Finally Got My First Pin

teetdogs

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Picked up my first pinball machine last night, Black Pyramid.

I realize its not a highly sought after game, and most people aren't a fan. But the price was right, its in pretty good shape, only one small repair (that I have no idea where to start). But hey, I've wanted a pin to at least get my hands dirty with them and it does look nice in the arcade.

Edit: Why in the heck do a good number of my photos end up sideways!
 

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Picked up my first pinball machine last night, Black Pyramid.

I realize its not a highly sought after game, and most people aren't a fan. But the price was right, its in pretty good shape, only one small repair (that I have no idea where to start). But hey, I've wanted a pin to at least get my hands dirty with them and it does look nice in the arcade.

Edit: Why in the heck do a good number of my photos end up sideways!

Made in 1984 by Bally. 2,500 made. Mr Pinball 2016 guide lists this game not worth more the $700. But good start! I still have yet to find my first working non-EM pinball under $1k :)
 
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Made in 1984 by Bally. 2,500 made. Mr Pinball 2016 guide lists this game not worth more the $700. But good start! I still have yet to find my first working non-EM pinball under $1k :)

Then I think I got a decent deal at $400. Pin prices around here (and everywhere it seems) are going through the roof so I was pumped to pick anything up for this price.
 
Black Pyramid is a great game. I think it is highly under rated. BTW, Mr. Pinall prices mean absolutely nothing unless you are researching a trade. Any solid state pinball with a clean playfield and working 100% is worth a grand these days.
 
BTW, Mr. Pinall prices mean absolutely nothing unless you are researching a trade. Any solid state pinball with a clean playfield and working 100% is worth a grand these days.

not exactly true. Mr Pinball guide is a good starting reference point is all. when there's no other data to go off of beyond ebay sales, a few websites and pinside. beyond that, the guide provides nice historical fair market value, regardless of a trade or cash purchase.
 
Congrats neighbor! I think you may have gotten a better deal than I did. I got my first pin on Saturday. I payed $300 and am not sure if it was a good deal. Mine plays 90% but needs several updates that are strongly recommended for Gottlieb system 1 pins. It will definitely be fun learning about these.
 

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Love the art on this game, and I'd pay that price all day for one. The guy across the street from me growing up had one so I played it alot. What's the repair issue?
 
Love the art on this game, and I'd pay that price all day for one. The guy across the street from me growing up had one so I played it alot. What's the repair issue?

Left flipper wont work. I ordered a new coil but I did notice that the current coil is actually a new replacement and the working flipper coil is original. I did however take notice that when I meter the coil, I get voltage when I press the flipper button... So maybe the coil is actually bad??? No idea so I guess I'll take a crack at replacing the coil and see if that does it.
 
It's all downhill from here...

When are you selling all of your video games?

:D
 
Congrats! I too recently got my first pin. It's also a mid 80s Bally, Kings of Steel, lots of common parts between the two in fact. I had a lot of fun digging into it and trying to figure out how everything worked... haven't got it all yet but getting there.

Does your flipper move when you move it by hand, or is it physically stuck? You should check the switches also (the one at the flipper, not the one at the button) because they have a say in how much voltage gets to the coil.
 
Congrats! I too recently got my first pin. It's also a mid 80s Bally, Kings of Steel, lots of common parts between the two in fact. I had a lot of fun digging into it and trying to figure out how everything worked... haven't got it all yet but getting there.

Does your flipper move when you move it by hand, or is it physically stuck? You should check the switches also (the one at the flipper, not the one at the button) because they have a say in how much voltage gets to the coil.

I just went out and looked at that switch... it looked good.. I really have no idea what I'm even looking for. How does one determine if a coil is good, bad, or otherwise?

and the flipper isn't stuck, I can manually push it. So lost on this, I did however put a couple of new bulbs in!
 
I just went out and looked at that switch... it looked good.. I really have no idea what I'm even looking for. How does one determine if a coil is good, bad, or otherwise?

and the flipper isn't stuck, I can manually push it. So lost on this, I did however put a couple of new bulbs in!

This is from a document I referred to a lot when working on my KOS pin, maybe this helps a bit:

http://techniek.flipperwinkel.nl/ballyss/rep/index1.htm

Testing for Power at the Coil.
If a coil doesn't work, and the transistor is good, test for power at the coil. Do this with the game on and in attract mode, and the playfield lifted.

Put your DMM on DC voltage (100 volt range).
Put the black lead on the metal side rail (ground) of the game.
Put the red lead on either terminal of the coil. It should read about 43 volts. On flipper coils, any of the three terminals should also read about 43 volts.
If you are missing voltage at the coil, check for a broken wire/connector, or blown playfield fuse (see below). Remember the power wires are "daisy changed" together. So a break in the power wire in a previous coil will cause the coils further down the line to not work.

Testing a Coil.
You can also test a coil for proper operation. With the game on and in attract mode, and the playfield lifted, try this:

Connect one end of a alligator clip and wire to the metal side rail of the game.
Momentarily touch the other end of the alligator clip to the coil's terminal with the non-banded side of the diode connected to it.
The coil should fire.
Note if you accidentally touch the banded side of the diode to ground, you will probably blow a fuse.
If the coil doesn't fire, you have a damaged coil or no power at the coil. Look for a broken wire going to the coil's terminal. You can also test the resistance of a coil. A good coil should be in the 3 to 15 ohm range.
 
I didn't read all this, but my Strikes and Spares flipper issue was a EOS switch issue. The blades weren't touching in rest position, so the flipper wouldn't work. A quick adjustment was all she needed.
 
Congrats! I bought a low priced pin about a year ago(Raven $600), it's fun to have a pin in the mix. My first pin was a meteor that my dad found at a garage sale for $60 working but needed rubbers, I played with it until it broke and sold it but then a few years later I bought a Heavy Metal Meltdown for $1000 which I played with until it broke and sold it but I did repair a machine gunning flipper on that one. My current pin has been great with a bunch of plays and zero repairs.
 
awesome! i think its a fun game with awesome artwork. one around me just sold for $1200. you got a great deal. congrats!
thanks
blake
 
Hmm, wonder if that was the same one I tried to buy in 2012? I was down for a Broncos game and there was one of those listed for $900 on CL, the guy never got back to me, so I ended coming home with "The Games" pinball from a guy in Aurora, sounds like you got a great deal on it.
 
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