My First Pinball!! My First Problem!!

jalpert

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I am very excited to have picked up a White Water pinball for a very good price. The machine is in good shape, basically needs a cleaning and a flipper rebuild, but it does have 1 very annoying problem.

When you shoot up the middle ramp it makes a high pitch noise then shoots the ball up the vertical upkicker (is that the right terminology?) and then it rolls down to the 3rd flipper.

Randomly and annoyingly when the ball is other places, you'll hear the high pitched sound then you'll hear the game try and shoot the ball up, but of course there is no ball there. Not only does the sound get old, then the sound of the thingy trying to hit the ball up gets old, but I think it's even messing with the score etc.

If you go up the middle ramp, it always correctly detects the ball, but how do I stop it from thinking there is a ball there where isn't?

I am very technical with aracdes, but pinball is a little intimidating, but I think this is an easy fix. Thanks!
 
Curious on what you paid for it? I had the opportunity to play one about 6 years ago and I was hooked and have been looking for a good price, let me know. Maybe your problem is a short or something as being to sensitive that it's registering theres a ball there when theres not. Hope you get it fixed to your liking. :) Jeff
 
Sure, I paid $1,500. For a fully working whitewater I thought that was a good price. When I get thus VUK working, rebuild the flippers and clean it up it'll be great. I can't wait...
 
Okay, I think I fixed the problem. I went into the switch test mode and the switch was freaking out. I pushed the plunger up from underneath and the tone it makes when the switch trips was going crazy. I gently pulled the wires on the switch and what appears to be the ground popped right off. A little bit of solder later, fire the machine back up, go back into the switch test and it's acting normal! VERY happy about that.

I have 2 targets out on the left hand side, once I figure out something to do with those and do a flipper rebuild all that's left to do is the give it a good cleaning. I'll order some cleaning supplies tomorrow.
 
Okay, I think I fixed the problem. I went into the switch test mode and the switch was freaking out. I pushed the plunger up from underneath and the tone it makes when the switch trips was going crazy. I gently pulled the wires on the switch and what appears to be the ground popped right off. A little bit of solder later, fire the machine back up, go back into the switch test and it's acting normal! VERY happy about that.

I have 2 targets out on the left hand side, once I figure out something to do with those and do a flipper rebuild all that's left to do is the give it a good cleaning. I'll order some cleaning supplies tomorrow.

Cool, was that the one recently on CL? Looked like a good deal, if I didn't have one I would have been all over it. Super fun pin, I'll never sell mine. I took the mini-playfield off to install Cliffy's VUK protector and add LED's. Then went and broke the Spine Chiller ramp when I was reinstalling it. Got it glued back together, looks like it will hold up. Now I have to get that sucker back in there. Have fun going after the Vacation Jackpot, I still haven't got it but have been damn a close a few times.
 
Yah, it was. He wanted $1,750 but said things like "I never rebuilt the flippers because it doesn't need it" and "it's very clean." The flippers defiantly need a rebuild and it was pretty dirty but nothing crazy. The good thing is that he gave me a big tub of rubber and 2 flipper rebuild kits. I've never done that (obviously) but it looks like just a few nuts and bolts.

I also have the divot under the VUK. I saw Cliffy's protector but don't really want to tear the thing up just yet. I think I am going to fill it with super glue, maybe sand a little, and then put a mylar patch over it. I'm sure it won't last forever, but when I become a little more comfortable I'll start tearing it apart.

I ordered the mylar, novus 2 and millwax from pinballife.com, after I clean everything I can I'm going to put new pinballs in there, he also included a set of those. That VUK going off at random times is so god awful annoying, I'm just glad that was easy.

Someone told me to take a sheet of paper and run it through the 2 switches that aren't working, he said gunk can make that connection unreliable, so I think I'm going to do that tonight as well.

That sucks about the ramps, but it's good to know that super glue is enough to get them back. I know this game is notorious for having ramp issues, I have a small almost crack on the whirlpool ramp, but I don't think it looks bad. You breaking your ramp is exactly why I want to play for a while before I try to dismantle the thing, I'm very afraid I'll do something similar.

Cool, was that the one recently on CL? Looked like a good deal, if I didn't have one I would have been all over it. Super fun pin, I'll never sell mine. I took the mini-playfield off to install Cliffy's VUK protector and add LED's. Then went and broke the Spine Chiller ramp when I was reinstalling it. Got it glued back together, looks like it will hold up. Now I have to get that sucker back in there. Have fun going after the Vacation Jackpot, I still haven't got it but have been damn a close a few times.
 
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When ever I do a ramp repair I reinforce it with a piece of mylar after it's glued. You can't see the mylar and helps hold it together while distributing the force around the repair.

Jerry
 
Congrats on your 1st pin, great game.

For the switch repair you might want to try a buisness card. The ones with a little texture work great, just put a little rubbing alcohol on it and rub between the contacts. You should be able to test the switches in test mode to make sure they're good.

Jerry
 
Do you think super glue is okay for the divot, or should I go with a two part epoxy?

Congrats on your 1st pin, great game.

For the switch repair you might want to try a buisness card. The ones with a little texture work great, just put a little rubbing alcohol on it and rub between the contacts. You should be able to test the switches in test mode to make sure they're good.

Jerry
 
I'm not familiar with WH2O enough to know what divot you mean, could you point me to 1 of the ipdb pics to take a look. In general I prefer epoxy for repairs, bondo works well. I hear the wood colored stuff that comes in a playdough like stick is good too and is easier to touch up. Depending on the location the Cliffy protector covers spots and looks original so that's always a possibility, but I think they effect game play in some locations.

Re: the slight crack you may be developing, I'd try to reinforce it sooner than later so it doesn't get any worse.

Jerry
 
Do you think super glue is okay for the divot, or should I go with a two part epoxy?

I think a wood putty may be your best bet. The bitch of it is, it's nearly impossible to get in there. The VUK rail blocks access. The mini isn't that hard to get off. What sucks is most of the ramps come off with it. I'm not sure you will be able to fix it properly without removing the mini. Cliff recommends filling the divot with wood putty before installing his protector, because over time it will dimple the metal.
 
Here is the pic:

http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2768&picno=41874

That vertical upkicker sends a ball up and around in that silver track and then basically slams the ball down on the playfiled. Over time a divot is created and the ball doesn't roll down, you have to nudge the machine (in this case a lot) to get the ball to roll to the upper play field...

What should I enforce the crack with? Would it be something custom or do they make a material to strengthen the plastic?

I'm not familiar with WH2O enough to know what divot you mean, could you point me to 1 of the ipdb pics to take a look. In general I prefer epoxy for repairs, bondo works well. I hear the wood colored stuff that comes in a playdough like stick is good too and is easier to touch up. Depending on the location the Cliffy protector covers spots and looks original so that's always a possibility, but I think they effect game play in some locations.

Re: the slight crack you may be developing, I'd try to reinforce it sooner than later so it doesn't get any worse.

Jerry
 
What do you think about this:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

is acrylic bad?

I want to give a basic repair a shot. If I decide I'm going to take the playfield off, I'm going to have cliffy's protector, at that point you might as well, I'm trying to avoid that for the time being.


I think a wood putty may be your best bet. The bitch of it is, it's nearly impossible to get in there. The VUK rail blocks access. The mini isn't that hard to get off. What sucks is most of the ramps come off with it. I'm not sure you will be able to fix it properly without removing the mini. Cliff recommends filling the divot with wood putty before installing his protector, because over time it will dimple the metal.
 
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http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2768&picno=41874&zoom=1

It's right behind Bigfoot's head Jerry, where the ball comes up to the upper playfield. I got sick of having to shake mine to get the damn thing to roll out of there. It really sucks for multiball because all 3 come out there. I would be trying to hit the jackpot while trying to shake the balls out of there. It drove me crazy.
 

I would think that would work fine. Not sure if acrylic is bad or not. At least with that tip on it it may be easier to get it in there. I don't know how you will smooth it though, it's very tight in there. I had taped a piece of mylar in there as a temp fix until I got the protector installed, and I could barely get my fingers in there.
 
I would think that would work fine. Not sure if acrylic is bad or not. At least with that tip on it it may be easier to get it in there. I don't know how you will smooth it though, it's very tight in there. I had taped a piece of mylar in there as a temp fix until I got the protector installed, and I could barely get my fingers in there.

I was thinking plastic knife. The great thing about the area is that you can't see it. I don't want anything crazy back there, but I don't need it to be pretty either.
 
I was thinking plastic knife. The great thing about the area is that you can't see it. I don't want anything crazy back there, but I don't need it to be pretty either.

Just so long as it's smooth you should be fine. If you have a really long skinney putty knife it may fit in there.
 
Just so long as it's smooth you should be fine. If you have a really long skinney putty knife it may fit in there.

I was going to pick one up. If I overdo it (I intend on doing the opposite) I was just going to sand it down a bit. I know there are sanding products that should allow me to sand it...
 
Also, do you know whats up with home rom LH-6? I'm running L5 which is the latest official, I was curious what home rom means and what it does.
 
I don't know the specific changes, but the home ROMs for that game are a pretty significant jump in features, from what I understand. Also, it makes the game free play only.
 
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