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Petrified removing playfield glass?

Rasputin

Rasputin

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1 10 Years
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
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152
Location
Northants
Evening all,

So I decided to clean and wax my Godzilla today and trying to remove and replace the playfield glass was to say the least a terrifying experience!

It was tighter than a nuns nunny and I was soo worried it was going to shatter.

Does anyone else experience this or is it just me worrying for no reason?
 
I'm always ultra careful taking it out and putting it in, especially when it's tight (giggity). As long as you are exerting force in the right direction it should be OK.

Also be careful where you place it once you've taken it out. My cat knocked a piece over once, luckily it missed her and landed softly on the floor.
 
I've been repairing pins for 20+ years and have 85ish of my own machines and have helped setup at god knows how many shows.
The number of times I've taken the glass in and out of pinball machines must be numbered in the THOUSANDS

I've never broken a glass to this day, so I don't think they are anywhere near as fragile as you think 🤣

However I have had 2 randomly explode in machines that were not even being touched (this has happened to quite a few people) when it happens, you'll be finding little cubes of glass for the next 5-10 years (seriously!🤣)
 
You're not going to smash the glass removing it from the game. I tried smashing a pinball glass with a hammer once to stick it in the glass bin and still couldn't smash it!
 
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Sometimes the glass is tight if the machine is not set up perfectly levelled. The cabinets can twist a little. But usually this is with older machines that have battered cabinets. At the other end of the scale I have machines where the glass will slowly start to move down under gravity if you take off the lockbar.

Just don't ever put the glass down directly on a concrete or stone floor. Put some cardboard under first if you need to do this.

And be careful not to ding the edges or corners on anything. I have read that dings on the edges is what causes the rare spontaneous explosions whilst in the machine.

I have owned pinballs 25 years now and only ever broken 2 pieces. I knocked 3 spare pieces over accidentally and all 3 hit the floor (lvt over concrete) flat which unfortunately had a couple of sockets lying under where they fell. 2 pieces broke and the other survived. They are much stronger than you think they are.
 
Glass out then run a thin flat blade screw driver up the inside of the plastic channel a few times holding the screwdriver at 45 degrees. You’re basically lightly shaving some of the plastic off the inside of the channel. Afterwards run the corner of a cloth up and down the channel to clear any loose bits. I’ve done this before to change the glass from very tight to just snug 👍
 
Thanks for all the replies, I’ll definitely try some wax on the side edges next time. I find it hard to get the angle just right when putting it back in. I feel it’ll explode wiggling it around to get it!
 
I must add this is my 14th pin but never had this problem before as most were older Bally/Williams machines and the glass used to practically slide out on there own.
 
I have never done the screwdriver technique, but I do use a wooden wedge technique it’s the like the same principle as it slightly widens the channel but with out scratching it ,it also helps prevent the ingress of dust /dirt scratching the glass over time .

Ps use a thinner piece of wood with a cloth around it soaked in novice 1 first as it could just be a build up of dirt in the channel .
 
You could also try loosening the side rail screws a tiny bit, the side rails do put pressure on the plastic channel. Just try half a turn on each screw on one side maybe (I had to remove a side rail on LOTR once when I tried anti rattle tape and got the glass stuck!)
 
If the glass is tight use a sander to take the edges of the glass down
(yes I am joking).

The corners are the worst thing, especially on concrete floors. I have seen them smash with the smallest tap on that....

A glass breaking out the machine is a hassle, and it makes a sound and a half - but the worse place for a glass to break is in a game.
 
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