Tips From the Moving Company Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Maker
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the country, Mild Giant wants to make certain that these classic, stunning makers stay damage-free while being carried. Oh, and we want the people moving them to be safe, too.
At very first glance, pinball devices can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, weight, and size. Fortunately, our knowledgeable Giants have a few tricks 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 or so) have a hinge system which enables the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball makers had their headboxes bolted on, using either two or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, together with the early Strong State machines.
Later on makers have hinges and use a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There might also be 2 bolts inside as included safety, in case the latch is broken or mistakenly un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you have to get rid of the headbox rear access panel to get to the bolts and plugs within. Generally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in place, however with time the key may have been lost. Frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.
When within, remove the bolts and unplug the big adapters that have wiring decreasing into the maker. You may want to identify these adapters to put them back in the right spot, however they need to be different sizes, making it challenging to plug back improperly.
You can now get rid of the headbox completely, 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 situated on the headbox in one of 3 areas: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the.
When opened, get rid of the back glass by lifting it up using the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and after that pull it out from the bottom.
Then, open the back box light panel by lifting the latch situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out to you, and offer 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 within, you can get rid of the bolts, and any plugs that have wires going down into the machine. You may wish to identify these plugs to put them back in the right spot. You may not have to get rid of the plugs, as the wiring should be long enough to enable the headbox to be folded down.
At this moment, you can secure the light panel and replace the back glass.
Modern Solid State Pinballs
For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable latch system situated at the back of the headbox. Utilizing the provided secret, turn the latch 90 ° counter-clockwise.
For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can easily unlatch the back box at the back of the device. This is an easy setup and needs no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Make sure 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.
You need to get within if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock situated at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied key to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by raising it up from the bottom, and after that pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will have to get rid of the display panel. You can do this by lifting it up and out. Open the lamp panel. There will be a lock situated on either the left-hand or right-hand side. (Some more recent 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. 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.
Getting rid of the Legs.
Pinball Device legs are held in place by 8 bolts. The contemporary pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.
However these threaded plates and captive nuts can be harmed, and using extra nuts may have been required. If this holds true, you will require to open the front door imp source of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar lock throughout and get rid of the lock down bar. Slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe place. Next, lift up the playfield by placing your hand where the ball drains, and lift the playfield up.
You should now have access to any nuts that may have been used. Once 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 adjusted differently to suit.
Loading the Pinball.
You are now ready to transport your pinball machine. Before you load it, make sure you remove the pinballs click here now so they don't bounce around during transport.
If you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV, it may be much easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to filling the maker. Get a pal to have and help one of you supporting moving specialty items the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs. Slide the machine in, and then remove the back legs. It is much simpler to fill the maker front.
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 newer 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.