🛠️ Repairs and Servicing
There is one inescapable fact of life regarding pinball machines, especially older ones: they break constantly. Still, it is impressive pinball machines are still being played so many decades after they were originally made. Think about the other electronic devices and appliances in your home; how many are pushing 30, 40, or even 50 years old? Unfortunately, when you have an 80-gram steel ball being flung around on a wooden playfield, hitting plastic targets at speeds of up to 2 metres per second, things are bound to break.
🕹️ Games I Service
In short, all of them! My primary skill set is repairing solid-state electronic dot matrix display (DMD) games of the 1990s and later, including games from manufacturers such as Williams, Bally, Data East, Sega, Stern, Gottlieb, and Capcom. However, I can work on all eras and types of machine, including electromechanical games (up to late 1970s) and early solid state machines (late 1970s to late 1980s). I'll even tinker with the weirder stuff from European manufacturers such as Zaccaria, Playmatic, or Bromley. I'm no stranger to brand new games either, including from Stern, Jersey Jack, Spooky, and many others.
Aside from pinball games, I can also repair other arcade games and amusement devices. If it has a coin door or a coin mechanism, then I can probably fix it, whatever it is. And if I can't work on it for whatever reason, I can certainly recommend someone who can.
🗺️ Service Area
I service the Sydney metropolitan area. I can perform service calls outside of this area by appointment, pending availability. I have travelled as far north as Coffs Harbour, as far south as Narooma, and as far west as Dubbo in order to assist with repairs. I really don't know whether I am limited more by distance or sanity! Please contact us to arrange a visit. Alternatively, you can deliver your machine to my workshop and collect it when repairs are finished.
🗣️ Testimonials
I am thankful to all of our clients, past and present, who have entrusted me with their machines. It's my honour to present some of their feedback below. For greater peace of mind, you can also check out all of our Google reviews 👉 here!
⚠️ General Repair Guidance
As a general guide, routine service calls cost an average of $150 to $400. It can sometimes be difficult to judge exactly what is wrong with your machine or how long it may take to fix until it is inspected in person. However, the following sections provide some general guidance on what to expect in terms of repairs. Please 📬 Contact Us for a more specific estimate relating to your particular issue.
😀 My machine is functional but I would like to have it fully restored so it plays like new.
Full machine restorations are my specialty. I am able to revive machines from the brink of death so they can continue to provide entertainment for years to come. The machine is fully stripped of all its parts which are then checked, cleaned, serviced, and reassembled. Upgrades and modifications to improve reliability and gameplay are implemented. Full restorations often take at least 30 hours to be completed, depending on the starting condition of the machine. The machine will need to be brought to our workshop.
🙂 My machine is functional but needs minor maintenance.
Examples: the playfield needs a general clean. Rubber rings have broken and need to be replaced. Some of the lamps are not lighting up when they should.
This is the pinball equivalent to a basic oil and filter change for your car. Rubber rings and lamps are the parts which fail most often in a pinball machine, and must be replaced regularly. These kinds of repairs can be completed on-site and within a couple of hours, depending on the amount of disassembly required to replace the broken components. Parts add a nominal cost.
😐 My machine turns on, and is playable, but one or two components are not working like they should.
Examples: a flipper does not work. A ball does not get ejected if it enters a certain assembly on the playfield.
These repairs are slightly more complex. They often involve disassembly of playfield mechanisms to repair or replace broken components. Servicing typical pinball components such as flippers, pop bumpers, slingshots, kickers, and other coil-driven devices is relatively straightforward. Repairs to these mechanisms can be completed on-site within a few hours and at a nominal cost.
Repairs to more complicated mechanisms such as motor-driven assemblies and unique game parts may be more difficult, requiring more in-depth disassembly and troubleshooting. Game-specific parts may need to be ordered. A variety of parts may need to be used at moderate cost.
Sometimes, a relatively simple fix is all that is required (i.e. a blown fuse can prevent a feature from working). Other times, significant repairs may be required to fix a seemingly simple issue, and to ensure the machine operates correctly (i.e. a blown fuse may indicate serious problems with the game's circuitry). In these cases, more detailed troubleshooting will be required.
😟 My machine has issues starting up, staying powered on, resetting, or otherwise running smoothly.
Examples: the machine shuts down and restarts during the middle of a game. The machine will not start a game after pressing "Start". Electromechanical games will not kick a ball into play while a motor is constantly running in the main cabinet. The game makes strange noises when on.
These types of issues are often associated with electrical problems such as power supply issues or wiring faults. A significant amount of time may be required to troubleshoot and repair the issue. Circuit board repair may be required. On electromechanical games, servicing of critical game motors and stepper units will likely be required. Repairs of this type are more complex, and may take five to ten hours to complete. The machine may need to be brought to our workshop for repairs.
😭 My machine has been in storage for an extended period of time. It no longer turns on. It is visibly damaged. Help.
Major repairs (and prayers) will be needed. Most components in the backbox and mechanisms on the playfield will need to be checked and serviced. In electronic games, if the batteries mounted to the circuit boards were not removed prior to storage, circuit boards may need to be repaired or replaced, at significant cost. The playfield will need significant cleaning, and all of the playfield assemblies and mechanisms will need to be checked and serviced. Electrical repairs, including circuit board repair, are often required. Repairs of this type are extensive and can take over 20 hours to complete. The machine will need to be brought to our workshop for repairs.
🧰 Common Repair and Service Tasks
🧰 Common Repair and Service Tasks
Minor Repairs to Full Restorations
Whether your machine just needs a couple of things fixed up to get it going again, or it's a complete wreck that you want to restore to its former glory, no job is too big or small. Dumpster find? Left in the garden during a hailstorm? Abandoned in a storage shed for 10 years? We can fix it.
Flipper Repairs and Rebuilds
The flippers are the player's primary interface with the machine, so they must be in good condition for the game to play well. Flippers should be fast and snappy and should allow the player to hit every shot in the game without difficulty. Are your flippers sluggish? Do they bind occasionally? Have they lost their "oomph"? These are classic signs that your flipper is in need of a rebuild.
Battery Replacement
If your game constantly loses your high scores and settings, your batteries may be dead, or leaking! Alkali leakage from old batteries can seriously damage circuit boards. Check your batteries and replace them regularly, or get us to help! Ask us about upgrading your machine to make it more resilient to battery leakage, or about ways to eliminate the need for batteries entirely.
Circuit Board Repairs and Upgrades
The printed circuit boards and associated componentry in the cabinet and backbox control everything in solid-state electronic games. Problems such as cracked solder joints and failed components can cause various intermittent issues. Servicing of these boards and upgrading them with modern components is necessary. If you are able to remove the circuit boards from your game, we can also offer a mail-in board repair service.
Incandescent to LED Conversions
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are a worthwhile upgrade for any modern pinball machine. LEDs are brighter, consume less power, and last much longer than incandescent globes. They are a great way to upgrade a machine's appearance. LED upgrades generally include replacement of all general illumination lamps, controlled (insert) lamps, and flashers.
Consumable Part Replacement
There are three main consumable items on a pinball playfield, all of which break or degrade in different ways. They are rubber rings (which perish and crack), lamp globes (which fail from extended use), and steel balls (which can rust and become pitted). Replacement of these parts will ensure your pinball machine continues to look good and play well. Moreover, broken rubber rings and rusty, pitted pinballs can actually cause damage to a playfield, so replace them quickly!
Playfield Artwork Repair
The playfield is often damaged in highly-trafficked areas such as around the flippers, near scoops and kick-out holes, and ball drop areas. While this damage is cosmetic, it can worsen over time if not patched up. Heavily worn areas of the playfield can even alter the path of the ball, sending it straight down the middle instead of to a flipper! Scroll down for some examples of our work.
Game Software Updates
Many electronic pinball machines up until the 2000s store game data on obsolete integrated circuits called EPROMs. Occasionally, game code was updated by the manufacturer after initial release. Some third-party game updates have also been published by hobbyists around the world. We can update your game's software for a different gameplay experience as we have the hardware and software to program these devices.
Machine Modifications
There are a huge number of aftermarket pinball modifications, third party add-ons, and other parts that can enhance certain aspects of your pinball machine. Simple modifications such as the addition of extra lights or installation of playfield toys can improve the look of a playfield or make a particular mechanism more fun to shoot at. We can help with sourcing, installation and troubleshooting of such modifications.
Part Sourcing and Fabrication
Some pinball parts can be difficult to source as the original manufacturer is likely defunct and original parts are no longer available. However, the search shouldn't end there. Many pinball parts are being reproduced, including some rare and game-specific parts. Other parts can be fabricated with specialised tools. Either way, it can be difficult to find parts if you don't know where to look or are not sure what to even look for, so let us help.
Evaluations and Inspections
If you are planning on inspecting a machine before buying it, but you aren't confident enough to assess it yourself, ask for assistance from an expert! Never buy sight unseen, particularly from auctioneers; it is a recipe for disaster. We can inspect a machine for you, making you aware of any potential issues that could become costly repairs later. If you are looking to buy or sell a machine, we can provide a general price guide.
Removal, Transport, Installation
Pinball machines are awkward to disassemble and move, so having someone who knows what they're doing can be a big help. If you've purchased a pinball machine but need assistance in setting it up, or if you need help moving it to another location, we can assist by carefully moving the machine for you and installing it at its new location. All moving equipment supplied.
Cabinet Repaints and Decals
The cabinet is often subjected to shoves and smacks during normal play and can be scratched or otherwise damaged during machine transport. Areas around the flipper buttons are commonly worn, and the cabinet timber typically has chunks missing here and there. Machines that have seen commercial use have been kicked or punched more than a few times! We can assist with complete decal replacements, or touch-ups where required.
🖌️ Playfield Artwork Restoration
😖 Playfield artwork repairs are the most complicated aspect of pinball repair. Most people can repair mechanical problems. Some people have the expertise to perform electrical repairs. Oher people can fix cabinetry and do woodwork repairs. But only a very small subset of repair technicians can also repair playfield artwork. Playfield artwork repair employs a different skillset entirely to all other aspects of pinball repair. It requires experience with various artistic media, such as drawing, painting and finishing. It requires a foundational knowledge in colour theory. Most of all, it requires a very steady hand. Many technicians will dismiss artwork repairs as impossible as they do not possess this artistic skillset, saying it is better to use playfield overlays, replace the entire playfield, or just "play it as it is". I don't agree.
👨🎨 I am by no means a playfield restoration expert. I am not an artist by trade. If you want to have your playfield artwork professionally restored by people with this skillset, there are several businesses who offer this service, such as Hot Rodded Pins, Savage Restorations, or Australian Pinball Restorations. They do a fantastic job, but their services are very expensive. Rightly so, considering the amount of time and effort involved in full playfield restorations.
🖼️ On the other hand, I am able to repair playfield artwork to a standard that most pinball owners would consider acceptable for a fraction of the price of a full playfield restoration. So there are certainly more options for those who are restricted by budget but still want their playfield looking good. Below is a gallery of photos showcasing some of our playfield artwork repairs. These repairs were carried out using an airbrush, paintbrush, or combination thereof. No decals or overlays were used. New paint is covered with Mylar, a transparent clearcoat, or a plastic protector, to protect repaired areas. If you would like to have your playfield artwork repaired, please 📬 Contact Us to discuss the requirements of your specific repair.
