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Buying my first machine possibly!

jack burton

jack burton

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10 Years
Joined
Jan 30, 2014
Messages
426
Location
Waterford
Right so I've found a machine 10 miles from my house. The seller is a friend of a friend and is a nice chap.

Its a Shadow thats been sitting in his garage for about 3-4 years unplayed. I had a look at is over a year ago and he was asking silly money for it. He since moved away and I never got anywhere with him again so I kind of forgot about it. I got onto him again and he'll be back around in the next few week and I told him I had someone interested in it

Now from memory the machine is in quite good nick, not perfect but good. Few little missing pieces of plastic if I recall. Its also not working, powers on ok but it needs new solenoids. When I looked at it i knew nothing about pins but now I'll be able to blag my way a bit better.

Just looking for some tips on what i should really check for when i go to look at it. I know to look for wear to the sanctum section of the game and a few other specific things for the Shadow. But where should I really be checking for water damage and stuff like that?

Last time he was asking €1500 for it which was just stupid IMO so how much should I be offering him for it because I'd say thats the price he's going to come back to me with.
 
If none of the coils are working it's prob board issues and if it's been sat in a garage unused for years there's bound to be battery acid damage on the board. So factor that into your offer
 
Would it just be the fact the coils are ****ed? Yeah I considered that for the batteries, how much would boards set me back?

I'll post up pictures when i go to view it in this thread anyway. Hopefully next week sometime
 
It would be a lil unusual for all of them to be knackered at the same time and there are about 10 coils. Not sure on prices of boards but replacements don't come cheap sometimes they can be repaired tho
 
Ok thanks lads. I'll factor that in and check for it

bad batteries could be a cause maybe?
 
If it's been Sat in a damp garage then check for rust on all metal parts above and below the Playfield.
 
jack burton said:
Right so I've found a machine 10 miles from my house. The seller is a friend of a friend and is a nice chap.

Its a Shadow thats been sitting in his garage for about 3-4 years unplayed. I had a look at is over a year ago and he was asking silly money for it. He since moved away and I never got anywhere with him again so I kind of forgot about it. I got onto him again and he'll be back around in the next few week and I told him I had someone interested in it

Now from memory the machine is in quite good nick, not perfect but good. Few little missing pieces of plastic if I recall. Its also not working, powers on ok but it needs new solenoids. When I looked at it i knew nothing about pins but now I'll be able to blag my way a bit better.

Just looking for some tips on what i should really check for when i go to look at it. I know to look for wear to the sanctum section of the game and a few other specific things for the Shadow. But where should I really be checking for water damage and stuff like that?

Last time he was asking €1500 for it which was just stupid IMO so how much should I be offering him for it because I'd say thats the price he's going to come back to me with.
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You really don't want to pay much more than 1000 euros for a machine with unknown electrical issues, even then you are gambling that the issues are small and easily fixable. If the condition is good and the Santum area is nice then offer him nearer his asking price if he gets it fixed first, It may turn out to be cheaper!
 
GrizZ said:
No it doesn't ;) As others have said there will be another reason they aren't firing. In 12 years and umpteen machines I can barely remember needing to replace a solenoid.
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And is there any way to test them?

Or just a process of elimation of what it isn't Haha
 
I have replaced a few solenoids because they were wrong or they were burnt due another failure and even the burnt out one was still working.
If a solenoid looks like it has been on fire and the plastic bits have started to melt then they may need replacing, is a good place to start.

Otherwise could be a fuse blown caused by a transistor issue, a short causing a blow fuse or something else. ;)
 
Does anything work? Does it power up or anything? I've also got a few spare plastics and the battlefield spigot repair kit if it still has the original plastic spigot
 
RudeDogg1 said:
Does anything work? Does it power up or anything? I've also got a few spare plastics and the battlefield spigot repair kit if it still has the original plastic spigot
Click to expand...

I'm not sure yet, afik it powers up fine. I'll be hopefully be seeing it during the week so I'll able to get a proper suss on it the
 
Good advice from the guys as per usual, a very nice working Shadow is worth £1300-£1500, I would pay max of 1k for a Shadow that does not function A1 but could be repaired fairly easily that would result in a really nice example, if this is your first pin you may be better sourcing one that works straight off the bat, you can learn as you go on but at least you have something to play with immediately which is priority number one with your first machine IMO, not sure how abundant pins are in Ireland, one of mine went over there some years back but you can always hop across the water and pick a worker over here if they are in short supply, plenty of guys on here moving machines which would make for a great first pin experience.
 
Yeah see they are a bit hard to come across over here. But a dirty harry actually just came up for sale last night. €1800 is the asking. I'm getting pics sent to me shortly

I'll hold out hope for the shadow because its a favourite machine of mine. Even if it is in bad nick I'll still try and get it. Put it it my sheds boiler room to keep it dry and work away as a project

I would really like to go over to the UK and get something but my car is small so I couldn't fit anything in there and between all the costs it would add about €400-500 to the cost of getting one. I asked about getting one shipped over but I wouldn't say many people want that hastle.
 
If you are up for a project then go for it. You will learn so much and at the end have a fully working machine.
You just need to secure the machine for the right price.
 
Guess they can ask top dollar in Ireland. Add on the transport costs to buy one from here and get it over would work out a similar deal.
 
He would have to add on the ferry charge plus more miles that's if he did it which I can't see him doing.
Knowing Martin though he probably would if a price was agreed beforehand. Cause he's that kind of guy.
 
I have used shiply a few times and got machines over for around £100, infact first one was £86 I believe although that was a few years ago now.

If you are able to wait a week or so shiply is great for shipping across the water, loads of couriers/haulers going either way empty and glad of fuel money and a few quid on top.

Best making sure it's packed well as some aren't as careful as others, there is a fragile option when listing on shiply though.
 
That's the good thing about Martin, you know care will be taken and it will arrive in the same condition it left the seller.
Personally I would not trust any other courier with any of my machines. If I can't do the transport myself then I use Martin.
 
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