Tips From the Moving Company Pros: Ways To Move a Pinball Maker



With pinball making a big renewal across the nation, Mild Giant wishes to ensure that these traditional, lovely machines stay damage-free while being carried. Oh, and we desire individuals moving them to be safe, too.

Initially look, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, weight, and size. Thankfully, our experienced Giants have a couple of techniques up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox

The majority 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 devices 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 utilize a latching system to keep the headbox upright. There may likewise be 2 bolts inside as added safety, in case the latch is broken or inadvertently un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs

For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you need to eliminate the headbox rear gain access to panel to get access to the bolts and plugs inside. Typically this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, however over time the key may have been lost. On a regular basis, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.

Once inside, eliminate the bolts and disconnect the big connectors that have electrical wiring decreasing into the maker. You might wish to label these ports to put them back in the ideal area, but they ought to be various sizes, making it hard 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 Solid 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 opened, get rid of the back glass by lifting it up using the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and then pull it out from the bottom.

Then, open the back box light panel by raising the lock located 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 lift up 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 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 should be long enough to allow the headbox to be folded down.

At this point, you can lock up the light panel and change the back glass.
Modern Strong State Pinballs

For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable lock system situated at the back of the headbox. Using the have a peek here supplied key, 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 a basic 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.

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 provided secret to unlock, and get rid of the back glass by raising it up from the bottom, then pulling it out from the bottom.

Next, you will require to get rid of the display screen panel. (Some more recent Williams and Bally pinballs do check my blog 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).

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 eight bolts. The modern pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.

These captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and the use of extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will need 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. 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 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 eliminated, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.

Make sure to mark or keep in mind which legs are for the front and back, as they will be adjusted differently to fit.
Packing the Pinball.

You are now ready to transport your pinball machine. Before you load it, make certain you get rid of the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.

If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to packing the device. Get a good friend to have and assist among you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs. Slide the machine in, and then remove the back legs. It is much simpler to pack the device 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 remove the headbox rear gain access to panel to get access to the bolts and plugs within. (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).

If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be simpler to eliminate the legs just prior to loading the maker. Get a pal to have and help one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs.

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