Tips From the Moving Company Pros: The Best Ways To Move a Pinball Machine



With pinball making a huge revival throughout the nation, Mild Giant wishes to ensure that these timeless, beautiful devices remain damage-free while being transported. Oh, and we desire individuals moving them to be safe, too.

Initially glimpse, pinball makers can appear intimidating to move since of their fragility, size, and weight. Thankfully, our competent Giants have a couple of tricks up their sleeves to ensure your pinball is moved with ease.
Folding Down the Headbox

Most of modern-day pinballs (made in the last 20 years or so) have a hinge system which enables the headbox to be folded down. Early pinball makers had their headboxes bolted on, using either 2 or 4 bolts. All Electro-Mechanical pinballs use this system, together with the early Strong State makers.

Later devices have hinges and utilize a locking system to keep the headbox upright. There may also be 2 bolts inside as included safety, in case the latch is broken or inadvertently un-latched.
Electro-Mechanical Pinballs

For Electro-Mechanical pinball makers, you need to eliminate the headbox rear gain access to panel to gain access to the bolts and plugs inside. Typically this panel has a lock on it to keep it in location, however over time the key might have been lost. Rather typically, there is a screw keeping this panel in place.

When within, get rid of the bolts and disconnect the large connectors that have electrical wiring decreasing into the maker. You may wish to label these ports to put them back in the ideal area, but they ought to be different sizes, making it hard to plug back incorrectly.

You can now remove the headbox totally, or fold the headbox down onto the playfield glass. Ensure you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will help keep the back glass in place.
Early Solid State Pinballs

For early Strong State Pinballs, you will have to get rid of the back glass. There is a lock situated on the headbox in one of 3 locations: the left-hand side at the top, right-hand side at the top or on top of the headbox in the.

When unlocked, eliminate the back glass by raising it up utilizing the lift channel (at the bottom of the glass), and then pull it out from the bottom.

Open up the back box light panel by raising the lock located on either the left-hand side or right-hand side. The panel can now swing out towards you, and give you access to the circuit boards, plugs, and the bolts. Some Gottlieb pinballs require you to raise up the light panel in order to swing it open.

Now that you are within, you can get rid of the bolts, and any plugs that have wires decreasing into the machine. You may want to label these plugs to put them back in the best area. You might not have to get rid of the plugs, as the circuitry should be long enough to allow the headbox to be folded down.

At this point, you can lock up the light panel and change the back glass.
Modern Strong State Pinballs

For Data East, Sega, and Stern Modern pinballs, there is a turnable lock system situated at the back of the headbox. Utilizing the provided key, turn the latch 90 ° counter-clockwise.

For Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb, you can easily unlatch the back box at the back of the machine. This is an easy setup and requires no tools.

You're done if you can now fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Make certain you utilize some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to secure the headbox from rubbing on the cabinet. Foam is best, as it will likewise assist keep the back glass in location.

You need to get inside if you can not fold the head box down. There is a lock located at the top of the back glass in the center. Use the provided secret to unlock, and eliminate the back glass by raising it up from this page the bottom, then pulling it out from the bottom.

Next, you will need to remove the screen panel. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a separate amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later Sega and Stern pinballs use a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).

Eliminate the two bolts, put the back box back together, and fold down the head box onto the cabinet. Ensure you use some foam, heavy cardboard, or blankets to safeguard the headbox from rubbing on the imp source cabinet. Foam is best, as it will also help keep the back glass in place.
Eliminating the Legs.

Pinball Device legs are held in place by eight bolts. The contemporary pinballs have captive nuts or threaded plates inside for the bolts to screw into.

But these captive nuts and threaded plates can be damaged, and making use of extra nuts may have been required. If this holds true, you will have to open the front door of the pinball, slide out the playfield glass, and raise up the playfield.

With the front door (coin door) open, move the lock down bar lock throughout and get rid of the lock down bar. Move out the playfield glass, and put in a safe location. Next, raise the playfield by putting your hand where the ball drains, and lift the playfield up.

You ought to now have access to any nuts that may have been used. Once any nuts have been removed, change the playfield glass and lock down bar, and lock the front door.

Make certain to mark or keep in mind which legs are for the front and back, as they will be changed in a different way to fit.
Packing the Pinball.

You are now prepared to transfer your pinball device. Before you load it, make sure you remove the pinballs so they do not bounce around throughout transportation.

It may be much easier to get rid of the legs simply prior to filling the device if you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV. Grab a buddy to help and have among you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs. Move the device in, and after that eliminate the back legs. It is much simpler to fill the device front.

Make certain you strap the pinball in, as you do not desire it moving if you need to stop all of a sudden!

For Electro-Mechanical pinball machines, you need to get rid of the headbox rear gain access to panel to get access to the bolts and plugs inside. (Some newer Williams and Bally pinballs do not have a separate amp panel, it is part of the back glass panel. And later Sega and Stern pinballs utilize a fluorescent tube for the back glass lighting).

If you are moving the pinball utilizing a van or SUV, it may be easier to remove the legs simply prior to filling the maker. Get a buddy to help and have one of you supporting the pinball, while the other gets rid of the front legs.

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