state test bed machines Speeding up putting the head on the body Spray contact cleaner is evil Standup target foam replacement Sticking pop bumpers Sticky Playfield Glass Sticky coils can be a bad coil stop Sticky sluggish Williams stepping unit Sticky solenoids Stop those loose screws! Stopping flaking paint Storing Schematics, and Other Documentation Storing backglasses Straightening a warped playfield Strange little faded squares Stripped Leg Bolt Plates Stripping playfield wax Stripping playfield wax and shellac Stronger Gottlieb flipper coils Substitutes for Novus Substituting for gold switch contact points THE Solution to Bally MPU Corrosion Temperature safe operating range Temporary fuses Temporary reusable fuse Test Probe Testing Bally solid state solenoids Testing gas plasma displays and boards technique Testing lamps Testing relay coils made quick and easy Testing solenoids on EMs Tighten bakelite switch spacers Tightening playfield glass lockdown bar Tin foil away touch ups, so light bulbs stay in! Tiny scraping tool Tip to help avoid damage to the playfield Tired of fishing out wires when assembling? Tool for cleaning drop target faces Touch up Touch up EM scoring reels Touching up plastic parts and playfields with markers Touching up small paint spots Tracking down a shorted circuit Transformer HIGH vs LOW tap Transformer failure Transporting static sensitive components Troubleshooting tip Turn off solid state games while repairing Use E-clips on plunger Use Mother's Alumininum Polish For Lots Of Stuff Use a Shop-Vac Use a power strip Use air cans Use cooler lamps Use only quality sockets Uses for old pinballs Using AA batteries in Bally solid state pinballs Viewing original artwork through layers of paint WMS Opto Ball Trough Problems WMS electromechanical credit unit stuck on 13 and it won't start WMS electromechanical replay knocker not firing Warped inserts Waxing/cleaning playfield Weak EM flippers Weak chimes Welding or brazing can produce toxic fumes Where did this screw come from? Which Side Of Playfield Glass Was Up Williams 60s and 70s flipper jumpers Williams CPU Board Revision Level 6 Test Points Williams CPU Board Revision Level 7 Test Points Williams EM Coil identification Williams G.I. Problems Williams SS displays fade on and off Williams SS driver board power resistors Williams System 7 CPU Board self test Williams early SS drop target problem Williams main line wire is sometimes too small Williams paper dummy reel sticker--How to make your own Williams solid state displays a funny number and won't start Williams solid state flipper coil relative strengths Williams sound problems Williams two coins per play Wire Identification Wire ties rule (when cardboard doesn't work) Working on the inside of an EM Worklight Improvement Worn balls kill playfields Worn metal sleeve can't be removed from solenoid coil Worn outhole on Gottlieb EMs prevents smooth ball delivery to plunger Zaccaria EM Coil identification bulb/lamp socket fix bulb removal cleaning hard to reach spots on playfield playfield cleaning Tip Archive click
here .
by email or by phone at (801)
277-6296 (voice and message), or (801) 277-0888 (message).
© Copyright Mr. Pinball 2008. All Rights Reserved.
