Hauling a pinball machine up a tight stairway? winches?
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mwong168
New member
I was having the exact same conversation with my brother in-law, Keith, last week because I had to bring 2 up and 2 down this past Saturday. Here are my stairs and its a tight squeeze with only a few mm's on each side of a machine if that. Here is when I was moving High Speed down.
There is not much we can do in terms of turning or carry it up the entire way. Basically what happens is we orient the machine at the bottom in the direction that will clear the door opening up at the very top. We start at the bottom and lift up step by step and once we reach those pie shaped steps before the landing we stand the machine up vertical. Then we try to lift it up and shift over to the landing and then go up step by step to my front foyer.
Last Saturday I had to bring up a Demolition Man which is a widebody and a Simpsons Pinball Party. Luckily we had 6-7 guys on hand but only 4 people at once could fit to move the machine. Here is a group photo
The last time, Keith (shown above in the helmet) and I moved my WCS94 up it was awful. We didn't think to use straps till we were part way up before the landing transfer so it gave me something to pull up on while he lifted from the bottom. That was the ticket as it really helped when moving up and choking the strap at the right point on the machine for maximum leverage. The machine is very slippery once shrink wrapped and there is nothing at all to grip or pull up on from the top. This time it was also easier since we had two guys pulling up from the top and two lifting from the bottom. We managed to get DM up in 5 minutes and TSPP was even faster quicker probably cause it was a bit lighter too.
So unless you have pinball ADD it might be easier and safer to just recruit some muscle or break down the machine and separate the head from the body.
Good luck and can't wait to see how that winch works out for you.
There is not much we can do in terms of turning or carry it up the entire way. Basically what happens is we orient the machine at the bottom in the direction that will clear the door opening up at the very top. We start at the bottom and lift up step by step and once we reach those pie shaped steps before the landing we stand the machine up vertical. Then we try to lift it up and shift over to the landing and then go up step by step to my front foyer.
Last Saturday I had to bring up a Demolition Man which is a widebody and a Simpsons Pinball Party. Luckily we had 6-7 guys on hand but only 4 people at once could fit to move the machine. Here is a group photo
The last time, Keith (shown above in the helmet) and I moved my WCS94 up it was awful. We didn't think to use straps till we were part way up before the landing transfer so it gave me something to pull up on while he lifted from the bottom. That was the ticket as it really helped when moving up and choking the strap at the right point on the machine for maximum leverage. The machine is very slippery once shrink wrapped and there is nothing at all to grip or pull up on from the top. This time it was also easier since we had two guys pulling up from the top and two lifting from the bottom. We managed to get DM up in 5 minutes and TSPP was even faster quicker probably cause it was a bit lighter too.
So unless you have pinball ADD it might be easier and safer to just recruit some muscle or break down the machine and separate the head from the body.
Good luck and can't wait to see how that winch works out for you.
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OP
OP
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Bwahahahahaha!
Ok, here's an update... I got a ATV winch from Harbor Freight... surprise, surprise, the thing could only pull about 3% of the weight it was rated for (2000 pounds my ass... maybe 2000 pounds DOWN HILL). But I got the whole thing hooked up and attached and I liked the whole layout of it, but the winch couldn't cut it, so I went back and got a more substantive 120vac hoist. The problem with the hoist is that it requires 10mm bolts to attach to it, and I can't find a 10mm bolt that is long enough to go through the trusses and frame I've built, so I'm brainstorming the best way to mount this. I may end up mounting some 1.5" square steel bar on the ceiling and bolting it to that. Unfortunately, I have to head out of town so it will be a few weeks before I tackle the project again so I'll give you guys an update soon.
OP
OP
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Member
I was having the exact same conversation with my brother in-law, Keith, last week because I had to bring 2 up and 2 down this past Saturday. Here are my stairs and its a tight squeeze with only a few mm's on each side of a machine if that. Here is when I was moving High Speed down.
There is not much we can do in terms of turning or carry it up the entire way. Basically what happens is we orient the machine at the bottom in the direction that will clear the door opening up at the very top. We start at the bottom and lift up step by step and once we reach those pie shaped steps before the landing we stand the machine up vertical. Then we try to lift it up and shift over to the landing and then go up step by step to my front foyer.
Last Saturday I had to bring up a Demolition Man which is a widebody and a Simpsons Pinball Party. Luckily we had 6-7 guys on hand but only 4 people at once could fit to move the machine. Here is a group photo
The last time, Keith (shown above in the helmet) and I moved my WCS94 up it was awful. We didn't think to use straps till we were part way up before the landing transfer so it gave me something to pull up on while he lifted from the bottom. That was the ticket as it really helped when moving up and choking the strap at the right point on the machine for maximum leverage. The machine is very slippery once shrink wrapped and there is nothing at all to grip or pull up on from the top. This time it was also easier since we had two guys pulling up from the top and two lifting from the bottom. We managed to get DM up in 5 minutes and TSPP was even faster quicker probably cause it was a bit lighter too.
So unless you have pinball ADD it might be easier and safer to just recruit some muscle or break down the machine and separate the head from the body.
Good luck and can't wait to see how that winch works out for you.
LOL... that's like an exact replay of what happened with me. My band was over and after practice, in lieu of getting my winch hooked up yet, I employed all of them to help me move a machine upstairs so I got one moved for now. I'm sure they felt the same way as the guys in your pic!
spanks_4
Active member
spanks_4
Active member
I hope you didn't get killed by the pin and wench idea!
OP
OP
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Actually was out of town for a bit. Just got back and am now working on pinball_winch_version_2.0 -- I need a few certain pieces of steel tubing first.. so stay tuned and I'll post pictures when I'm done.
spanks_4
Active member
How about a cheap for sale thread first lol...
Tighe
Well-known member
Seriously are you guys weak? Carried the metal base to my prop cycle by my self. Manual says it is 1200 lbs. I am 6' 300lbs.
I worked moving one summer in college. Compared to some of the stuff I carried myself (8'10" giant solid mahogany armore down 6 flights) a pinball is nothing.
I worked moving one summer in college. Compared to some of the stuff I carried myself (8'10" giant solid mahogany armore down 6 flights) a pinball is nothing.
OP
OP
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Member
Ok, guys, I've actually done it.. I got the electric hoist installed.. will post pictures soon. I have not killed myself yet.
OP
OP
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Member
Whew... first test was a success... very, very scary at first but the pinball hoist worked like a boss!
A 440lb hoist from Harbor Freight, with a custom-made mount made from structural steel, with 1/2" bolts going up through the ceiling into 2 2x6's that span 3-4 joists in the attic.
Since this was a test, the install isn't finished. I'll trim the structural steel and make it look nice and properly wire it in, but it actually worked. In fact, this thing hauled the test machine all the way up the stairs in seconds. Next time I move a machine I'll try to get some pictures of the actual move.
I also had to modify the safety switch on the hoist to allow it to pull up at an angle.
A 440lb hoist from Harbor Freight, with a custom-made mount made from structural steel, with 1/2" bolts going up through the ceiling into 2 2x6's that span 3-4 joists in the attic.
Since this was a test, the install isn't finished. I'll trim the structural steel and make it look nice and properly wire it in, but it actually worked. In fact, this thing hauled the test machine all the way up the stairs in seconds. Next time I move a machine I'll try to get some pictures of the actual move.
I also had to modify the safety switch on the hoist to allow it to pull up at an angle.
nitrozoom
Member
Looks terrifying. I like it! When you disappeared for 12 hours I was sure this ended in catastrophe.
OP
OP
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Member
It took a long time to prep a game to haul up the stairs. I strapped it to a dolly, then covered it with a blanket and put a sling on it and made sure everything was tight. It doesn't leave much margin for error if something goes wrong, but it definitely works well. I can see a few other ways to improve it, by having some 2x6s on the stairs to make the dolly creep up instead of bouncing on each step.
