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Breaking a machine down for parts Do's and Dont's

A

Antray84

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Joined
Jan 27, 2024
Messages
50
Location
Essex
Earlier this year I picked up a MR Ms Pacman Pin in unloved but decent working condition. I had wanted to get into the hobby and being given the chance to do so for 1k felt like a winner when I saw the prices of pins in general (I was very green at the time) I started to learn about pinball and began doing some basic cosmetic restoration, removing parts, painting, clear coating backglass etc. I made some mistakes but it was a good learning process. The game played fine but I was more into restoring it and learning the mechanics.

Fast fwd to now and I am in a quandry. I have a freshly painted Mr and Ms Pacman cabinet that still needs a lot of work. Rusted metal, playfield restoration, not so great displays etc. But in the time I have got that machine I picked up a 1981 Eight Ball Deluxe. Which still needs work but is in a better starting condition. It is also way way easier to get cosmetic parts for it (some for Pacman simply don't exist and likely never will) and although the theme is kinda generic it is obviously the better game)

To be truthful I don't think I have it in me to keep working on the Pacman cab. The time and money needed to make it minty fresh how I like things is probably not worth it and I am not sure it is even possible. Some things are just gonna be the way they are for ever. I could just play it and run it into the ground and enjoy it for what it is having got a lot of good knowledge from it. Try and sell it with its many faults or Completely part it out. So my short question to this long essay is - Would option 3 be a good one to take.

It has an Altek MPU and a My pinballs squark and talk which between them cost over £400 alone. 5 displays, back glass coin door etc etc. Some of it could be sold but some of it could also be kept for any future purchases. Nice cab comes up but missing a coin door, not a problem if you have a spare. Is this good practice or a bad idea in the pinball world. It's not an Addams Family or a Fathom so I am guessing no one cares about Pac Man.....and his lady wife.

Just after thoughts, as I would rather (I think) spend the money and time on the Eight Ball as it has a much higher ceiling on what is possible and what it's value could become, and two machines is too much for me to focus on

Thanks
 
I'd rather it went as is. But obviously would need to make financial sense. I wouldn't list it for what I paid it would be somewhat lower. I will get all the bits together and put a listing up and see where we are.
 
Agreed your better off spending the money and effort on the EBD, its a much more sort after game, this is always the quandary with restoring cheaper games, its very easy to spend way more than the game will ever be worth.

With regards to the Mr and Mrs Pac, its your game, do what's best for you, It stings a bit parting out a game, but those parts help other games live on.
 
In your shoes I'd see it as a training/ learning experience. Do a detailed description, take lots of snaps and sell it as is, complete. Take the financial loss.

If you have "better" bits on the Pac Man, you could swap them into the EBD (new boards ?, legs ?, coin door ? ) to make that a nicer game.

Prices have fallen a lot in the past year and games like Pac Man aren't worth serious time and money. They do come up fairly regularly and don't go for strong values.
 
Must admit I enjoyed a few games at Pinfest this year too.. I kind of like those 'crossover' games.. SI etc

Edit to add:
Imho I know parts definitely have their value - but virtually whole machines should have a chance at a new life - so not parted out unless absolutely necessary. As you say - valuable learning curves at the least..
 
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You certainly won't be the first one here to spend more on improving a machine than it's worth, you won't be the last either. You will also be likely to suffer from being hyper critical of your own work, which makes the money and time spent much harder to bear if you let it. Don't. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

If you have a working game, that's in better shape than when you took over custodianship then you are winning.

It's tough to sell a machine for less than you have put into it, but selling for parts is a long game and a real shame if you have a working game.

If you have space and can afford to keep and enjoy, that's the best option in this market (compared to the last few years). If you can sell and make a small loss and chalk up some of the cash spent as a money well invested in your skills development and having a good time then even better. So long as you are honest about it's condition you should not go far wrong.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to see some pics. I played a version of this machine in Budapest for the first time this year. I really really enjoyed it, one of my favourite games and very much unexpected. It deserves to continue to live on 😉
 
Can't hurt to at least offer it up on here - if you get no takers maybe consider breaking it up?

Always had a soft pot for this table myself.. was one of the first I ever had many years ago 😁
 
Sounds like there are enough people interested in it as a whole project, Inc myself, to make it worth listing it first as long as it's the right price it should go easily.
 
My goal before winter was to keep the wood alive. 2 coats of very high quality sikkens primer and several coats of paint. Backglass is nice but was on the turn so clear coated it. Machine is fully working although as a few bulbs out. I went and got the replacement led pac maze from the states and a few decals. The issue is that I am very OCD and if I restore anything then I wanna do it to the highest level and I just don't think I can do that here. No repro playfields exist even though mine is not terrible I want it amazing. Can't get decals for the apron and shooter lane. The rust just gets everywhere and I think (Ant give someone else a go and do something else) As people say I will get some pics up and see what happens. It is a good base to start from. Trouble is I have been restoring multiple arcades all summer and I am a bit spent.
 
Had a few people interested in this depending on what I do with it. In an update that will surprise no one who has owned anything I have some real trouble letting this thing go. I just love the theme. I don't wanna flip flop as its boring and annoying for people who are interested. Will organise my game room over the next week or so and see where we are. If I knew someone who could touch up the playfield for me then it would 100% stay. From the attached pic you can see it's hardly a beater. PXL_20241026_220904664.webp
 
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