Tips From the Moving Business Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine
With pinball making a huge revival throughout the country, Gentle Giant desires to make sure that these traditional, stunning machines stay damage-free while being transferred. Oh, and we desire the people moving them to be safe, too.
In the beginning look, pinball machines can appear intimidating to move since of their size, weight, and fragility. Fortunately, our proficient Giants have a few tricks up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of modern pinballs (made in the last 20 years or two) have a hinge system which permits the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball machines had their headboxes bolted on, using either 2 or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, along with the early Strong State makers.
Later on machines have hinges and use a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There might also be two bolts inside as added security, in case the lock is broken or accidentally un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs
For Electro-Mechanical pinball devices, you have to get rid of the headbox rear access panel to access to the bolts and plugs inside. Normally this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, but in time the secret might have been lost. Frequently, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.
When within, get rid of the bolts and unplug the large ports that have electrical wiring decreasing into the machine. You may want to identify these adapters to put them back in the ideal spot, but they ought to be various sizes, making it hard to plug back improperly.
You can now remove 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 assist keep the back glass in place.
Early Solid State Pinballs
For early Solid State Pinballs, you will require to get rid of 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.
Once unlocked, eliminate the back glass by raising it up utilizing the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), then pull it out from the bottom.
Open up the back box light panel by raising the lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out towards you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to raise the light 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 decreasing into the maker. You may wish to label these plugs to put them back in the best spot. You might not require 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 lamp panel and replace 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. 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 machine. This is a simple setup and requires no tools.
You're done if you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure 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 inside if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock located at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the supplied secret to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by raising it up from the bottom, then pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will have to get rid of the display screen panel. You can do this by raising it up and out. Open the lamp panel. There will be a latch located on either the right-hand or left-hand side. (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).
Eliminate 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 also help keep the back glass in place.
Eliminating the Legs.
Pinball Device legs are held in place by eight bolts. The contemporary pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.
But these captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and using extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will require to open 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 lock throughout and get rid how to move a pinball machine of the lock down bar. Move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise up the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains, and lift the playfield up.
You ought to now have access to any nuts that may have been used. Once any nuts have been removed, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.
Make certain to mark or keep in mind which legs are for the front and back, as they will be changed in a different way to fit.
Packing the Pinball.
You are now prepared to transfer your pinball device. Before you load it, make sure you remove the pinballs so they don't bounce around throughout transportation.
If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it might be much easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to packing the device. Get a good friend to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other removes the front legs. Slide the machine in, then get rid of the back legs. It is read more much easier to load the machine front.
Ensure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want it moving if you have to stop unexpectedly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you require to eliminate the headbox rear access panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs inside. (Some more recent 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 use a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).
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 packing the machine. Grab a good friend to assist and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other eliminates the front legs.