Tips From the Moving Company Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine
With pinball making a substantial resurgence throughout the country, Gentle Giant desires to ensure that these timeless, gorgeous devices stay damage-free while being transferred. Oh, and we desire the people moving them to be safe, too.
At very first glance, pinball devices can appear frightening to move since of their fragility, weight, and size. Fortunately, our knowledgeable Giants have a few techniques up their sleeves to guarantee your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox
Most of modern-day pinballs (made in the last Twenty 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 four bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, in addition to the early Solid State devices.
Later on machines have hinges and use a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There may also be 2 bolts inside as added safety, in case the lock 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. Usually 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, get rid of the bolts and unplug the large adapters that have wiring going down into the device. You might want to label these ports to put them back in the ideal spot, but they must be various sizes, making it difficult to plug back incorrectly.
You can now get rid of the headbox completely, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Make sure 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 require to remove the back glass. There is a lock situated on the headbox in one of 3 locations: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the.
When opened, remove the back glass by lifting it up utilizing the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), then pull it out from the bottom.
Then, open up the back box lamp panel by lifting the lock situated on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out to you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to lift up the light panel in order to swing it open.
Now that you are within, you can remove the bolts, and any plugs that have wires going down into the device. You might wish to identify these plugs to put them back in the right spot. You might not have to moving specialty items get rid of the plugs, as the wiring ought to be long enough to enable the headbox to be folded down.
At this moment, you can secure the lamp panel and replace the back glass.
Modern Solid 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 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 maker. This is a basic setup and requires no tools.
If you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet, you're done. Ensure you utilize 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 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. Utilize the provided secret to unlock, and get rid of the back glass by lifting it up from the bottom, and then pulling it out from the bottom.
Next, you will require to get rid of the display check my blog panel. (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 2 bolts, put the back box back this website together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make certain you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure 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 Device legs are kept in location by 8 bolts. They will be either 5/8 inch or 9/16 inch heads. The modern-day pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into. These bolts can be gotten rid of, and the legs will come off.
These threaded plates and captive nuts can be harmed, and the usage of extra nuts may have been required. If this is the case, you will have to open up the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and lift up the playfield.
With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar latch across and eliminate the lock down bar. Then slide out the playfield glass, and put in a safe place. Next, raise the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains pipes, and raise the playfield up.
You must now have access to any nuts that might have been utilized. As soon as any nuts have actually been gotten rid of, 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 match.
Filling the Pinball.
You are now all set to carry your pinball machine. Before you fill it, make sure you remove the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.
It may be easier to remove the legs just prior to loading the machine if you are moving the pinball using a van or SUV. Grab a friend to have and assist among you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs. Move the maker in, then get rid of the back legs. It is much simpler to pack the device front.
Make sure you strap the pinball in, as you do not want it moving if you need to stop unexpectedly!
For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you require to get rid of the headbox rear gain access to panel to acquire access to the bolts and plugs inside. (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 using a van or SUV, it might be much easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to packing the device. Grab a friend to have and help one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.