I recently was tasked with fixing up a Stern World Poker Tour that had come off route. The game had a number of issues, the first of which was that certain targets would not reset. They would pop-up, but fall back down. Some research indicated this was a known issue that Stern released a service bulletin to address. But I soon found out my problem was deeper than that, and several things were wrong, including a broken bolt holding a coil stop, and the wrong plunger assembly used on one of the drop targets. In this video series, I outline how I identified and solved the problem. Here are some pictures of the work that was done to fix the broken bolt.
Category Archives: Maintenance
Upgrading Gottlieb System 80 MPU board with new battery pack
One of the first things you have to do when you get an original Gottlieb System 80 game is deal with their on-board NiCad battery pack, if it has not already been addressed. Gottlieb installed these batteries on the actual MPU board itself and like on other games, it’s a common cause of serious problems with the game. The batteries begin to leak after awhile, releasing electrolytes that corrode the MPU board and the components on it. This can happen even if you don’t see any obvious leaks. The batteries need to be replaced. There are a few options you have to do this: a remote battery pack (3 AA batteries along with a blocking diode to keep them from being charged if they’re not rechargeable batteries), a 2032 lithium coin cell, or my favorite, a 5.5v 1.5F memory capacitor. The memory cap will last the longest and will not destroy any components on the board. It will keep a charge for at least a month or more without power. Here’s a video of me adding this fix to a Gottlieb System 80B MPU
Diagnosing and fixing stuck flippers (on a Gottlieb System 80 and other machines)
I got a new pinball machine in the other day and one of the flippers was sticking up. In this video series I go over examining what was wrong and how to address it. There are a number of causes for stuck flippers. The most common cause is a dirty or worn coil sleeve. Also sometimes there can be a hang up with the EOS (end of stroke) switch (more common on Bally/WMS than older Bally or Gottlieb games).
Pinball Tip: Always Check Your Fuses
This is one of those videos I keep reminding myself that I should make. And it turns out, I did awhile back and didn’t post it. So here it is. A short video about fuses in pinball machines and why it’s important to check them, how to check them, how to determine if they are proper, and how to ID fuse specs. Enjoy!
Pinball Maintenance Tip: Keep Your Light Bulbs Clean!
This is a short video addressing a topic many pinball owners overlook. A simple cleaning/wiping of your incandescent bulbs will add much life to your game and inhibit those ugly black marks in the backback. Here’s a video on it.
Why It’s Important To Replace Your Pinball Balls
As work continues on the repair of a Game Plan Sharpshooter II pinball machine, I felt compelled to make a quick video to show what happens when you don’t properly maintain your game, specifically not routinely replacing the pinball with a new one. The previous owners of this machine illustrate this cautionary tale…
Retrofitting Warm White and Cool White LEDs in Pinball Games
As I work on restoring another game (Bally EM “Air Aces”), I demo my approach towards making the game more reliable and stable by replacing many of the old bulbs with newer LEDs. I also show the difference between the warm and cool white LEDs and how they work.