Buying a pinball for the first time

eman4277

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Location
Florida
I've never bought a pin and I don't have a lot of money to spend, but I have an opportunity to buy one now. It's a High Speed, and it's pretty cheap, the only problem is that according to the lady, all the lights turn on, but the game won't start. She said she called a repairman a year ago who said "something needs to be reset." That's all the information I have, does this sound like a fairly easy fix, or should I pass? It's local, so I do have the opportunity to check it out before buying it, let me know what you think. Thanks.
 
It could be as simple as replacing the batteries on the MPU, to the MPU having corrosion and needing to be rebuilt. I would go in person and look the game over. High Speed was a very popular game and can have a lot of wear on the playfield.

If it's really cheap say less than $200, you should buy it so you can learn the ins and outs of pinball repair.

Start reading this website, it will tell you all you need to know about what is involved.

http://www.pinrepair.com/sys11/index.htm
 
I've never bought a pin and I don't have a lot of money to spend, but I have an opportunity to buy one now. It's a High Speed, and it's pretty cheap, the only problem is that according to the lady, all the lights turn on, but the game won't start. She said she called a repairman a year ago who said "something needs to be reset." That's all the information I have, does this sound like a fairly easy fix, or should I pass? It's local, so I do have the opportunity to check it out before buying it, let me know what you think. Thanks.

It really depends on the price. If it's cheap enough that you could replace the MPU and still be ahead of the game then jump in.

If you're going to check it out I would check for leaky batteries and acid damage on the MPU. If it just needs batteries the displays will come on with a bunch of numbers in the player 1 display (can't remember off hand what they are). That would be a very good sign. If just the lights come on and the displays remain off you're probably looking at a more serious problem but still fixable one way or another.

Ask yourself how much time you want to spend fixing it and how much money you have available for parts. If you have a lot of time and some extra cash for parts I'm confident you can get it working one way or another.

But... like I said it all comes down to price. How much?
 
A commonly used price for a fully working HS is ~ the $800 - $1200 mark. Like Lindsey said we really need to know what "pretty cheap" equates to.
 
They're asking $500 but I'm sure I can easily get it down to $400. In the best case scenario (where it's a simple problem) would I be paying too much?
 
The two main things you want to have good on a pin is the playfield and a CPU board without battery acid damage. These playfields havent been reproduced nor have the translites. A new CPU board will run you ~$200ish. First thing you do is pull the translite off and look at the battery holder. If the batteries have spooged over the holder onto the CPU board - I'd just safely assume it's hosed.

Like I said before $800-$1200 is what those typically go for in good working order.

And if you do buy it - here's the guide you'll want to use to fix it
http://www.pinrepair.com/sys11/index.htm
 
I would get it and sell the parts the backglass would get you about $200 even if it's not a 10 in condition, they dont make replacements these and are like gold, and playfield can get you $300 and up, again depends on condition. Those 2 things alone is the $500 you spend to buy it. Save the money and get a working pin. I know someone that has a NIB backglass never been out of box that I will be picking up, and already have 6 peeople interested in my old backglass that I will be sellingfor $200, Its a good 7 out of 10, with flaking art, but has been sealed with krylon triple thick. But people dont care because they have no backglass so anything is better then none. I would be interested in buying some plastics off you and you can get $20 or more per piece. Ebay last week had some pieces and I was bidding on 1 piece and the bidding went over $30 dollars just for that one piece. Theres money to be had on this machine, so buy it and part it out. I need some parts so let me know. I need the credit and ball display glass, mine is getting fuzzy.
 
It really depends on the price. If it's cheap enough that you could replace the MPU and still be ahead of the game then jump in.

If you're going to check it out I would check for leaky batteries and acid damage on the MPU. If it just needs batteries the displays will come on with a bunch of numbers in the player 1 display (can't remember off hand what they are). That would be a very good sign. If just the lights come on and the displays remain off you're probably looking at a more serious problem but still fixable one way or another.

Ask yourself how much time you want to spend fixing it and how much money you have available for parts. If you have a lot of time and some extra cash for parts I'm confident you can get it working one way or another.

But... like I said it all comes down to price. How much?

I agree..playfield condition is important too....unless the playfield is totally hosed then I'd fix it.Don't part it out unless the machine is trashed already.
 
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I decided to buy it and I was waiting for a respond from the seller. Apparently, they sold it already, and whoever they sold it to is already trying to flip it for $2500 on ebay. Unless this is a common picture (doubtful) here you go:

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/vgm/1919085927.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/HIGH-SPEED-PINB...ultDomain_0&hash=item4aa454ec01#ht_690wt_1137

Makes me rather angry that I didn't jump on it faster, not to sell it, I just wanted a pretty good pinball machine at a pretty good price... oh well...
 
Makes me rather angry that I didn't jump on it faster, not to sell it, I just wanted a pretty good pinball machine at a pretty good price... oh well...

Dude - you were balking at a $500 asking price and the new owner claims great condition?? Yeah you screwed up big time. Sorry to throw salt in the wound but you've learned a valuable lesson ... gotta move fast in thi shobby. Better luck next time.
 
"Dispatch this is 504, suspect got away."

Sorry for hitting you when you are down.
 
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I decided to buy it and I was waiting for a respond from the seller. Apparently, they sold it already, and whoever they sold it to is already trying to flip it for $2500 on ebay. Unless this is a common picture (doubtful) here you go:

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/vgm/1919085927.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/HIGH-SPEED-PINB...ultDomain_0&hash=item4aa454ec01#ht_690wt_1137

Makes me rather angry that I didn't jump on it faster, not to sell it, I just wanted a pretty good pinball machine at a pretty good price... oh well...

The game is "shopped out from A to Z" but they couldn't even take new pictures.

Riiiiiiight.
 
The game is "shopped out from A to Z" but they couldn't even take new pictures.

Riiiiiiight.

Lol actually it said "PINBALL WILL BE SHOP OUT FROM A TO Z" so they're not bothering to shop it unless they sell it.
 
Back
Top Bottom