The "Slide The Arcade Down The Stairs" Technique Question

D-Roy

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The "Slide The Arcade Down The Stairs" Technique Question

I'm getting ready for my first attempt at moving an arcade game to the basement. I think the wrap-it-in-a-blanket/cardboard-&-slide-it-down-the-stairs method will be the way to go (uncarpeted wood stairs).

My question is, how easy/fast does it slide down the stairs? I would think I can slowly guide/lower it down from the bottom (not sure what a guy at the top of the cabinet would do). For some reason I have visions of it sliding easy and not being able to stop it - like the National Lampoon's Christmas sled scene only with stairs and a cabinet.... :)
 
take out the monitor and pcb
it will slide but with out carpeted stairs i would make sure it is on the back side it will slide on the t molding and scuff it up.
make sure you have some one on the bottom and 1 guy at the top.

getting them down is easy getting them up is hard.
 
Yeh, like Frank mentioned, I empty my cabs of monitors pcbs, anything glass, marquee bulbs, heavy transformers ect. Rest them on the back, have one guy at the top and one at the bottom and work together. The force and momemtum of going down stairs can be heavy. Just go slow. You'll be fine. I've done 20 or so games this way and I have broken anything or died.
 
I've used the slide down the stairs method twice when I didn't have acces to a dolly. Our's are wood stairs with rubber protectors but nothing too nice so I didn't mind if they got scratched at all. First was a Taito cab that went down super easy. The other was a Pole Position that tried to crush me as it had a bit more weight behind it. Of course I didn't take out the monitors because I didn't think it would be a big deal. To do it I laid them down at the top of the stairs on top of a blanket (so I didn't scratch the back-hall floor). Then positioned myself at the bottom of the cab and pulled it until it hit the tipping point to angle downwards. From there I had my back against the bottom of the cab and worked my way down slowly. Probably not the best method to get the games downstairs but it worked better than anything else I could come up with that night. Plus with a couple beers in me it sounded like a good idea.
 
I don't think I'll need to strip the monitor, etc. out since it seemed fairly easy/manageable when I helped move it up the stairs/out the house when I bought it. We basically lifted up one stair at a time. I figured I'd do that in reverse for moving into the basement, but it sounded like the sliding method might be even easier.

I've got access to a dolly, but it is one with inflatable tires. I used it to move a 4 drawer legal filing cabinet down stairs and I didn't feel too confident with it.
 
When we moved 2 years ago, the movers used this technigue with all of our upstairs furniture- dressers, desks, etc. with no problem. They taped down a cardboard shute down the middle of the stairs, from top to bottom. I think the key is those moving blankets that they have. I love those things.
 
some good points made in this thread. I have moved over 30 games downstairs sliding them, and I will not do it any other way unless the game is really an unusual shape. I have slide them on their backs as well as on their sides if the back of the game is missing the door or is damaged. I have carpeted stairs, which makes it easier, but you should have no problems.

I would definitely recommend having someone at the top and bottom though. Having someone spot at the top is critical as some games can be quite heavy once they start sliding and if it gets away from you it can really get ugly. I don't pull the monitors coming down, but I have pulled many when taking them out.

Good luck!
 
At the old house I was constantly dealing with games and stairs. If this is something you are going to do even on a semi regular basis buy a dolly. I have one of the greyish appliance dollies from Lows. They run about a $100. I have moved literally tons with it. Up and down my stairs, out of warehouse second floor storage, in and out of my truck, in and out of trailers, and up and down my driveway when I had water problems at the new house. Still going strong after several years. I just recently had to take off the wheels to clean and grease them.

The appliance dolly at Harbor Freight is right about the same price except its stair climbers are not on rollers. The HF dolly is just a belt wrapped around a metal frame. I has heard it does not work well at all.
 
Definitely buy an dolly.. it'll pay for itself many times over throughout its life.

Unless the game is an incredibly HUGE HOSS, I would not recommend pulling parts before bringing it down. I WOULD recommend making sure nothing inside is prone to movement, lost a brand-new 19" monitor like that when moving a Joust.

Definitely use a blanket or cardboard, have your strongest friend at the bottom to ease it down - you're there solely to push it down and call 911 as needed. No friends? Stop playing arcade games and get some ;-) The wifey may object to the possibility of your being hurt, or at least of your game sliding out of control into a wall/door/child/furniture, so please don't do this by yourself!
 
Done this many times in a bi-level (half flight of stairs) -- easiest is on its back, on a dolly, with 2 people on the bottom pushing up against the base, as you slowly walk it down the stairs. They control the speed/force on each step and can easily stop something from going out of control.

Definitely take out anything that you can to make it easier. Monitor and glass go a long way to lightnening the weight and lower potential damage if something hits hard.
 
I vote dolly (but have never attempted the slide).

I've moved 10+ pinball machines (some are > 300 lbs) with the dolly. It's no trouble at all with a helper. You need a helper. I moved an Indiana Jones pin down the stairs by myself and it almost killed me. Don't do it.

I've also moved several vids down the stairs with the Dolly.

Basic approach:
0) No need to take anything apart as long as it fits
1) strap to dolly
2) one person by the dolly handles, one person by the dolly wheels
3) Tilt dolly so the game is angled as the stairs (same slope)
4) go down one step at a time, let game settle, repeat

Very simple once you get the hang of it.

My concern about the slide method is the potential of an uncontrolled descent. Both for the sake of the game and the person at the bottom. At least with the dolly you have a natural stopping point on each stair. But keep in mind, I haven't done the slide... so others may disagree.

... Altan
 
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I should mention that when the movers did this at our old house, the cardboard "sliding board" was taped down the middle of the stairs with room for a mover on each side to guide the heavy pieces down. Our steps were a bit wider than standard steps tough, but I could see this being done with just room enough for one person on one side to help walk it down.
 
Be aware that Atari cabs are all blessed with magical powers. They sense that they are going to be moved and immediately gain 400 pounds of density.
 
Be aware that Atari cabs are all blessed with magical powers. They sense that they are going to be moved and immediately gain 400 pounds of density.

HA! So very true. Considering the only two cabs that almost killed me were a Pole Position (sliding down with me on the bottom end) and Dig Dug (strapped to a dolly but my feet were wet and I slipped).
 
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