Pro Tips for Pinball Maintenance and Repair

Gaming has come a long way since the days of the humble pinball machine. And while there are newer and more advanced games, this doesn’t mean that we should let the pinball machine rot in the corner. As long as you repair and maintain these machines, they should last a lifetime.

Now, this is easier said than done as not everyone knows how to approach repairing and maintaining pinball machines. This is why we thought it would be useful to put together a couple of pointers to help you out. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on for four important tips for pinball repair and maintenance.

Don’t Fix What’s Not Broken

One common mistake that pinball enthusiasts often make is fiddling with their machines when nothing is wrong. Remember, these machines are delicate and need to be handled with care. This is why we suggest not messing with them if there is nothing that’s clearly broken. This also applies to issues that are outside your scope of knowledge. If there is an issue with your pinball machine that you don’t know how to fix, we suggest calling in the professionals instead of trying to fix things yourself as you may just end up making things worse.

Use the Right Tools

It goes without saying that you’ll need to invest in maintaining and repairing your machine. You’ll need to use the highest quality tools in order to ensure that your machine is in good condition. Everything from crimping, riveting, and soldering tools should be high quality. While it may be tempting to purchase cheap tools, these tools could cause damage to your machine which will make things infinitely harder for you.

Turn the Machine Off Before Doing Anything

We can’t overstate how important it is to turn off the machine whenever you do work on it. While it is usually harmless to leave it on while moving parts, there is a chance that a wire or a solder joint can brush against a side rail, screw, or nut which will then short the electrical connection of the entire machine. If you’re going to alter the playfield then we suggest that you power down the entire machine before doing anything.

Document Your Work

Lastly, we recommend taking a lot of photos while doing repairs or maintenance work. If you can, recording the entire ordeal would be beneficial as well. This will help you keep track of any changes you’ve made in case something goes wrong. By documenting your work, you can essentially undo any changes without having to worry about making things worse.

Conclusion

We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you better maintain and repair your pinball machines. Be sure to keep all the tips we mentioned in mind to avoid any issues when you’re working on your machine. If something seems outside of your expertise, we suggest calling in professional help to avoid any serious issues.

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