Tricks to cleaning...

scottsmith

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Donor 2012
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Anyone have any good tips for cleaning the bracket/sliding mechanism underneath the latch bar that holds the glass at the front of the machine?

I have two that need to be removed and cleaned. Thanks as always!

-scott
 
This is what I do to clean the lockdown bar receiver assembly:

I unbolt the assembly from the machine and take it over to the kitchen sink. Now I spray it down good with "Mean Green" household cleaner and let set for a couple of minutes. Now run a sink full of warm water in the sink to soak the complete assembly in it and start scrubbing it with an old toothbrush. Now rinse off and blow dry.

If the assembly is rusted, now you will run a sink full of warm water and a 50% solution of C-L-R cleaner and water. Let soak a few minutes and then scrub it with a brass bristled "detail brush" commonly found in hardware stores and Harbor Freight Tools. Now rinse off with warm water and blow dry.
 
I've done it two different ways for those that are rusty; one similar to Ken's suggestion.

I have a 36" section of 4" PCV pipe (purchased from Lowes or Home Depot) that I put caps on both ends. I fill the tube with C-L-R or Lightning Rust Remover and drop in the lockdown assembly, screw the PVC cap on and let it set for a few days. Take the lockdown assembly out and rinse. I use the brass brush that Ken mentioned to do more cleaning if necessary. You can also do this for rusty legs as well.

Second method (since getting a small bead blasting cabinet) is to put them in the cabinet and blast them clean. The still need to be hit with either a scotch-brite pad or steel wool to give them a little shine but not too much elbow grease is needed. The only downside to this method is that the beads can and will remove any plating (don't ask how I know).

Good luck!
 
Simple Green and a scrub brush will make zinc plated parts like the lockdown mechanism look like new. I use it on all brackets and fasteners under the playfield.

Its disgusting how much crud comes off these things.
 
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