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) 44/47 Bulb removal tool A benign way to set up machines for free play A better way to fix stripped playfield screw holes! A bucket of sand Adjust flipper tension spring with cotter pin Adjusting blade switch contacts Adjusting contacts Adjustment of the Flipper End Of Stroke Switch (EOS) Aligning the 0-9 discs and wipers on an EM Gottlieb 'AS' relay AM radio = tool An Alternate Crimp Pin Removal Tool Another handy restoration tool Another leg leveler fix Another method for removing rusted leg levelers A worn flipper link can burn out your coil Backglass lockbar can scratch your glass Backglass preservation options Backglass preservation using mylar Backglass protection while shipping Backglass restoration reference Backglass touchup bleeding Bad Bulbs can cause a short 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 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 EM Coil identification Bally EM will not start and has no lights Bally general illumination connectors Bally old-to-new coil numbers cross reference Bally Solenoid Driver/Voltage Regulator Board Test Points Bally solid state standup targets sometimes fail to score Bally solid state weak solenoids Bally SS Molex connectors check Basic tools needed Battery-damage can travel along wire harness Battery-damage seems eternal BEST Metal Polish PERIOD! Best use of mylar Be Sure to Mark Connectors Bizarre behavior on machines with large relay banks Blade switch quick repair Blow the boards Bolt head polishing Brightening dim Gottlieb displays Brighten up the playfield lights on Hercules and Superman Bright lamps in flaked areas of backglass Bringing an old oxidized playfield back to life. Broken ball plunger spring bulb/lamp socket fix bulb removal Bulb removal Bulb removal tool bulb socket cleaning 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 Capacitor resurrection Cap nuts on playfield plastics change the coil sleeves Changing AC flippers to DC flippers Changing batteries Changing battery without losing settings Changing display color Cheap desoldering tool Cheap fuses Cheap Glass Cleaner Cheap PCB removal tool Check all flipper plungers for mushrooming to prevent solenoid burn out Check coin path Checking for bad fuse holders Check those chimes Chicago Coin EM Coil identification Chime rubbering Chimes hum slightly but do not ring Clean-cut slingshot mylars cleaning adhesive from under old mylar etc Cleaning backglass problems Cleaning Cabinet Side Art Cleaning Catlin backglass animation balls Cleaning enclosed areas Cleaning Glass Cleaning glass dirt that doesn't come off with glass cleaner cleaning hard to reach spots on playfield Cleaning light sockets 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 Plated Parts Cleaning playfield glass Cleaning playfield metal easily Cleaning Playfield Posts Cleaning playfield posts and other parts Cleaning playfield rails Cleaning playfield rubber rings Cleaning playfields including Diamond Plate Cleaning Prior To Clearcoating A Playfield Cleaning rubber rings Cleaning score reels Cleaning solid state gold contacts Cleaning solid state switches Cleaning soot from EM score reels and plastics Cleaning WMS Twilight Zone Power Ball Clean score and pop bumper relays Clean solenoids Clean your playfield completely Cloth vs plastic insulated wires Coil identification Coil modification and substitution Coil Repair coin door storage solution 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 Documentation for your game Document Your Game Do not overtighten lock nuts Do not use playfield prop sticks Don't blow new fuses Don't forget coin door lights Don't plan to fix yourself Don't RELAMP just UNLAMP 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 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 Electrical shorts... Electromechanical AC flippers buzzing loudly Emergency contact adjuster Emergency driver board transistors Emergency flipper rubber repair Emergency rubber repair Emergency rubber ring cleaner 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 Essential Socket Wrench Evaluating an electromechanical pinball for purchase Extending scoring reel life Extra bonus during countdown Factory errors Faster game Finding pinball balls locally for your machine Fixing (and preventing) broken ramp entrances and diverter problems Fixing flaked paint on backglass Fixing intermittent, heated up, optocouplers (Solid state switches used on TZ clock and flippers) Fixing slipping belts Fixing Stripped Screw Holes On Playfield Fixing those dreaded Bally light sockets (without replacement) Fix them mechanical bells 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 circuit board removal tool Freeing frozen coil plunger Free play on older SS games Free repair tools 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 failures General illumination not working entirely Get a dentists mirror in your toolbox today! Glass cleaner Gluing flat playfield plastics Gold plated contacts Gottlieb drop target and sequence bank reset Gottlieb electronics Gottlieb EM Coil identification Gottlieb em match problems Gottlieb flipper button quick fix Gottlieb flipper setscrews Gottlieb leg styles Gottlieb roto-target restoration Gottlieb rubber part numbers Gottlieb speed nut application 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 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 Inside cabinet protection. Installing a headphone jack Intermittent failures can be due to floating ground Intermittent lamp sockets and connectors Intermittent Monopoly switch problems Isolating blown fuse problem Keep cabinet mechanics clean while restoring playfield Keep from stripping hole threads Keeping playfield clean longer Keep old bumper caps from rotating Keep scoring Keep your hands clean 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 Lockdown bar latch won't move Lock removal Lock without a key Longest lasting bulbs Long lasting lamps Look for quick fix work that's been done Loose and rattling backglass Loose contact points Loose IC sockets Lost head key Lost head key on newer Williams/Bally Lost Key/Lock Removal Lost PCB connector key plugs Loud buzzing noises Machine assembly Machine grounding Machines with 2 different keys Main line fuse blows immediately Majority of solid state problems Make any screwdriver hold screws Make knocker louder Make your Gottlieb Solid State turbo-charged Making mylar more invisible Making replacement one-way gates using ski lift ticket wire Many uses for weather stripping Matching cabinet paint colors Match lights do not work on EM 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 easily test circuit continuity 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 Mylar thickness My machine kicks out two balls to the ball shooter 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 Parts machines PCB pass thru and foil repair Pharaoh, Black Knight, System 7 Error Code 8 - not the CMOS Pinball machine dimensions Pinball toolbox Pitch and bat game has weak or non-functioning bat Plastic pieces cleaning tip Playfield angle Playfield changeover Playfield changeover labels help playfield cleaning Playfield glass replacement Playfield Illumination Options Playfield insert touchup Playfield lights and inserts Playfield painting Playfield pitch indicators Playfield post liberal vs conservative positions Playfield post modification STOPS several problems FOREVER--stuck ball, burned coil/transistor, etc. Playfield Preservation Playfield restoration Playfield shipping box Plunger repair Polish balls in a rock tumbler Polishing Polishing balls Polishing chrome parts Pop bumper ring Poslishing playfield posts Power surge 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 stuck ball behind Twilight Zone Magna-Flip sign Preventing translites from adhering to glass Prevent total damage! Protect hard to reach areas Protecting playfield around pop bumpers Protecting score and instruction cards Protecting Theatre of Magic magic trunk sticker Protecting Twilight Zone Magna-Flip sign Protect your Bally backglass from further damage Protect your CPU from leaking batteries Protect your paper scoring reels Quick check for gas plasma displays Quick fix to stripped screw holes Reading EM schematics Realigning misaligned flippers Reasons for backglass peeling Refinishing gold pinball legs with oven cleaner Regluing stickers and relay labels Re-inking flipper lettering 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 all playfield pieces Removing Backglass without lift channel Removing cabinet paint while preserving original cabinet graphics Removing Circuit Boards Without Removal Tool Removing dark half-circles from playfield Removing flipper rubber residue Removing flipper rubber stains Removing glue and other residue Removing Head On Modern Machines Removing latex paint from repainted cabinet Removing mylar from playfield Removing PCB components for replacement Removing playfield inserts Removing playfield mylar Removing rusted leg levelers Removing sticky tape residue Removing stubborn bolt Repainting cabinet basecoat Repairing plastics Repairing rollover buttons Repair of white scoring reel mask Replace playfield screws with bolts Replacing a playfield insert Replacing Bally mushroom bumper rubber rings 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 metal legs Restoring playfield insert labels Restoring playfield plastics shine Restoring Rusted Stepper Plungers Restoring scratched plastic Reusing stickers Reviving burnt coils Rubber Cleaner Rubber parts substitute Rubber ring sizing Safely remove playfield inserts Safety tip Save your latch Save your old toothbrush Save your paperwork Score motor cam removal Score motor problems Score Window Masking for Backglass coating 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 Service plug hot when machine is plugged in 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 Shooter tip removal 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 Soldering dangers Solder removal Solder Selection 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 Sticking pop bumpers and residual magnetism Sticky coils can be a bad coil stop Sticky Playfield Glass Sticky sluggish Williams stepping unit Sticky solenoids Stopping flaking paint Stop those loose screws! Storing backglasses Storing Schematics, and Other Documentation 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 System down Temperature safe operating range Temporary fuses Temporary reusable fuse 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 Test Probe THE Solution to Bally MPU Corrosion 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 Touching up plastic parts and playfields with markers Touching up small paint spots Touch up Touch up EM scoring reels Tracking down a shorted circuit Transformer failure Transformer HIGH vs LOW tap Translite Touch-Up Transporting static sensitive components Troubleshooting tip Turn off solid state games while repairing Use air cans Use a power strip Use a Shop-Vac Use cooler lamps Use E-clips on plunger Use Mother's Alumininum Polish For Lots Of Stuff Use only quality sockets Uses for old pinballs Using AA batteries in Bally solid state pinballs Viewing original artwork through layers of paint Warped inserts Warped Playfield Plastic fix. Waxing/cleaning playfield Weak chimes Weak EM flippers 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 early SS drop target problem Williams EM Coil identification Williams G.I. Problems 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 SS displays fade on and off Williams SS driver board power resistors Williams stuck in audit mode Williams System 7 CPU Board self test Williams two coins per play Wire Identification Wire ties rule (when cardboard doesn't work) WMS electromechanical credit unit stuck on 13 and it won't start WMS electromechanical replay knocker not firing WMS Opto Ball Trough Problems 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 Tip Archive click
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