First EM: Nip It

drjones

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I picked up a Bally Nip-It yesterday. It's in great shape and will be in even better shape after I give it a good cleaning. The machine had been in a home for 30 years, so it doesn't have a lot of wear. The backglass is as close to perfect as I think you can get. I'd never played an EM until a played one in a bar a few weeks ago (Target Alpha) and I really enjoyed it - just the feel and the sounds, very different and cool.

Everything seems to be in good working order minus a few items that I haven't had a chance yet to investigate:

Yellow bumpers aren't illuminating when the 100 point rollover is activated (could be the lights)
Zipper flippers are locked in the 'in' position
Credit indicator is stuck on 25

I'll be looking to find a manual and start the cleanup repair process. A few quick questions before I find a manual for someone that may familiar with the game:

When the game ends - if you've managed to trap your ball, it's not released at game end. I'm not sure if its failing to release it, or if that's sort of an 'attract' feature to get someone to dump a quarter in so they'll have an easier shot at multiball.

The game is set to free-play, I'd like to disable this, not sure if it's a setting or if this has been rigged somehow.
 

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Fixed the weak right flipper - wire broken off of the center coil post. Yellow bumper lighting issue was just that - bad lights. Trying to deal with the zipper flippers, here are some findings and if anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them.

When I got the game, the flippers were closed and would not open when rolling over the 'open flippers' button. Lifted the playfield, checked ohms on the FC-30-1300 coil that manipulates the zipper flatch latch - reads zero, I'm thinking this is a bad thing. I turned the game on and manually activated the zipper flipper latch and the flippers moved to the open position - immediately upon doing this, fairly loud buzzing coming from inside the cabinet. Hit the mushroom bumper that moves the flippers to the closed position and it scores appropropriately and chimes, but does not activate the zipper flipper mechanism to close the flippers in any way. Buzzing continued, manually moved the flipper mech to the closed position, still some serious buzzing going on. I've turned it off until I can get a better understanding of what's hung up. It sounds like it's coming from the ball count unit, but would that seem strange considering the sequence of events? If the FC-30-1300 coil is problematic, could it be causing another component in the cabinet to buzz like that?
 
drjones

Been away from the boards for a bit just bought a condo and have been stuck to a paint brush. Welcome to our EM addiction. I just restored a Target Alpha mechanically. It was challenging as it was really out of adjustment.

Back to the Nip It. Your credit unit is stuck on 25 for a reason. It's required for free play. Given the other issues I'd hold off with setting this game back to coin op until they are resolved.

I'd check the pinrepair website for information on the zipper flippers. Great tips on that website.

Now to the buzzing coil could be a few things.

First make sure your coin step unit moves freely. I'd check all the step units to make sure they're moving freely. If not 91% alcohol, a magnetic tray, a camera and a scrub brush. Fine sandpaper on the rivets of the printed circuit board and finger contacts. Clean it all with the alcohol.

A contact that is closed or open when it shouldn't be can also cause severe buzz issues. Schematics may be required. If you DMM'd the coil at zero you and your sure that it does not have a broken wire to a lug. If that's not the case pinball resource will have what you need. Check all your hold coils they tend to burn up over time and can cause problems.

Good luck and let us know how your doing with the restoration.

OHEMIO
 
OHEMIO - thank you so much for the reply. Addiction is an accurate word. I can say I had about zero interest in EMs...until I picked this thing up. It looks cool, it plays cool, it just IS cool.

Anyhow, some updates.

Since I wasn't real sure yet which direction to head in as far as repair goes I went about cleaning it up. The playfield cleaned up amazingly well. Magic Eraser is king. And I replaced all the bulbs with #47 and put new rubber in. The thing shines. I got new pop bumper skirts but have not yet installed those. I cleaned the cabinet with Mean Green, I have to say I don't notice much of a difference but at least psychologically I know I cleaned it. So that feels good. Sanded off all the rust spots on the siderails and lockdown bar with some fine sandpaper, and cosmetically the machine is really coming together.

As for the mechanical side of things, I really need to pick up a schematic. As far as the buzzing goes I think it's certainly related to the flipper mech and its operation - if I hit the mushroom bumper that is supposed to close the flippers - buzzing gets very loud and the machine effectively goes dead. Stops registering score, stops chiming, etc.

When you say see if the units move freely - is that just plain manual manipulation of the unit?

I've got about 1,000 dumb n00b questions. I'll be getting a schematic and reading the pinrepair site. Mechanically, everything else seems fine - I think if I can get the flipper issue sorted out it'll be darn near 100%. Thanks again!
 
drjones

Good afternoon. I'll be 40 and was at the tail end of the EM era. However it's most appealing to me regarding the era of arcade and the great part is that I experienced the best of both worlds. I compare EM like a fine watch to a watch repairmen. There's a certain rush I recieve when I finally restore an EM and it functions consistent/reliable manner.

The EM sounds that appeal to me too are part of the euphoria...all the way to the ratcheting of the score reels. Being a little dramatic. Just was loading up my household items last night from my storage unit and passed my entire arcade broken down in pieces to store.

Anyhow-regarding your step units. They should move freely by manually grabbing the step arm and moving them up and the provided it's a up/down manually stepping it back down. If this does not happen or holds up at all I'd consider cleaning them. It's critical for the game to move properly for these units to mover freely.

NEVER USE OIL OR CONTACT CLEANER...oil will bind up your game especially if it sits for long periods of time thus the step unit that don't move freely. Contact Cleaner can catch your game on fire. You only need to turn out the lights during a game start up to see why...sparks everywhere. Sparks + Flamable Chemical = FIRE

Schematics are essential and at some point we all need them. I've stared at mine for my Target Alpha for hours to figure out issues at points throughout the restoration.

I've developed my own process to methodically run through an EM. The deeper you go into your EM collection...you'll do the same. One suggestion is if you have an iPhone it's truly a great tool so you don't forget how things are put back together. Patience is another tool you'll need. DMM with allegator clips. You'll laugh but a head gear type flashlight. You'll need your hands.

If you have a Harbor Freight head there for tools. These restorations don't require heavy gage tools and most on line EM sites sell the same tools.

Post any other issues you have and I'll try my best to help...good luck..
 
Great pickup with the Nip It. Sometimes a coil with measure a short when it has a switch wired in parallel with it. If the coil is not measuring properly you will need to remove the wires from one side of the coil to get a correct reading. There are a couple of good sites on internet such as http://www.flippers.com/coil-resistance.html which list the resistance of common coils. Your FC-30-1300 coil is not listed but a similar Midway coil is. Some hold coils are designed to stay on permanently and just buzz when they get old. If the coil is not a hold coil then be careful not to leave it leave the game on with it buzzing for too long as it may burn the coil out.
 
nip it

I have a nip it and love it. Do not know a lot about it but mine holds the ball in the trap after a game to. I thought that is part of the game. like you said to keep you comeing back! good find.
 
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