Rebuild or Part out? 1979 Harlem Globetrotters

Guru-420

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The Harlem Globetrotters machine is more of a nightmare than a story. Bought it super cheap at an auction as a possible fixer-upper. Didn't look too close at it before the auction started as I wasn't planning on buying anything, but no one was bidding so I bought it cheap.... Then I got it home...

Basically, it's a glorified boat anchor. So far as I can tell, if I were to try to fix this thing up, it'll wind up costing more than I could ever get out of it. MPU has acid corrosion from a blown battery (so new MPU needed), Solinoid Driver Assy is burned up, all 5 displays need replacement, backglass is a 3/10 (so I'd need to find a replacement), needs new lockbar assy (whole thing), new coin door (although the one I have may be salvageable). Even the body and head of the machine are in rough shape (but the artwork is easy enough to reproduce, could be cleaned up).

Only saving grace on this machine is the playfied is beautiful, very little playwear (8-9/10) and it is fully populated. Visual inspection of the wiring harness looks OK. Transformer assy and Sound Board look OK, but have not been tested.

I'm only about $150 in on the machine, and have been considering parting it out just to cover my losses. Only thing is, I've been a fan of the Harlem Globetrotters for over 30 years, part of me still wants to try to bring the machine back from the dead...

Looking for a few opinions as to whether it is worth the restoration. I really do not need a money pit (I'm married with kids, that's enough of a financial drain). So, here's my options:

1) Restore the poor machine
2) Part this out, cut my losses, and invest in fixing the other machines I own
3) Start looking for another Harlem Globetrotters On Tour and save parts/pieces to make one awesome machine
 
Post some pics...
The Alltek boards are great. The pinscore displays are fantastic. With those it will be like a new machine.
 
I wouldn't bother unless the backglass was in good shape.I have $150 in a HG that I will part out.If you decide to just recooperated some and I will give you all of the parts you need.The main cab is shot and the CPU doesn't work.Send me a list of stuff you need and I will see if they can be salvaged.
 
Yeah, the backglass was one of those items that really made me reconsider whether this was salvageable. With it being in such bad shape, its tough.

bballfan- I'll let you know. Thanks for the offer, I just may be taking you up on it. ;)
 
Yeah, I had seen that one out there. Ohio isn't too far, but driving both ways is an entire day from Wisconsin (he won't ship, 7hrs each way). I also found another one on CL in NY last December for 150.00. Same deal, wouldn't ship, and I was a bit too broke to buy it at the time. If I could find an 8+ backglass for under $200, I almost would seriously consider rehabbing this machine..
 
A backglass is the turning point on getting the machine in working order again?

Who cares? It's a backglass...it's not needed for the machine to function, so you just be patient and wait for one to come up that you're willing to spend the money on.

If the cab was falling apart, then I could see parting it out. If you can stay within reasonable $ getting the boards all working/replaced, then rebuild it.

Missing/damaged artwork, aside from the playfield, is a HORRIBLE reason to part a machine out. I paid over $300 for a backglass and plastics for my Robocop, it had no backglass...and had I not been able to find one, I wouldn't have parted it out.
 
The backglass is a big factor for me, yes, but not the total determination. Please keep in mind ALL of the issues this machine has. If the backglass was the only issue, I wouldn't hesitate fixing this machine up. It does have a backglass, just a VERY poor one. I could be patient for the backglass (I've been looking for a playfield for my $6M Man for 6 years...).

The question is how much $$ it will take to get it going again, and at what point a machine like this becomes more cost than it is worth. If I eventually sold or traded it, I would like to get out of the machine what I put into it. Here was my (very) rough estimate as to what it would cost to fix up to playable again:

1) MPU - $100 for replacement, $200 for an ultimate MPU
2) Soloniod Driver Board (AS-2518-22) - $85
3) 4 Display replacement - Price Check? (Driver boards AND Displays needed (AS-2518-21))
4) Lockbar Replacement Assembly - $75 (Guessing)
Plus... eventually a new backglass and any other parts that look OK but haven't been tested yet.

So, $150 invested already, plus parts above and I am looking at being in $475-700 (barring no other issues with the machine). Add in a new backglass, and that number shoots higher. Last auction I was at had one fully working that only sold for $450. So I would guess I probably would never recover the money out of the machine.

But the machine is sweet, and something I would love to have in my collection, which is why I am still on the fence about just parting it out. :D
 
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If you had $500 or even $600 into it in the end, with a nice playfield, completely working and a better backglass, there's no way I could see you not getting your money back out of it.

You can't take the numbers at an auction(even Ebay, hell especially Ebay) as the going rate.
It may have been working, but if you're selling privately and you inform potential buyers of the details of rebuilding it and it's nice and clean...you'll get more money than any auction will ever pull where it's WYSIWYG.
 
Yeah, the way I am guessing it, I'm probably looking closer to $800 or so on the restoration (if not a little more...). With that being said, I think I will try to bring this bad-boy back from dead. I kind of figured most of the people here would be leaning going that route, but I needed a bit of a push to really start thinking that way again.

I also spoke with my wife about it, and she feels the same way. I may never get the money back out of it, but the sentimental value and what it would mean to my 6yo son would make up for the loss.

Besides, I already have the greatest topper for it... a fully signed Harlem Globetrotters basketball. Also have a signed jersey and program. :D
 
You have an easy test case though...with that 6 Million Dollar Man, it uses the same boardset.

So if you can clean up the corrosion and repair anything damaged, you can test the MPU out in it.
 
Thats exactly what I was thinking. I think I may hook up the sound board and Lamp Driver Assembly into my SMDM machine just to see if they work. I have a feeling the MPU is toast, the corrosion damage is pretty extensive and looks as if it has been there for QUITE a while.

I think I will just try to focus on the few parts I know I need and start picking those up. Well, looks like it's time to really start putting a list together and post in the Parts Wanted Section and start scouring ebay/CL...
 
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