Not only my first Pinball, but the cheapest game I have bought to date!

TheDrewster

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Donor 2012
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Not only my first Pinball, but the cheapest game I have bought to date!

Today I get an email from someone who wants to get rid of their '87 Monte Carlo. No, not their car, their pinball. So I said sure, Ill go check it out!

Drove half an hour out of town into the same neighborhood I bought my Centipede and Paperboy. I get there and we greet eachother, yadda yadda. So I follow him into his house looking for the pinball, and its not inside. Uh oh... We walk out the back door. I think to myself, "it might be in that big shed right there. Oh well, no biggie." Nope! Walk past the shed into another side yard and there it sits out in the open. It looked like the poor thing hadnt moved in 3 years. Because it hasnt. Weathered, swollen, peeling and dusty is the poor little Gottlieb. Tried to pick it up and the legs were 3" into the dirt. But I took the time to drive out here and I figured I would see how much he wants for it.

Free.

I couldnt go wrong. We loaded it up and tipped the owner $10 for helping my friend and I load it safely. Got him home, Set it up in the garage, lifted the backboox up and my friend and I start hearing buzzing noises. We havent even plugged it in yet. Soon, 15 wasps come flying out of the backbox and with my irrational fear of wasps, I ran half way down the street. After the bug spray has taken its toll and the carnage is over, found a baseball sized nest stuck to one of the boards. Never again do I ever want to experience that. Ive still got the heebie-jeebies.

But all wasps and nests aside, the machine amazingly powers on and most lights come on. Not a peep otherwise. Its going to be my first pinball project and most likely my first woodworking project as I attempt to recreate and replace some of the damaged, warped, and swollen particleboard. The playfield is damn near perfect. No fading, cracks, or warping! Hardly any wear even! Just needs new rubbers something awful.

Even with my generous $10 tip, this is still the least expensive arcade purchase thusfar.

Heres a pic of it shoved back next to my Gorf to await its resurrection.
 

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Soon, 15 wasps come flying out of the backbox and with my irrational fear of wasps, I ran half way down the street.

LOL, if it was me I'd have gone ALL the way down the street, AND I'd have beaten you there. :D
 
Interesting freebie. I bet it stinks too.

Honestly, I think I would part it out and call it a day. That will be one hell of a project unless you can find a donor cabinet.
 
My prediction?

Your cheapest game is going to soon become the most expensive game you have, once you bring it back to functional again.
 
Interesting freebie. I bet it stinks too.

Honestly, I think I would part it out and call it a day. That will be one hell of a project unless you can find a donor cabinet.

Actually, it smells fine, with the exception of the half-can of RAID I sprayed in it. There is some minimal spot swelling here and there on the cabinet, but nothing where I would justify replacing the whole cabinet. Most of the damage is on the backbox. Just need to replace the warped backing and board mount and that will take care of most of the physical damage.

Ive gotten too much shit from parting out things. Ive never worked on pinballs before, so this will be a great learning experience.
 
Soon, 15 wasps come flying out of the backbox and with my irrational fear of wasps, I ran half way down the street.

LOL, if it was me I'd have gone ALL the way down the street, AND I'd have beaten you there. :D

Haha I feel the same way. I can't help but take a swing at any stinging insect that comes near me even if people say you're better off not pissing them off!

To the OP congrats on the pinball. For free you can't go wrong.
 
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