Machine was 'professionally' serviced

daley

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So, my new Jurassic Park pin is potentially HUO, the guy I bought it from had got it from his Aunt and he thinks she had bought it new. The playfield and cab are in great condition, underneath is another story. He told me that she used to get it 'professionally' serviced.

Well one of the first things I notice when I open it up is dripped solder all over the bottom of the inside of the cab (okay maybe not ALL over, but it sure feels like a lot). In addition there are incorrect coils installed, duct tape in place of rubber stoppers, and horrible soldering (probably the source of the dripped solder).

It seems like whoever used to 'service' this machine knew the owners would never open it up so just did what was cheap, easy, and quick. Is this common?

By the way, I am still very happy with my purchase, pretty much everything underneath is easily fixable (though I don't know what to do about the dripped solder, can I just heat it and suck it up or do I risk singeing the wood?). I just can't believe this is how someone would "repair" a machine.
 
Here is a photo of one of the solder spots:

WP_000528.jpg


There are numerous spots like that. It is also dripped onto part of the speaker and the manual which was in the coinbox had a bunch of solder dripped on it. Even managed to get a drip on the underside of the lockdown bar...
 
The Stargate I bought was 'serviced' and had the blown mosfet, detached diode that caused the blown mosfet, was pretty dirty by my standards, a kickout mech that didn't work properly and needed adjusting, and mechanical diverter that would not open or close properly. Rope light was burned up too.

STTNG, the guy actually GAVE ME THE PAPERWORK from the last time he had it serviced....which wasn't that long ago....

It had white rubber that is black with so much dirt, a failing right cannon harness, screw missing from one of the wireform ramps, a badly placed launch ramp that was causing balls to not go all the way up some of the time, and again...was dirty. GI connectors burned and one wire soldered directly to the header pin... flashers not working because the wire was pulled out of the IDC connector slot and making intermittent contact...just...seriously.

Both machines had bulbs out. Stargate was by far the worse offender but the guy had replacement flashers on hand (nice!). I still need replacement flashers for STTNG.

I'm going to start offering pinball "repair" and "maintenence" in Dallas, because apparently all you do is walk in, take off the glass, slap some novus on there, fix anything they ask you to fix, but only as quickly and sloppily as you possibly can, and then take the money and run.
 
By the way, I am still very happy with my purchase, pretty much everything underneath is easily fixable (though I don't know what to do about the dripped solder, can I just heat it and suck it up or do I risk singeing the wood?). I just can't believe this is how someone would "repair" a machine.

Try picking at the solder blob with the tip of an Xacto knife "should" lift right off the wood.
Rich
 
You can usually pick up solder blobs with your fingernails. If that fails, lift it loose as don1400 stated.

JP is a fun game. Nice pick up.
 
Most of that sounds like all the operator games I see......half-ass repair people working in dimly lit bars:D.

Edward
 
What makes someone a professional? It's more than just owning a business. The best "service" you will get is from a hobbiest/enthusiest. With all of us, its not about the money, it's about making sure it plays properly. I've seen the professional approach, run a lamp test, switch test and solenoid test(if that) and out the door they go.
 
So, my new Jurassic Park pin is potentially HUO, the guy I bought it from had got it from his Aunt and he thinks she had bought it new. The playfield and cab are in great condition, underneath is another story. He told me that she used to get it 'professionally' serviced.

Well one of the first things I notice when I open it up is dripped solder all over the bottom of the inside of the cab (okay maybe not ALL over, but it sure feels like a lot). In addition there are incorrect coils installed, duct tape in place of rubber stoppers, and horrible soldering (probably the source of the dripped solder).

It seems like whoever used to 'service' this machine knew the owners would never open it up so just did what was cheap, easy, and quick. Is this common?

By the way, I am still very happy with my purchase, pretty much everything underneath is easily fixable (though I don't know what to do about the dripped solder, can I just heat it and suck it up or do I risk singeing the wood?). I just can't believe this is how someone would "repair" a machine.

Incorrect coils hints it was HUO after his Aunt got it, not before. HUO pins usually don't go through a lot of coils.

LTG :)
 
Incorrect coils hints it was HUO after his Aunt got it, not before. HUO pins usually don't go through a lot of coils.

LTG :)

Good call, makes no difference to me. I buy my games for me, no plans on trying to sell it. Merely mentioned it because the playfield and cabinet art are actually in great condition.
 
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Good call, makes no difference to me. I but my games for me, no plans of trying to sell it. Merely mentioned it because the playfield and cabinet art are actually in great condition.

That is the most important part. Condition is everything. No matter the games history.

Congratulations on your new game !
LTG :)
 
I understand the shortcut fixes being retarded, but a couple drops of solder under the playfield to me seems a little picky.
 
Even in the field, you should put a towel directly underneath whatever you're soldering, so if it drips it doesn't land on wires. But yeah, I'm a pinball tech, and the stuff I've seen the field guys do is mindboggling. They're nice guys, but sometimes they go "I'm in a hurry, and who cares about the pinball machine that makes $20 a week? The jukebox that makes $300 is broken across town, and needs fixed. And I'm still hungover from last night. And I have to work tonight. I'll just stick some duct tape on it, and it'll be fine."
 
So, my new Jurassic Park pin is potentially HUO, the guy I bought it from had got it from his Aunt and he thinks she had bought it new. The playfield and cab are in great condition, underneath is another story. He told me that she used to get it 'professionally' serviced.

Well one of the first things I notice when I open it up is dripped solder all over the bottom of the inside of the cab (okay maybe not ALL over, but it sure feels like a lot). In addition there are incorrect coils installed, duct tape in place of rubber stoppers, and horrible soldering (probably the source of the dripped solder).

It seems like whoever used to 'service' this machine knew the owners would never open it up so just did what was cheap, easy, and quick. Is this common?

By the way, I am still very happy with my purchase, pretty much everything underneath is easily fixable (though I don't know what to do about the dripped solder, can I just heat it and suck it up or do I risk singeing the wood?). I just can't believe this is how someone would "repair" a machine.

Did the JP have the topper? Many times the topper is MIA from a routed pin.
 
Did the JP have the topper? Many times the topper is MIA from a routed pin.

shoot me a pm as a reminder, I might have one laying around. I aint 100% and if its the one im thinking about its in pretty good shape. I would just need the shipping covered.

I wont be able to check for a couple weeks so the pm will remind me.
 
I understand the shortcut fixes being retarded, but a couple drops of solder under the playfield to me seems a little picky.

As I said in my my second post on this thread, there was solder on the speaker, coin box, all over the bottom of the cab, and even on the bottom of the lockdown bar. Pretty much anything 'inside the cab' was not safe from the solder with this technician. I do not really get how that is 'picky.'

As I also said in my first post, I am happy with my purchase. I was just commenting on the fact that I couldn't believe that this was considered acceptable servicing of the machine.
 
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As I said in my my second post on this thread, there was solder on the speaker, coin box, all over the bottom of the cab, and even on the bottom of the lockdown bar. Pretty much anything 'inside the cab' was not safe from the solder with this technician. I do not really get how that is 'picky.'

As I also said in my first post, I am happy with my purchase. I was just commenting on the fact that I couldn't believe that this was considered acceptable servicing of the machine.


I shouldnt have skimmed your post. Didnt notice the solder was everywhere.

You should never try to skim a thread when your going to post something in it. My bad.
 
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