I only ever play digital pinball as I can't afford a real machine, nor do I have the space for it, but I keep watching pin repair videos on YT! What a great host in this video and what great advice for collectors!
Very kind of you to put this video up. I'm looking to buy my first couple of pinball machines (in the UK) and tutorials like these are both hugely informative and fun to watch too. Thank you very much indeed.
I'm also considering picking up a pinball machine (in the UK) though it seems like a lot of maintenance is required, did you have any trouble getting someone to repair any parts of your machine? Or did you do those yourself?
I don't know how I got to this video, but I'm glad I did. I used to play a lot of pinball back in the day including the Indiana Jones game. It's fun to know all these facts about the actual game.
your tutorials are simply amazing. and this, because you are simply sincere and honest, qualities nowadays impossible to find. cheers from an italian pinball collector
From a another pinball repairman here in the states I approve of this video. :) What I do with batteries is I will leave the battery holder as is and put in lithium batteries when they go dead they do not leak unless you short them out but that is not good if they get shorted. With that said though I will replace a battery holder that has some light battery leakage from alkaline batteries though.
regarding the ORBIT Leisure centres sticker shown at 13.28, there were two of these in Newcastle late 70s, one was directly across from where I caught the bus home after school and was directly responsible for me missing the bus many times.....
New rubber and bulbs is to be expected. It's really important to look for broken ramps/plastics, corrosion on the boards in the backbox (especially around the battery holder), burned connectors, and rust or white corrosion on the metal parts under the playfield. THOSE are your money costs.
The thing is, you are unlikely to see widespread, expensive faults on a machine with new rubbers all over, so they are a good indicator to look deeper. They're the regular oil-change of the pinball world.
I've seen plenty of "shopped" machines for sale that had much deeper undisclosed issues. So while I agree beat up rubber and dirt can be an indicator, sellers are now up to speed on how to pass off a lemon.
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
@@milesdyson5211 NO, I did not recommend using any type of Hairspray on a Pinball. You're thinking of someone else ANNND I would say using Hairspray is a very bad idea, it's a glue that would cause problems on moving parts.
@@PinballExpert I started thinking...."If he REALLY made this recommendation, I'm staying FAR away from his advice!". I'm glad you clarified this claim.
Great video. I live in Melbourne and I've played pinball all my life. It;s good to see a good instructional video on what to look for when buying a pinball machine. I've always wanted one, and now I know what to look for. Thank you.
Not sure i'll ever be in the market of buying a machine, but i still watched this suggested video. It was informative and i was entertained, thanks for sharing.
I have worked on pinballs since 1979,worked for 7 different companies none of them were any good just work for collectors these days. This is not a bad little guide.
Absolutely fascinating stuff. I've only recently been getting interested in the business of maintaining pinball machines. It's really interesting learning about the potential points of failure and common problems.
Wow this came up cause I sub to TNT's channel and gotta say great video brother. Thank you so much for the detail you go into. I've always wanted a table (Diner, Bad Cats, or Creature if I had 3 wishes), and was always afraid of what kind of condition they could be in if I were to happen across one here in the States. All the info in this vid helps me to know exactly what to look for. The flipper play example was particularly enlightening (now I know why it's so tough to find a machine that plays well in most of the joints around here that aren't pinball specific). Thanks again!
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
Watching this video helped me realize that I am far too lazy to own a pinball machine and service it properly. I'm going to stick with Pinball Arcade on my PS4. Awesome video though!
It is totally different experience to play the actual pinball machine though. Pinball Arcade is great for those not having the space for a pin but once you get yer first pin and play it you can feel the shaker motors in Earthshaker and feel the vibrations of the flippers and the ball and all the electronics going off. Something a video game simulation can never really duplicate.
I bought a new Stern Sharkeys Shootout 20 years ago. Been lucky, worked fine all these years, replaced all lamps with multicolored leds. Very beautiful now.
On the Indiana Jones table, it's important to check the left side mini playfield, it's supposed to tilt side to side with the flippers with some fairly sensitive switches along the playfield and often is one of the first things to fail in various ways in those machines (my local town had 3 of these in various arcades in the mid 90s, and all 3 of them had issues with that mini-playfield after about a year or so). Great pinball game when everything works, but very frustrating when certain things don't work (like the mini-playfield).
Yes, there's other things to examine on a Jones pinball & other games. I made this show specifically for inexperienced people outlining basic inspections & tests.
I think the checking both flippers doesn't cause a reset is the best advice here especially with Williams games like Indian jones, but nicely presented!
So etching you didn’t mention. If the inside of the cabinet is dirty/dusty, that’s a big indicator that the owner didn’t take care of it. I recently saw a machine that the playfield looked a bit dirty and the rubble rings were all cracked. But, the inside of the machine looked like hell. I passed on it because it needed quite a lot of reconditioning.
The only thing I would add is the overall condition of the cabinet. As like you first example some cabinets suffer from the fading and prone to dings and scratches when moving location over time.
You missed the #1 money saving tip. Once you buy the machine you can set it to "free play". This way you can play the game without using quarters! I found out the hard way...
I agree with pretty much everything mentioned here, but I wonder why there is no mention of inspecting how the game "looks". A very worn playfield can easily cost you close to 1000$ if you want to replace it, not to mention the labor that is involved. For example I noticed the worn inserts on your Indiana Jones right away. A near perfect looking machine can cost something like 4000$, while a not so nice one might only cost 2000$. Of course both in working condition. So that is a huge factor in how much you should spend on a pinball machine.
Looks are subjective and easy enough for a buyer to see & decide if they like how it looks and if it's presentable enough for them. In my experience most people buy a game to play, that's the first priority, appearance is a secondary consideration.
Fantastic video really like the in-depth overview of everything. Would have been great if you had examples of what you don’t want to see in a pinball machine. Maybe that could be a whole video series
I wanted to keep this show easy to follow, I may do some more similar shows that are more in depth covering different eras EG, Electro Mechanicals, early Electronics, Alpha numeric, Dot matrix etc.
9:04 - the buttons (2 black, 2 red) are used by repairmen to check machines. Can get a test report of what isn’t working , can also test everything in an orderly way .
I always wanted a pinball machine. Just never ran to one I like or afford or didn't had the money at the time, plus room for it. Love playing pinball on my PC and gaming consoles. One day, I'll be a pinball machine owner; one day.
As others have said, thank you for this excellent informative video. I am also hoping to purchase some pinball machines (eventually). Regards Whiterabbit-uk
I would have suggested putting the game in test mode and checking out the lamps and solenoids that way. Visual inspection is good for plastics and ramps.
Using test procedures is a good sugestion for buyers with some previous experience with Pinballs but with this show focused on aiding first time Pinball buyers putting a game through it's test procedures would probably be to daunting and complex a task especially considering the variety of different test menus and procedures various manufacturers created over many years.
If you look on Ebay and other sources, you can find Pinball Kits for your particular machine. These kits often include the replacement rubbers, lamps, Flipper bands and new plunger springs and a new pinball. They often include cleaner/polish/wax and will be kitted out to your particular machine. Since there is competition for these kits, the prices are reasonable and you know you are getting the right replacement parts. From your friends at PINCOMBO.com !
I need someone that works on pinball machines I have one . One of the 4 panels in the top box is burned I live in West Arizona by the blythe California would like to get it fixed
I’d love to get one if I was ever able to find the space, but the maintenance worries me. Not that I’m not willing to put in the effort; I am. I’m just worried that I’d be a bull in a China shop.
My first caveat would be, don't buy a pinball on ebay. I never worked on one that wasn't a huge headache. Should have cut my losses after a couple of hours on all of them (about a handful, in more ways than one), until finally deciding to refuse ebay buyers about 15 years ago. Some sellers are adept at selling a sparkling, slick exterior with a nightmare interior.
Hello Pinball Expert , can you recommend some early Gottlieb EM machines that are robust and fun to play . And can you still get parts for those machines . Also can you adjust the sound on old EM machines as they can be a bit noisy ? As a kid I remember playing them , I think they were 20 cents for 5 balls .You had lots of targets to hit , you got got a extra ball on targets being all hit , then if you hit them all down again you got a free game. I can not remember the name of them , only they were Gottlieb brand thanks.
which games are the most fun is a subjective thing, everyone has a different opinion. Sound wise the only thing you can do with EMs is disconnect the chimes in games that have them. 3 or 5 balls is adjustable. Look through games on the internet pinball data base, you will see photos that may jog your memory.
Old video. Very basic but probably good for a non technical person. For WPC games the credit dot is the first thing I look at. Also checking fault codes is easy. The slapping flipper together is just showing a 5v board issue. Bottom line, if you buy a used pinball machine ALWAYS assume it’s got issues. I have found most people sell because it has issues and they don’t want to deal with them.
I did this show specifically to help people with no pinball technical knowledge or experience, I just covered the basics so it was easy to follow & easy do.
I think rubber rings be the last thing to be concerned about. Those are regular maintenance. Playfield wear n damage is the part fo worry about most. All the other stuff can be bought easy enough.
There is no typical cost for servicing and/or repairs, they vary considerably and depend upon the actual game, it's individual operating condition and faults (if any) along with what specific parts are required.
Gotta admit, it just isn't worth it anymore for most. Have a classic arcade in town with over 20 games, including classics like STTNG, but they're always in shoddy condition, unlevel, flipper issues, etc. My experience with VPX and Pinball FX3 have been near perfect by comparison.
I've been dreaming on getting Cirqus Voltaire (will be my first pinball machine now that I'm 30 I can buy 'Big boy toys') Any tips on what to look up on that machine as it has more parts than most pinball machines that I've seen.
Make sure it plays properly with no faults AT ALL, finding some parts for Cirqus Voltaire maybe near impossible, it has alot of unique parts and gadgets!
Yes, although this shows intention is to outline the basics for beginners. Checking capacitors and numerous other things I could mention are best left to those with experience.
indiana jones is my favourite game. how difficult are these to maintain? I am located in Canada. It was very popular back in the 90s so I presume lots of these were made... Interested in getting one.
@@PinballExpert Thank you for this. Another question... what do you think of current modern manufacturers? I watched the video about Stern machines you made, wondering if all modern brand follow the same faith? Any comments on Jersey Jack. Should I just stick to 90s machines for now?
@@juanmanuelgarcia199 Each new brand is quite different although there are some similarities to many to discuss here in comments. Recent Jersey Jack pinball have been improving with better quality in my professional opinion. 90's pinballs have a well established history so you know how they are, some new brands may be very good but they have no established history YET. To determine how good or bad they are long term is a wait and see proposition. Having said that it's been several years for Jersey Jack and a few years for American Pinball and both look very promising SO FAR! I will be doing a show on various brand soon.
@@PinballExpert I went to see my first machine today! it was a Terminator 2, it played and worked very well but found a couple blemishes on the playfield (right on the out hole / shooter lane) and another one on the cabinet (bottom right corner seems to be slightly separating at the 90 degree angle, I suspect due to use, pushing tilting, etc) The cabinet does not seem very problematic, but the out hole has been fixed with some sort of JB weld/epoxy and it works very good but it is not a pretty job, weird thing is the rest of the shooter lane seems very good and so is the playfield... I am considering buying it but I am afraid to go forward due to these issues... what do you think? I can possibly get pictures and I share with you if interested (I am Canadian) Thank you Sir!
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
Hard to answer quickly, it depends on the era. In Electro mechanicals Gottlieb, in early electronics 1977 to 1982 Williams & Bally. 83 to 87 they were all pretty weak but Williams made a few decent games, just a few though. 88 to 93 Gottlieb, Data East, Williams/Bally all made some good games & lousy ones. 94 to onwards not many worth having.
I can't answer that in a brief way that will be useful to people as we all have different tastes plus there is a huge variety in Pinball and games from different decades can't accurately be compared BUT, I'll answer with just a few titles among a great many good games from each era as follows. From the early mid 1970's Jacks Open, Jungle Princess, Aztec Odds and Evens. Late 70's to mid 1980's. Stellar Wars, Firepower, 8 Ball Deluxe, Paragon, BMX, Solar Fire, Black Hole, Elektra. Late 1980's, High Speed, Spirit, Rocky, Space Shuttle, Lights Camera Action, Simpsons, Earthshaker. 1990's, Surf N Safari, Terminator, Lethal Weapon 3, Starship Troopers, No Fear, Star Trek Next Gen. Stern was the only manufacturer from 2000 and since that time they have never made a truly great game but they have made some pretty good ones. South Park, Simpsons Pinball Party, Spiderman, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, Kiss, Deadpool although I don't recommend buying any of the last 3 as they are Stern Spike System games.
@@PinballExpert This was more than I expected, so I was grinning to read all these names. I’ve got coffee-table volumes on the history of pinball & so love listening to you break down these eras & their standouts. I enjoy your channel because you’re the furthest thing from a shill & like many others, you don’t blindly wet yourself over a new pin you bought as a shield against buyer’s remorse. You’ve been burned & you’re saving ME & others from the same. Thanks for this answer and I’ll continue watching! ✌️
If you're looking for tips on what to look for in purchasing a pinball game, I'd recommend not looking here. Rubber rings can be inexpensively replaced, dirt can be easily cleaned for free, bulbs can be had cheap, posts can easily be tightened for free, and it's not that hard or expensive to change the flipper inserts or even the flipper solenoids. The number one thing by far on an EM is playfield wear, number 2 the backglass condition, and number 3 does it work properly.
I only ever play digital pinball as I can't afford a real machine, nor do I have the space for it, but I keep watching pin repair videos on YT! What a great host in this video and what great advice for collectors!
Very kind of you to put this video up. I'm looking to buy my first couple of pinball machines (in the UK) and tutorials like these are both hugely informative and fun to watch too. Thank you very much indeed.
I'm glad it helped you, that is the goal.
I'm also considering picking up a pinball machine (in the UK) though it seems like a lot of maintenance is required, did you have any trouble getting someone to repair any parts of your machine? Or did you do those yourself?
I don't know how I got to this video, but I'm glad I did. I used to play a lot of pinball back in the day including the Indiana Jones game. It's fun to know all these facts about the actual game.
your tutorials are simply amazing. and this, because you are simply sincere and honest, qualities nowadays impossible to find. cheers from an italian pinball collector
From a another pinball repairman here in the states I approve of this video. :)
What I do with batteries is I will leave the battery holder as is and put in lithium batteries when they go dead they do not leak unless you short them out but that is not good if they get shorted.
With that said though I will replace a battery holder that has some light battery leakage from alkaline batteries though.
Seems like a cool job. I wanna repair pinball games! :)
This guy is on point, a professional effort, concise and informative. Thanks M8
I love all of these videos, Mark. I'm going to be in the market for my first machine here soon, and It's great to have this wealth of knowledge. :)
regarding the ORBIT Leisure centres sticker shown at 13.28, there were two of these in Newcastle late 70s, one was directly across from where I caught the bus home after school and was directly responsible for me missing the bus many times.....
Excellent video. Friendly and helpful advice.
I plan to buy a pinball machine one day so I'm saving this to favourites to refer to when that day comes.
Awsome channel, thanks for existing!
New rubber and bulbs is to be expected. It's really important to look for broken ramps/plastics, corrosion on the boards in the backbox (especially around the battery holder), burned connectors, and rust or white corrosion on the metal parts under the playfield. THOSE are your money costs.
The thing is, you are unlikely to see widespread, expensive faults on a machine with new rubbers all over, so they are a good indicator to look deeper. They're the regular oil-change of the pinball world.
I've seen plenty of "shopped" machines for sale that had much deeper undisclosed issues. So while I agree beat up rubber and dirt can be an indicator, sellers are now up to speed on how to pass off a lemon.
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
@@milesdyson5211 NO, I did not recommend using any type of Hairspray on a Pinball. You're thinking of someone else ANNND I would say using Hairspray is a very bad idea, it's a glue that would cause problems on moving parts.
@@PinballExpert I started thinking...."If he REALLY made this recommendation, I'm staying FAR away from his advice!". I'm glad you clarified this claim.
Great video. I live in Melbourne and I've played pinball all my life. It;s good to see a good instructional video on what to look for when buying a pinball machine. I've always wanted one, and now I know what to look for. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful. My goal was to help inexperienced buyers.
Not sure i'll ever be in the market of buying a machine, but i still watched this suggested video. It was informative and i was entertained, thanks for sharing.
I have worked on pinballs since 1979,worked for 7 different companies none of them were any good just work for collectors these days. This is not a bad little guide.
Do you have any additional tips on what to look for?
I came across your channel. Great video, great clear communication. I look forward to viewing your other videos.
No wonder these things cost a small fortune! Great video! Someday, I’ll have one in my house.
the man knows what he is talking about, an excellent video, thank you mate!
Thanks for your time making these video's. I'm looking to buy a few machines in the future, so this was very helpful. I Subscribed. Thanks Again!
You're welcome, I'm glad they helped.
Sweet Lord buddy, what a great video! I would love to buy a pin and now I know to look for. Thank you!
Excellent and very informative video. Thank you so much!! Looking for my 1st pinball machine.
Absolutely fascinating stuff. I've only recently been getting interested in the business of maintaining pinball machines. It's really interesting learning about the potential points of failure and common problems.
I did do this for 30 years and I really miss it.
Thank you for uploading this. Great advice!
I'm glad you found it helpful.
Told in a very friendly and clear way. Learned a lot
Thank you, I glad it help you.
Thanks so much for providing a great overall view for beginners who are trying to gather information. Great video!
Thankyou, The tips selected in this video were specifically chosen to help beginners make better choices when buying a Pinball.
@@PinballExpert You nailed it!
Wow! Had no idea there was so much stuff inside the head box! Thanks for this video. :)
Thank You very much for this video. Greetings from Brazil. Pinball is life !
Hello Brazil and thank you, the world is so connected on youtube.
Service menu will often show faults as well.
Great video. awesome pinball machines
Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.
Glad you enjoyed the show.
Bloody sweet job explainin thins in detail mate! Pinball machines do look pretty complex when it comes to repairs. A lot could an does go wrong huh?
Wow this came up cause I sub to TNT's channel and gotta say great video brother. Thank you so much for the detail you go into. I've always wanted a table (Diner, Bad Cats, or Creature if I had 3 wishes), and was always afraid of what kind of condition they could be in if I were to happen across one here in the States. All the info in this vid helps me to know exactly what to look for. The flipper play example was particularly enlightening (now I know why it's so tough to find a machine that plays well in most of the joints around here that aren't pinball specific). Thanks again!
You're very welcome and thank you for the comment. I am glad this show is helping so many new buyers to avoid unnecessary problems.
This gentleman looks like an Aussie Jessie Ventura, love it! Videos have been very informative and helpful :)
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
Thanks Mark -very helpful
I'm glad to have been of help.
Very informative, thanks!
Thank you for a great video. I was
Planning to buy a Pinball from Sterns and your video was very informative!!! Thank you Sir!!!
you won’t be disappointed with a new Stern machine
Valuable information. Thanks.
Golly good advice mate.
Helpful advice! Many thanks.
You're welcome, glad to be of help.
use emulator. no more worn rubbers
Watching this video helped me realize that I am far too lazy to own a pinball machine and service it properly. I'm going to stick with Pinball Arcade on my PS4. Awesome video though!
Me too! I'd love to own some machines someday but I'd have to hire someone to service them!
It is totally different experience to play the actual pinball machine though.
Pinball Arcade is great for those not having the space for a pin but once you get yer first pin and play it you can feel the shaker motors in Earthshaker and feel the vibrations of the flippers and the ball and all the electronics going off.
Something a video game simulation can never really duplicate.
gonna suck since pinball arcades not producing anymore games.
Great guide, thanks!
I bought a new Stern Sharkeys Shootout 20 years ago. Been lucky, worked fine all these years, replaced all lamps with multicolored leds. Very beautiful now.
Really useful. Thanks for sharing.
Nice one Mark.
Excellent Video!!! Thanks
You're very welcome, I am glad it was helpful Sean.
On the Indiana Jones table, it's important to check the left side mini playfield, it's supposed to tilt side to side with the flippers with some fairly sensitive switches along the playfield and often is one of the first things to fail in various ways in those machines (my local town had 3 of these in various arcades in the mid 90s, and all 3 of them had issues with that mini-playfield after about a year or so). Great pinball game when everything works, but very frustrating when certain things don't work (like the mini-playfield).
Yes, there's other things to examine on a Jones pinball & other games. I made this show specifically for inexperienced people outlining basic inspections & tests.
Thanks a million, sir!
Nice and very nderstandable video!
Excellent
Great tips. Thanks.
Thank you.
Great info to know, thanks
Great video thanks for the tips
Thank you for the advice
Great video.
Thank you, I am glad it's been helpful to so many people.
I think the checking both flippers doesn't cause a reset is the best advice here especially with Williams games like Indian jones, but nicely presented!
Thanks for the vid!
great help thanks
Good video thank you
Nice video and fun to watch. Take care now.
Great video,subbed
So etching you didn’t mention. If the inside of the cabinet is dirty/dusty, that’s a big indicator that the owner didn’t take care of it. I recently saw a machine that the playfield looked a bit dirty and the rubble rings were all cracked. But, the inside of the machine looked like hell. I passed on it because it needed quite a lot of reconditioning.
The only thing I would add is the overall condition of the cabinet. As like you first example some cabinets suffer from the fading and prone to dings and scratches when moving location over time.
Nice Video, That Indiana Jones has a lot of Worn Playfield inserts for the missions.
You missed the #1 money saving tip. Once you buy the machine you can set it to "free play". This way you can play the game without using quarters! I found out the hard way...
Great video mate! Have the same IJ machine, about to go in for a service. Cheers from Europe
Thank you for the feedback.
I agree with pretty much everything mentioned here, but I wonder why there is no mention of inspecting how the game "looks". A very worn playfield can easily cost you close to 1000$ if you want to replace it, not to mention the labor that is involved. For example I noticed the worn inserts on your Indiana Jones right away. A near perfect looking machine can cost something like 4000$, while a not so nice one might only cost 2000$. Of course both in working condition. So that is a huge factor in how much you should spend on a pinball machine.
Looks are subjective and easy enough for a buyer to see & decide if they like how it looks and if it's presentable enough for them. In my experience most people buy a game to play, that's the first priority, appearance is a secondary consideration.
Fantastic video really like the in-depth overview of everything. Would have been great if you had examples of what you don’t want to see in a pinball machine. Maybe that could be a whole video series
I wanted to keep this show easy to follow, I may do some more similar shows that are more in depth covering different eras EG, Electro Mechanicals, early Electronics, Alpha numeric, Dot matrix etc.
9:04 - the buttons (2 black, 2 red) are used by repairmen to check machines.
Can get a test report of what isn’t working , can also test everything in an orderly way .
I'm nowhere near being able to afford a pinball table, but this was really interesting regardless!
I always wanted a pinball machine. Just never ran to one I like or afford or didn't had the money at the time, plus room for it. Love playing pinball on my PC and gaming consoles. One day, I'll be a pinball machine owner; one day.
As others have said, thank you for this excellent informative video. I am also hoping to purchase some pinball machines (eventually). Regards Whiterabbit-uk
Thankyou, I'm sure these tips will be very useful when you're looking at used games for sale.
*loosing is not a word. Losing is the word
It's so common, it makes my teeth itch every time I see it!
@@Silverbullet767 I'll tell you what gets on my nerves... when people spell a word using uppercase characters and still dot the "I". Example: MiSS
I would have suggested putting the game in test mode and checking out the lamps and solenoids that way. Visual inspection is good for plastics and ramps.
Using test procedures is a good sugestion for buyers with some previous experience with Pinballs but with this show focused on aiding first time Pinball buyers putting a game through it's test procedures would probably be to daunting and complex a task especially considering the variety of different test menus and procedures various manufacturers created over many years.
@Vision821 You sure do make a lot of dumb comments.
+Vision821 Putting a machine in test mode hardly takes a genius.
If you look on Ebay and other sources, you can find Pinball Kits for your particular machine. These kits often include the replacement rubbers, lamps, Flipper bands and new plunger springs and a new pinball. They often include cleaner/polish/wax and will be kitted out to your particular machine. Since there is competition for these kits, the prices are reasonable and you know you are getting the right replacement parts. From your friends at PINCOMBO.com !
Love the intro music. What is it?
Watching this after bringing home a second hand machine 😜
4:48 my childhood
the back box lock can be easily removed (2 screws)
I need someone that works on pinball machines I have one . One of the 4 panels in the top box is burned I live in West Arizona by the blythe California would like to get it fixed
I’d love to get one if I was ever able to find the space, but the maintenance worries me. Not that I’m not willing to put in the effort; I am. I’m just worried that I’d be a bull in a China shop.
My first caveat would be, don't buy a pinball on ebay. I never worked on one that wasn't a huge headache. Should have cut my losses after a couple of hours on all of them (about a handful, in more ways than one), until finally deciding to refuse ebay buyers about 15 years ago. Some sellers are adept at selling a sparkling, slick exterior with a nightmare interior.
I was thinking about starting an arcade with a pinball section , thank you for your advice!
Got any tips for where to buy?
Hello Pinball Expert , can you recommend some early Gottlieb EM machines that are robust and fun to play . And can you still get parts for those machines . Also can you adjust the sound on old EM machines as they can be a bit noisy ? As a kid I remember playing them , I think they were 20 cents for 5 balls .You had lots of targets to hit , you got got a extra ball on targets being all hit , then if you hit them all down again you got a free game. I can not remember the name of them , only they were Gottlieb brand thanks.
which games are the most fun is a subjective thing, everyone has a different opinion. Sound wise the only thing you can do with EMs is disconnect the chimes in games that have them. 3 or 5 balls is adjustable. Look through games on the internet pinball data base, you will see photos that may jog your memory.
Old video. Very basic but probably good for a non technical person. For WPC games the credit dot is the first thing I look at. Also checking fault codes is easy. The slapping flipper together is just showing a 5v board issue. Bottom line, if you buy a used pinball machine ALWAYS assume it’s got issues. I have found most people sell because it has issues and they don’t want to deal with them.
I did this show specifically to help people with no pinball technical knowledge or experience, I just covered the basics so it was easy to follow & easy do.
I have played the worlds largest pinball machine back late 80s
cool
I think rubber rings be the last thing to be concerned about. Those are regular maintenance. Playfield wear n damage is the part fo worry about most. All the other stuff can be bought easy enough.
good content but whats the typical cost for items if damaged, so we can make educated price of used games. servicing machines cost to maintain?
There is no typical cost for servicing and/or repairs, they vary considerably and depend upon the actual game, it's individual operating condition and faults (if any) along with what specific parts are required.
Gotta admit, it just isn't worth it anymore for most. Have a classic arcade in town with over 20 games, including classics like STTNG, but they're always in shoddy condition, unlevel, flipper issues, etc. My experience with VPX and Pinball FX3 have been near perfect by comparison.
I've been dreaming on getting Cirqus Voltaire (will be my first pinball machine now that I'm 30 I can buy 'Big boy toys')
Any tips on what to look up on that machine as it has more parts than most pinball machines that I've seen.
Make sure it plays properly with no faults AT ALL, finding some parts for Cirqus Voltaire maybe near impossible, it has alot of unique parts and gadgets!
Hi!! Which is the best product that I can use to clean a dirty and slightly worn playfield?
u can try www.ebay.com/p/1431782552
Should you also inspect the capacitors on older boards?
Yes, although this shows intention is to outline the basics for beginners. Checking capacitors and numerous other things I could mention are best left to those with experience.
indiana jones is my favourite game. how difficult are these to maintain? I am located in Canada. It was very popular back in the 90s so I presume lots of these were made... Interested in getting one.
If the Williams Indiana Jones has been serviced & repaired properly, it will be reliable + fairly easy and inexpensive to maintain.
@@PinballExpert Thank you for this. Another question... what do you think of current modern manufacturers? I watched the video about Stern machines you made, wondering if all modern brand follow the same faith? Any comments on Jersey Jack. Should I just stick to 90s machines for now?
@@juanmanuelgarcia199 Each new brand is quite different although there are some similarities to many to discuss here in comments. Recent Jersey Jack pinball have been improving with better quality in my professional opinion. 90's pinballs have a well established history so you know how they are, some new brands may be very good but they have no established history YET. To determine how good or bad they are long term is a wait and see proposition. Having said that it's been several years for Jersey Jack and a few years for American Pinball and both look very promising SO FAR! I will be doing a show on various brand soon.
@@PinballExpert I went to see my first machine today! it was a Terminator 2, it played and worked very well but found a couple blemishes on the playfield (right on the out hole / shooter lane) and another one on the cabinet (bottom right corner seems to be slightly separating at the 90 degree angle, I suspect due to use, pushing tilting, etc) The cabinet does not seem very problematic, but the out hole has been fixed with some sort of JB weld/epoxy and it works very good but it is not a pretty job, weird thing is the rest of the shooter lane seems very good and so is the playfield... I am considering buying it but I am afraid to go forward due to these issues... what do you think? I can possibly get pictures and I share with you if interested (I am Canadian)
Thank you Sir!
Do you use millwax on e.m. machines? Nice video buddy =)
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
@@milesdyson5211 Think about it. Hairspray is designed to stick hair together - stiff. Don't spray it on a pinball machine!
the inside of my playboy's headbox smelled old burnt circuits however i only paid 500 cdn
Look for Insert wear and Cabinet Art Fade and Cabinet in general for poor shape as seen on the Indiana Jones.
Under the play-field can be cleaned by using " HEAVY HOLD HAIRSPRAY" its Alcohol base and it also acts as a Sealant. for ALL moving parts. PINBALL EXPERT Recommended that; on one of his videos !
What's your favourite Pinball company? Bally? Williams? Gottlieb? Stern?
Hard to answer quickly, it depends on the era. In Electro mechanicals Gottlieb, in early electronics 1977 to 1982 Williams & Bally. 83 to 87 they were all pretty weak but Williams made a few decent games, just a few though. 88 to 93 Gottlieb, Data East, Williams/Bally all made some good games & lousy ones. 94 to onwards not many worth having.
Pinball Expert Thx for replying!
I love Williams! (Or midway)
I agree, Gottlieb e.m. Are the best! Gottlieb invented flippers, changed pinball forever! =)
Mine are Bally and Williams since Williams and Bally actually merged into one in the 90s.
See all those wires and complex chips on the circuit board would've ruined my childhood back then.
Glad it didn't happen.
Say, Mark, what’re _your_ top 3-5 machines all time? Curious the more I watch ya. ✌️🤙
I can't answer that in a brief way that will be useful to people as we all have different tastes plus there is a huge variety in Pinball and games from different decades can't accurately be compared BUT, I'll answer with just a few titles among a great many good games from each era as follows.
From the early mid 1970's Jacks Open, Jungle Princess, Aztec Odds and Evens.
Late 70's to mid 1980's. Stellar Wars, Firepower, 8 Ball Deluxe, Paragon, BMX, Solar Fire, Black Hole, Elektra.
Late 1980's, High Speed, Spirit, Rocky, Space Shuttle, Lights Camera Action, Simpsons, Earthshaker.
1990's, Surf N Safari, Terminator, Lethal Weapon 3, Starship Troopers, No Fear, Star Trek Next Gen.
Stern was the only manufacturer from 2000 and since that time they have never made a truly great game but they have made some pretty good ones. South Park, Simpsons Pinball Party, Spiderman, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, Kiss, Deadpool although I don't recommend buying any of the last 3 as they are Stern Spike System games.
@@PinballExpert This was more than I expected, so I was grinning to read all these names. I’ve got coffee-table volumes on the history of pinball & so love listening to you break down these eras & their standouts.
I enjoy your channel because you’re the furthest thing from a shill & like many others, you don’t blindly wet yourself over a new pin you bought as a shield against buyer’s remorse. You’ve been burned & you’re saving ME & others from the same.
Thanks for this answer and I’ll continue watching! ✌️
If they are selling a used game. Aslong as the price is lower than the original price by atleast 300-600 then I’ll buy it
If you're looking for tips on what to look for in purchasing a pinball game, I'd recommend not looking here. Rubber rings can be inexpensively replaced, dirt can be easily cleaned for free, bulbs can be had cheap, posts can easily be tightened for free, and it's not that hard or expensive to change the flipper inserts or even the flipper solenoids. The number one thing by far on an EM is playfield wear, number 2 the backglass condition, and number 3 does it work properly.