Playfield won't slide back...

ModCity

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Wish I could be writing this as a happy first-time pin owner, but I have to start off with a question :)

Just picked up my first machine - Bram Stoker's Dracula. Few small issues but overall a pretty nice machine. Had the playfield up to work on a few things, but now it won't slide back in the cabinet. The latches are all free but it seems to be binding on the right side for some reason.

I read one online account that fixed it with a new rail for the pegs to slide on, but I'd rather not have to completely remove the playfield if I don't have to.

Has anyone had this issue? We're absolutely stumped here.

Thanks in advance :)
 
the manual shows you how to do it there in the bottom of the cabinet if you have one. page 1 dash 4

heres where you can DL. look under Bram
http://files.flipperspill.no/Support/Pinball/Pinball_Manuals.htm#D

lower the PF to the rests. try pulling the PF towards you a few inches
then push it back towrds the head
should unlock the pivot mechanism and lower into position

Yeah I have the manual and schematic (sweet blood red covers, too). We did every combination of pulling, pushing and nudging. It's just caught on something and it appears to be the rails the nut slides along. The rails seem to have been "crushed" or something. They no longer slide easily past the bolt that guides them. Incidentally, we had the playfield up a few days ago and got it back into position just fine. Can't imagine what would have happen when we tried to slide it back tonight. Amazingly frustrating.

It's tough to explain without a pic and I don't have one. It took three guys holding the playfield steady in the upright position and gently tapping on the the apparatus with a hammer to push them through. Once it was through (or past the hitch or whatever it was) we could lower the playfield and it slid back with no problem.

It's playing again right now and we're back to square one. Will have to examine it again next time the playfield comes up to replace lights and rebuild the flippers.

Oh, and hey. I have my first pin! I love it. Makes me happy :)
 
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are the springs still on there that hold the hooks in place ?
if they're not then the hooks can go the wrong way when you pull up the playfield and it locks, then you have to try to lift it in the back and slide it back manually

normally when you want to put it back in the cabinet, you lift the playfield up, pull it a little bit towards you so the hooks unlock, and then let it slide back
 
are the springs still on there that hold the hooks in place ?
if they're not then the hooks can go the wrong way when you pull up the playfield and it locks, then you have to try to lift it in the back and slide it back manually

normally when you want to put it back in the cabinet, you lift the playfield up, pull it a little bit towards you so the hooks unlock, and then let it slide back

Yes, the springs are there. It got to the point where there were two people manually making sure the locks were undone and it still wouldn't slide. Wish someone had taken pictures but it just doesn't get done in those situations.

Here's a similar incident:

http://www.gamesforum.ca/showthread.php?t=469400
 
A hammer?
yeah.....

Oh relax, nobody was swinging like they were driving nails. It just needed some very slight metal on metal vibration to get it moving again.

I heard from the guy who posted his similar problem in the above link and he never did figure out what happen to the sliding mechanism to make it hitch like that. If it does it again on mine I'm obviously going to have to take the route he did and just replace them.
 
Oh, and hey. I have my first pin! I love it. Makes me happy :)

uh oh

you've got the bug and now you're screwed !

all you have to worry about now is, waking up finding you've rented 2 storage units to store all your games. untill then you're fine !
:)
 
uh oh

you've got the bug and now you're screwed !

all you have to worry about now is, waking up finding you've rented 2 storage units to store all your games. untill then you're fine !
:)

I hear you, and though I'm new I have a new understanding of the sickness. It's been home three days now and it's hard to think about much else other than playing it and fixing issues. You don't bring that many things home that make you say to yourself, "You know, I should upgrade the wiring in this house."

Agh. Down the rabbit hole I go :)
 
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