New Project: DE Hook

metahugh

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I picked up a Data East Hook this past weekend! I put a ad on Craigslist looking to buy a pinball machine and a gentleman emailed me with this machine. At first it was $500. I didn't reply immediately and I got another email about 6 hours later stating that his "boss" (The wife) wanted it gone and I could have it for $275. Well I jumped at that! The boards and playfield are worth that much alone. So I hopped in a borrowed van hoping the entire time that the machine was in good shape. So I get there and I meet a gentleman in his 70's. Good thing I can move these by myself! He walked me to his garage and there it sat in the corner. Initially it looked to be in OK condition but the closer I got I started to realize that this was not in the best of shape. The positives were the playfield was in good shape and the game booted up and played. The negatives… well take a look:


DSC_0199.jpg



We went to lower the head and I noticed that it wasn't lowering properly. A quick glance at the back of the head shows what you see above. Apparently the head had been dropped before and the bottom was separating from the sides. WOW, I have to be super gentle with this one. The rails were rusty and missing paint so I didn't even bother with putting cardboard between the head and body like I usually do. I used my huge stretch wrap and wrapped it as tight as I could to try and give it some stability.

I loaded it up in my van and off I went. When I got it home I took some more pictures:

http://gallery.metahugh.com/main.php?g2_itemId=1950

Yeah it is dirty. I pulled up the playfield and was greeted with a bunch of broken glass. Looking around the playfield it appeared that the top rollover lanes were missing the wire actuators for the switches. Looking closer I noticed a few pieces of broken glass in the way holding the actuators down… yeah this is going to be fun!

Now many people would take a game like this and part it out. Not me
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I will be saving this game, it will be stripped down, the playfield removed and the cabinet painted. It would be a shame to part this out or any game for that matter unless it is totally water damaged.
 
Even with the work ahead of you it`s still a good deal. I bought one last year that was completely dead. Brought it back to life & still have it. Good Luck with it.
 
Damn you, MH!!! You topped my aquisition of Genesis for $275(pics coming).

Anyway,, I played a Hook this past weekend and I forgot how much fun it was albeit the rollunder switch wasn't working on the right ramp sans scoring jackpot on that side but still it was fun! Cool music, cool Wincoaster ramp and cool artwork. My only gripe was the sounds they lifted; thought they could've done better but my opinion.


I don't think anybody in their right mind would part that. It does look like the head has been dropped once or twice but the main cab looks pretty good...
 
After seeing the fade in the cabinet, damage to the head I would either fix and sell or part it out and put the money towards a nicer machine, can find a descent machine for just under 1K.
 
Hook is a good pinball. Still makes money on the route.

Get out the Harbor Freight glue clamps and some Elmer's wood glue & get going on that headbox.
 
I just finished shopping out mine this last weekend. I bought it a few months back and just got to it. There were ALOT of minor problems, and one major one (the ramp).

Check The connectors on the power supply and PPP Board for burned/chared pins/connector! I had to replace a set on each board. They look fine untill you pull them... I had a GI problem with the lower half of my backbox, traced it back to the power supply. Had a switch wired wrong, caused 4 others to fail, etc... Cleaning and replacing bulbs was much easyer.

My right ramp, lower section has a hole in it... What shape is yours in?

It's funny too, because it's the only part of the ramp that does not have a guard. So if there IS someone parting out a HOOK, I need a ramp!!

Bay Area Amusements has a plastics kit, but it's $169...

-Mike
 
I just finished shopping out mine this last weekend. I bought it a few months back and just got to it. There were ALOT of minor problems, and one major one (the ramp).

Check The connectors on the power supply and PPP Board for burned/chared pins/connector! I had to replace a set on each board. They look fine untill you pull them... I had a GI problem with the lower half of my backbox, traced it back to the power supply. Had a switch wired wrong, caused 4 others to fail, etc... Cleaning and replacing bulbs was much easyer.

My right ramp, lower section has a hole in it... What shape is yours in?

It's funny too, because it's the only part of the ramp that does not have a guard. So if there IS someone parting out a HOOK, I need a ramp!!

Bay Area Amusements has a plastics kit, but it's $169...

-Mike

I didn't look at the rear ramp very closely but from what I recall it was in good shape. I will be flaming the ramps to clear them up. Pinball Resource has a set of NOS ramp decals I am going to buy and apply.
 
This is getting out of hand, Hugh. How many pins do you have now? Congrats on a great deal. =-)
 
At first it was $500. I didn't reply immediately and I got another email about 6 hours later stating that his "boss" (The wife) wanted it gone and I could have it for $275.

I'd buy a Hook for $275 even if a buffalo took a diarrhea dump all over it!!!

(Thank you Angry Video Game Nerd! :) )
 
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