[macfantn]

I have been wanting to buy one for quite sometime. I was told they often need repair, I have no clue how to fix a machine. Anyone have any experience with one?

[Rev-O]

I have a 1968 Bally pinball machine named Rock Makers (around 2000 units produced iirc) which my folks bought in the late 70's. It really doesn't need frequent work, but the trickiest thing about it was finding someone to work on it. After about a decade of storage in my bsement it needed a good once over (couple stuck switches and a counter that came loose) it needed a good once over. Had the rubber replaced and the deck waxed as well. Other than that, every once in a while and the flippers work their way loose which is easily fixed by retightening the set screw. That's all that has been done to it in 30 years and 3 house relocations. Pretty resilient I think.

If you buy an old pinball machine, make sure the image on the glass and on the deck is in very good shape, because that is the part that typically cannot be replaced. The paint on the backside of the display glass can crack over time (if it wasn't stored or maintained properly) and that kills the value of a machine.

[screamingFit]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

I have been wanting to buy one for quite sometime. I was told they often need repair, I have no clue how to fix a machine. Anyone have any experience with one?

I used to repair arcade machines for a living.

Pinballs, yes - they will need repairs but nothing usually TOO hardcore. Replacing burnt-out light bulbs and cleaning switch contacts is about it. Sometimes replacing rubber on the posts and flippers. You'll also need to keep playfield polished so it looks nice and the wood doesn't rot out - it will also give you more life out of the aforementioned rubber parts. If the machine is on a lot, the heat will really start to cause all of these parts to fail faster.

Arcade machines - not really. Unless you're a maniac with your button mashing. Most of the switches are simple contact switches held in with a screw. Switches are cheap and can be found at RadioShack or online. Displays are the biggest pain in the a$$ and dangerous to replace on your own.

Best to buy a quality, refurbed unit from a arcade supplier. They'll usually have gone through everything and tested and cleaned. I used to have a Star Trek:TNG pinball that I refurbed about 10 years ago after it was on location. Spoke to the guy I sold it to awhile ago and it was still running perfectly fine.

[mdc]

We used to have an old pinball machine called "doodlebug." We bought it in the mid/early 90's and kept it for a few years. We ended up selling it because the quote we got to fix it when it started to give us issues (scoring and other issues) was more than it cost us to buy it.

I'd like to buy another pinball machine one day.

[macfantn]

i'd like to buy this one

The Simpsons™ Pinball Party Pinball Machines from Stern® Pinball, Inc.

pretty pricey though. I may sell a kidney, on ebay to help pay for it.

[Dakar²]

I wonder if they released Secret Garden Pinball.

[ort888]

I own a full sized Street Fighter II machine.

It came in pretty rough shape and my friends and I managed to fix it up. It's not that hard really. I don't consider myself a technical genious, but I was able to replace all the buttons and joysticks, swap out the main board* and add a lock without any major problems.

*Upgraded from the original SFII to SFII Hyper Fighting.

[olePigeon]

I'm looking to buy the best Pinball ever created: Funhouse

By the way, check eBay. You can often find service manuals for almost any Pinball out there as well as maintenance kits. There are companies that offer coating services for your playfield so it won't ware down or get scratched.

[cjrivera]

I have a Golden Tee 2004 that I got off ebay. It was a pretty good price, and since the guy I bought it from has an amusement/gaming machine business nearby I didn't have to pay shipping (which is usually a big cost when buying through ebay). I am thinking of upgrading it to the "complete" edition down the road = hard drive swap.

Check ebay or craigslist for machines nearby so you can test them out and so if you have future problems, the seller might be nice enough to help out.

I've seen the Simpsons Pinball Party and had thought about looking for one, but the prices on it are still way too high for me. I'm thinking of maybe building a Mame machine...

[Big Mac]

We own two 1960s Bally pinball machines - Drop a Card and Wildlife. They need maintenance on occasion, but they're really great games.

[scaught]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

I'm looking to buy the best Pinball ever created: Addams Family

Correctinated.

[residentEvil]

no no no. baby pacman was the best "pinball" ever created. both a video game AND pinball machine. very rare and very expensive.

a knock-off chuck e cheese had one in the mall were i grew up. played it a lot.

The Killer List of Videogames> - Baby Pac-Man

[starman]

I would love a Cyclone pinball machine.

Riiiiiiiiiide the ferris wheel!

I've been meaning to get an arcade machine for years, but which to get? Space Invaders? Defender? Tron? Pac Man? The indecision killed me so I never got one.

[residentEvil]

i have my eye on the combo upright ms pacman/galaga (and with button pussing, you can activate normal pacman).

i left space in my game room for it, with it's own dedicated power circuit.

[pra9ab0y]

yeh they cool.
I found they can also be a fun and enjoyable way of saving money(if you have the key to open the machine!)

[ort888]

Yeah, I have a rule... once a quarter goes in my machine, it can't come out. I have about $250 bucks in their right now. It's a good piggy bank.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by scaught 

Correctinated.

Adam's Family is my #2 Pinball. Just so you know, they were both designed by Pat Lawlor. He's designed my #1 through #4 Pinballs, the guy is a genius!

#1 Funhouse
#2 Adam's Family
#3 Whirlwind
#4 Twilight Zone

[Sub]

Wow, I got a fullsized Lord of the Rings Stern system, love it.

[cjrivera]

Originally Posted by residentEvil 

no no no. baby pacman was the best "pinball" ever created. both a video game AND pinball machine. very rare and very expensive.

How much is one worth to you? Someone near St. Louis, MO is selling one for $1000

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/for/260727640.html

[scaught]

Originally Posted by starman 

I would love a Cyclone pinball machine.

Riiiiiiiiiide the ferris wheel!

I've been meaning to get an arcade machine for years, but which to get? Space Invaders? Defender? Tron? Pac Man? The indecision killed me so I never got one.

Tron would be sweet. Me and my dad used to play back in tha day. He was better than me.

Originally Posted by residentEvil 

i have my eye on the combo upright ms pacman/galaga (and with button pussing, you can activate normal pacman).

i left space in my game room for it, with it's own dedicated power circuit.

Those are sweet. A cocktail table version would make a fine kitchen table, I think.

[Face Ache]

I have a Taito cocktail cabinet. Originally Space Invaders II, but currently Time Pilot. It's not accepting credits at the moment (after a bumpy trip across the Nullabor desert), but it makes a nice geeky side-table.

[residentEvil]

Originally Posted by cjrivera 

How much is one worth to you? Someone near St. Louis, MO is selling one for $1000

Pinball, Arcade and Skill Stop Machines

if it is only $1000 he/she either doesn't know what they have, or it doesn't work/has problems (or isn't an original).

[slugslugslug]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Adam's Family is my #2 Pinball. Just so you know, they were both designed by Pat Lawlor. He's designed my #1 through #4 Pinballs, the guy is a genius!

#1 Funhouse
#2 Adam's Family
#3 Whirlwind
#4 Twilight Zone

Wow, I always thought Twilight Zone was way funner than Addams Family. Or pretty much anything. It's the first game I'd look for if I ever decided to buy a pinball machine. Attack From Mars and Theater of Magic are pretty up there, too.

I also like the super-old ones, with the non-LED score indicators, but not the digital ones between those and the Twilight Zone era.

As far as anything useful to contribute to this thread, um, sorry. I got nada.

[olePigeon]

I've always wanted a cocktail Centipede, Akanoid, and Galaga. Had good times with my dad (when he was around) when we'd go to our local Fish n' Chips and they had those 3 cocktail arcades. Played them all the time when I was a kid.

Another place we'd go to was a place called Sierra Burger, and they had an upright Mr. Do's Wild Ride. That's another game I loved.

[olePigeon]

Monopoly Pinball is another great Pinball. That one is really expensive.

[Eriamjh]

I bought a Pinbot 1986 about two years ago. $900 locally. I have to periodically repair broken solder joints, burned out bulbs, shorted capacitors, blown diodes, replace flipper solenoids, tighten screws and mounts, replace the balls cause they get scratched, touch up the playfield, clean switch contacts, and maybe a few other things.

Otherwise, it requires absolutely no maintenance.

Pinball machines are awesome to own. Don't get a video game just get MAME (or MacMAME) unless you REALLY love a cetain standup game. Pinball is something that is different everytime until you start to master the payfield and technique and get every bonus there is (I have).

I'm considering selling my Pinbot to get a different game, but I don't have the time to play it anyway (working on my '66 Lincoln this winter).

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

I bought a Pinbot 1986 about two years ago.

That's another good Pinball.

[scaught]

^
Pinbot was good. Man. I need to go play some pinball!