Bottom of playfield screws.

Jdawg4422

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hey guys i just bought a popeye pinball machine. (I know its not a highly coveted machine)

I am having some problems with finding replacement screws for the underside of the playfield. Specifically i need the screws that hold the big metal troughs under the playfield. I took a sample out of the machine and went to ace and could not find an exact replacement. First off they only had sheet metal screws with the hex head on them, and while they looked like a good replacement they did not have the exact pitch of the screw threads. The closest on the threads pitch was a drywall screw, but then it only comes in a flush mount phillips head.

Im thinking the sheet metal screws are the ones i need, but they also have like a slit in the end of the screw, while the ones in my machine are just normal tips rather than the self tapping sheet metal screws.

any help is appreciated, would like to work on this a little tonight if i have the time.

Jason
 
Williams mostly used # 6 by 1/2" long hex washer head screws to attach some playfield parts. Heavier assemblies were attached with # 8 size screws.

One thing you will see at Ace Hardware stores is they carry both "needle point" and standard thread of the hex washer head screws. Sounds like you might have bought some of the needle point ones by mistake.

The needle point screws have much greater pitch to the threads.
 
So ken you are saying i should get some of the self tapping slit ones instead of the pointed ones? The pointed ones are what is in my machine now. I have two fairly big ramps that have come off the bottom and i need to screw them back up there. the screws are gone but i have taken them out of other places under the playfield and they screw right into the holes snugly.

So if i am taking this in correctly i should buy sheet metal screws with the slit instead of the point? I was leaning towards the pointed ones rather than the slit.
 
No to the slitted ones.

Take one of your good (correct) ones off the machine to the store with you.

My local Ace Hardware has the correct ones. I also found some at Lowe's when I was doing a Black Hole pinball restoration.
 
I have a machine that has a motley assortment of screws holding stuff under the playfield.

i have a variety of 6 and 8 size panhead sheet metal screws. 3/8, 1/2, etc.
can usually find one that works.
then when the hole gets too bad for a size 8 screw it's time to drill and glue in a dowel then redrill a tap hole.

playfield screws into wood aren't an exact science i presume, since techs were quick fixing in the field.
 
#6 x 1/2 hex head screws for switches, etc... but be careful with lamps. Usually these are put in with 3/8" screws instead sue to the thinner sheet metal on the lamp sockets.

cheers
/Tim
 
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