Stripping my BH playfield, Couple questions

Malice95

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No turning back now! I started stripping everything off my black hole
upper playfield tonight. I made good progress. I dont think this thing was
every taken apart. 1/2 the bulbs were burned out and the rubbers were
dry rotted and stuck to the plastic posts. And yes I took tons of pictures.

So the metal guide rails that are nailed to the wood of the playfield. How
can I remove these without damaging them? How do people get them
nice and shiny again?

I assume all the pop bumpers on the upper playfield should have lights in
them? One was missing the socket that a bulb would go into. I know I can
buy replacement pop bumpers but I havent seen anyone selling the little
bulb sockets that go in them.

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Thanks,
Mike
 

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No turning back now! I started stripping everything off my black hole
upper playfield tonight. I made good progress. I dont think this thing was
every taken apart. 1/2 the bulbs were burned out and the rubbers were
dry rotted and stuck to the plastic posts. And yes I took tons of pictures.

So the metal guide rails that are nailed to the wood of the playfield. How
can I remove these without damaging them? How do people get them
nice and shiny again?

I assume all the pop bumpers on the upper playfield should have lights in
them? One was missing the socket that a bulb would go into. I know I can
buy replacement pop bumpers but I havent seen anyone selling the little
bulb sockets that go in them.

attachment.php


attachment.php


Thanks,
Mike


Mike thats a HUGE project your undertaking :)

BTW since you've collection and repairing has expanded 10 fold since I met you a year + ago if you have the time on a weekend I could use a little pin troubleshooting help. Nothing major just a dead flipper and some dead targets/banks. LMK can work out some compensation.
 
To get those off the playfield you're probably going to have to remove the entire siderail. Are those siderails screwed in from the bottom? I would carefully hand polish it while its still attached to the playfield with some novus 3. I can see it getting bent out of form polishing it after it's removed. Unless you're able to gently pry it off the side rail and throw it in a parts tumbler.

I'm sure you can order some 44/47 pop bumper sockets from Pinball Resource.
 
To get those off the playfield you're probably going to have to remove the entire siderail. Are those siderails screwed in from the bottom? I would carefully hand polish it while its still attached to the playfield with some novus 3. I can see it getting bent out of form polishing it after it's removed. Unless you're able to gently pry it off the side rail and throw it in a parts tumbler.

I'm sure you can order some 44/47 pop bumper sockets from Pinball Resource.

That makes sense. I was hoping to leave the side rails on. I might try gently
working it off. I want to clear the playfield so they need to come off somehow. Hopefully they arent screw nails.
 
I wonder if those fasteners were originally pressed in..

As much as I'd hate to deviate from the original look, I would want to replace those with something that screws in. I'd guess there's a good low profile, similar replacement from a woodworking supply place like Rockler or something. If you had to pound or press something back in, there's a risk of damage..less risk with a traditional screw.
 
I wonder if those fasteners were originally pressed in..

As much as I'd hate to deviate from the original look, I would want to replace those with something that screws in. I'd guess there's a good low profile, similar replacement from a woodworking supply place like Rockler or something. If you had to pound or press something back in, there's a risk of damage..less risk with a traditional screw.

Probably just a small flat head screw would work. As long as it doesnt affect
the travel of the ball. I'll try working each screw/nail out tonight with a
and see how it goes.
 
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If you are replacing the lamp sockets, get the #555 sockets.

The bulbs will last longer, and never flicker.
 
Those fasteners holding the guide rails in are definitely screw nails. The easiest way to remove them from the wooden supports is to take the entire support off. Next, take a metal blade putty knife and slide it between the wood and metal near the nails carefully working it in a prying motion. The screws will start to back themselves out. Next use a pair of small pliers to twist the nails the rest of the way out.

I've done this many times without wrecking the metal rails. I use 0000 steel wool and metal polish to clean them up. When I reinstall them I use new screw nails.

Good luck!
 
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