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New Pinball day tomorrow….

Make sure you have a second person with you to help lift for putting the back legs on, its worth getting / making something to help keep it upright whilst putting these on
Always take balls out before lifting the playfield vertically
Test all switches / coils / lamps by hand and in the menus
Get a soldering iron if you don't have one, imperial socket set and general tools aplenty
All newly bought games have a "honeymoon" period

Shoot the Pyramid!
 
Thank you! I hasn’t considered how to suspend the cabinet while re-attaching the legs. I can most likely do on a variety of tables or benches I have.

Going with a friend, so lifting will be no problem. Expecting about 300lbs, so will need a bit of puff.
 
iamCornhoolio said:
Thank you! I hasn’t considered how to suspend the cabinet while re-attaching the legs. I can most likely do on a variety of tables or benches I have.

Going with a friend, so lifting will be no problem. Expecting about 300lbs, so will need a bit of puff.
Click to expand...
As has been mentioned already, I also use my high tech patented suspension tool when fitting the rear legs. There are different designs but my one works a treat for me.

IMG_3155.webp
 
Putting the legs on was something I didn’t know the trick for at the beginning.
The machine should be folded with the head folded down onto the cab, and then put upright on the back of the cab. Playfield should now be point up vertically. This then is moved in the sack truck easily and designed to take the knocks.
From this folded position, keeping in the straps holding the head onto the cab, put the front legs on and then lower the cab into the legs.
The you lift the back up and put it into the stand, chair etc, of the right height to put on the rear legs.

Personally, I do the bolts up but not entirely tight, place the weight of the machine on carefully and then tighten the bolts up fully as someone told me that was a good idea.
 
Before turning the power on, just give everything a good looking over to make sure nothing is obviously wrong!

9 out of 10 pinballs I buy seem to have a damaged power cable for example. Don't go plugging it in if there is exposed mains wiring.

Make sure that there are no stray balls inside the cabinet resting onto of the power transformer or the power switch or somewhere that it's going to short out.

After moving a machine there can often be a lot of old screws and washers etc rattling around in the bottom. Pull those out and put them somewhere safe for when you find out where they have fallen of from 🤣
 
The ceremonial solo pinball lift to put the legs on is the peak of new pinball day. You get a nice bruise on your thigh for a few days to remind you how much fun it was destroying one or both of your legs.

Don't engage in any modifications/renovations or anything you might regret without thorough research and practice if possible.
If you do take anything apart for cleaning, take pictures.
Look up the fuses for your machine and keep some handy to minimise downtime.
Don't use millswax, use a decent automotive or guitar wax.
Keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol around.
Keep the playfield clean.
Keep the balls shiney. I'd replace them once a year under normal solo play or once every 6 months if played regularly.
Force your partner to play it, especially if they don't want to, and revel in beating them.
Enjoy it.

Don't worry about the money investment. You play this hobby smart you come out approximately where you started. If you break the bank vajazzling pins then then that's a you problem 🤡
 
Last edited:
Paul said:
Check all the fuses are in place, and are OF THE CORRECT VALUE before firing up. The number of boards i see with incorrect rated fuses in them is incredible...
Click to expand...
🤣 I've done a fuse check, on video, several times.
If a pinball machine has been operated at any point, almost every single fuse in it will be the wrong value and/or wrapped in foil or wire 🤣
 
thejefu said:
The ceremonial solo pinball lift to put the legs on is the peak of new pinball day. You get a nice bruise on your thigh for a few days to remind you how much fun it was destroying one or both of your legs.

Don't engage in any modifications/renovations or anything you might regret without thorough research and practice if possible.
If you do take anything apart for cleaning, take pictures.
Look up the fuses for your machine and keep some handy to minimise downtime.
Don't use millswax, use a decent automotive or guitar wax.
Keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol around.
Keep the playfield clean.
Keep the balls shiney. I'd replace them once a year under normal solo play or once every 6 months if played regularly.
Force your partner to play it, especially if they don't want to, and revel in beating them.
Enjoy it.

Don't worry about the money investment. You play this hobby smart you come out approximately where you started. If you break the bank vajazzling pins then then that's a you problem 🤡
Click to expand...
I’ll read the playfield cleaning thread 😁. The wax is a great too as well, thank you. Maybe a Brazilian before the Vajazzle?
 
Calimori said:
Putting the legs on was something I didn’t know the trick for at the beginning.
The machine should be folded with the head folded down onto the cab, and then put upright on the back of the cab. Playfield should now be point up vertically. This then is moved in the sack truck easily and designed to take the knocks.
From this folded position, keeping in the straps holding the head onto the cab, put the front legs on and then lower the cab into the legs.
The you lift the back up and put it into the stand, chair etc, of the right height to put on the rear legs.

Personally, I do the bolts up but not entirely tight, place the weight of the machine on carefully and then tighten the bolts up fully as someone told me that was a good idea.
Click to expand...
This also seems quite a feasible way of doing things, I assume I take the balls out if I’m standing the cabinet vertically?
 
lukewells said:
Before turning the power on, just give everything a good looking over to make sure nothing is obviously wrong!

9 out of 10 pinballs I buy seem to have a damaged power cable for example. Don't go plugging it in if there is exposed mains wiring.

Make sure that there are no stray balls inside the cabinet resting onto of the power transformer or the power switch or somewhere that it's going to short out.

After moving a machine there can often be a lot of old screws and washers etc rattling around in the bottom. Pull those out and put them somewhere safe for when you find out where they have fallen of from 🤣
Click to expand...
I didn’t think about loose balls causing shorts, I’ve got a lot to learn!
 
iamCornhoolio said:
This also seems quite a feasible way of doing things, I assume I take the balls out if I’m standing the cabinet vertically?
Click to expand...

Depending on the 'outhole' arrangement, it can be wise to take the ball(s) out before even lifting the playfield - a Gottlieb electro-mechanical I once owned would allow the ball to fly out simply by raising the playfield, and it had long since broken a small plastic directly above. Two other examples of that game which I've seen on here, owned by 'ronsplooter', were the same.
 
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