Post-Purchase Checklist

1 Introduction

After purchasing a pinball machine--especially one that is in unknown condition or has not been serviced in a long time--there can be any number of problems with the game and any one of its systems. There are several things to check before even turning on the game to help identify common problems and help prevent them from causing damage and becoming bigger problems. It will take some time an patience to go through everything properly.

This checklist is intended to be generalized to cover most pinball machine systems and is not intended to dive significantly into troubleshooting specific problems that are otherwise addressed on the pinwiki pages specific to each particular system.

2 New-In-Box Games (New & Vintage)

For vintage new-in-box games, be sure to follow the entire checklist and treat the game as one found in an unknown state.

For new-in-box games that have recently been manufactured and came from a distributor, you can usually bypass the steps in the checklist for disconnecting the playfield and circuit boards. Just do a thorough physical inspection, check for loose parts (in the cabinet, backbox, and for parts caught in assemblies or wiring), and check for the correct fuses. Sometimes screws get dropped in the game while it's on the assembly line in the factory, and aren't found again until after the game is tipped on its end for shipping.

3 Checklist

3.1 Loose Parts

Open the game up and collect any loose parts, screws, washers, labels, bulbs, springs, solder drippings, etc. Save the parts and labels in case you need them later.

3.2 Cleaning

After removing all the loose parts, make sure to vacuum the game. This will help prevent stray parts or dust buildup from causing an electrical short in the game.

To vacuum in small areas or corners, use a micro vacuum attachment kit from Amazon, Harbor Freight, etc.

Micro Vacuum Attachment Kit

3.3 Photos & Records

Take photos of the game and serial number for your records. This may help as a reference if you unplug something and aren't sure where it goes to later. Photos may also help with insurance claims on the off-chance that the game is stolen or destroyed by flood, fire, or other means.

Additionally, to help keep track of the games that still exist and have survived, be sure to add the serial number to the Internet Pinball Serial Number Database.

3.4 Documentation

Before proceeding further, make sure that you have a copy of the game's manual and schematics. Most manuals have digital copies available on the Internet Pinball Database and Planetary Pinball's Reference section, with the exception of games manufactured by Gottlieb. Since these are digital scans of original manuals, the quality can vary wildly--some might have unreadable or missing pages.

The Gottlieb rights-holder does not allow digital distribution of manuals, so physical copies must instead be purchased. The Pinball Resource is the primary source for manuals, but other distributors also carry them. Used copies can also be found at pinball shows or on eBay.

Be sure to also review repair guides for your game's system. They sometimes have specific power-on guides available beyond this overall checklist and point out common problem areas, weak spots, or recommended modifications for reliable operation.

• Classic Bally/Stern - Powering up for the first time
• Gottlieb System 1 Guide

3.5 Electrical System

3.5.1 Power Cord / Line Cord

Inspect the power cord.

Replace the power cord if any of these conditions are met:

• It only has two prongs (rather than three). This means that the game would not be grounded, and could cause several problems in the came and also possibly shock the player.
• It is frayed. This is a fire hazard
• The outer insulation is cracked or falling off. This is a fire hazard.
• A big yellow plug has been added on on the end. You don't know if it was done correctly. This is also against fire code in commercial locations.
• It is very short and doesn't even reach the floor. This can lead to needing to add an extension cord, which can be a fire hazard in a home, and is against fire code in many commercial locations.

Use a replacement cord that is a minimum of 14ft. Since the cord often snakes somewhere inside the game, and also has to reach the floor, that can sometimes easily add up to a length of 4 feet or more. Here are some tips on power cords and here is a good guide on replacing a power cord in a game.

3.5.2 Line Filter

Be sure to inspect the line filter. The power cord connects to this component.

In some games, it is bare and clearly visible, and in others, it may be hidden and enclosed in a metal box, which is usually open on the bottom. It is especially important to do a visual inspection on the innards of the metal box to make sure that the primary fuse has not been cut out of the circuit, and for any other electrical or wiring issues.

Some games have a small disc-shaped component attached to the line filter called a MOV, which helps guard against electrical surges. If it is absent, check the game's schematics to make sure that it has not been removed at some point. Add the MOV if it appears in the schematics, or replace it if it appears damaged or burnt.

3.5.3 Transformer

Inspect the transformer for damage. Make sure that all the lugs are intact and there are no wires that have broken off from the lugs.

If the transformer appears to have been water damaged, the innards may be corroded, making it questionable to actually try to power it up.

If the transformer has scorch marks or looks like it caught fire, it may be questionable to actually try to power it up.

3.5.4 Filter capacitors

Inspect the filter capacitor(s) for physical damage and leaks; they there is any damage to the casing or if it has started leaking, do not turn on the power with these capacitors--it may be dangerous to do so. Replace them.

If they use terminal connectors, make sure they are tightly connected.

For some systems, you can get away with an initial power on test without any problems. However, if they are the original electrolytic capacitors, they will likely need to be replaced because they have dried out after 20-40 years--most of them were originally rated for 10-14 years. When they age, they can put out wacky voltages and current which can be difficult to troubleshoot and even cause damage in some situations.

The bottom line is that in order to ensure good, smooth, steady power for your game, it is best to replace these capacitors if they have not already been replaced.

3.5.5 Bridge Rectifiers

Depending on the game system, the bridge rectifiers could be stand-alone components, on a dedicated circuit board (bridge rectifier board), or integrated onto another circuit board in the game. The bridge rectifiers are responsible for converting from AC to DC voltage.

Bridge rectifiers can be tested with a mulitmeter.

If a bridge rectifier is burnt or does not pass a multimeter test, they may need to be replaced.

Additionally, on some game systems, the the specs of original rectifiers were sometimes barely adequate to operate the game, so it may be recommended to replace them with higher-rated bridge rectifiers anyway for trouble-free operation.

3.5.6 Fuses

• Inspect all the fuses in the game and make sure they are correct type (fast blow vs slow blow) and are the correct rating. Sometimes, the wrong fuses are added as a band-aid for a fuse that keeps blowing because of a problem somewhere, or the wrong fuse is added because it was the only one on-hand.
• Make sure to test each fuse with a multimeter continuity test. If it fails, the fuse will need to be replaced.
• Check the fuse holders to make sure that the tabs holding the fuse are not broken.
• Check to make sure that the wires connected to the fuse holders are actually connected and not loose.

3.5.7 Diodes

Some systems have banks of diodes throughout the game, as well as on individual assemblies, swiches, coils, etc. Use a multimeter on the diode setting to test them. Replace any that are bad. Glass diodes are known for being easily cracked/damaged.

When testing doides on coils, the only way to reliably test is to disconnect one leg of the diode. However, if you go through the trouble of doing that, you might as well replace it.

3.6 Wiring

Inspect all the wiring in the game.

• Make sure there are no loose/floating wires.
• Check for wires with damaged insulation and exposed bare wire.
• Check to make sure wires are not being pinched by the playfield, coin door, backbox, or any other mechanisms. Sometimes, the insulation gets damaged by stress and could cause a short with neighboring wires.
• Check for burnt wires. They will need to be replaced, and the problem that caused the burnt wires will need to be addressed as well.

3.6.1 Grounding Wires

Grounding wires are very important. Be sure to pay special attention to these wires and at each point where they connect in the game's cabinet and that wires have not broken off from their connectors or terminal rings.

In some games, there is a ground wire/braid/strap that connects through the neck of the cabinet body and attaches in backbox. This ground wire is sometimes disconnected if the backbox was ever removed from the game at some point.

3.7 Electrical System Prep & Test

Make sure that there enough photos showing each of these connectors from the Photos & Records section. In some games, there are connectors that can be flippped 180 degrees, or are similar enough to be plugged into multiple spots--both situations can lead to serious and damaging problems later if the game is powered back up with connectors in the wrong places.

If everything on the checklist up to this point has been cleared or addressed, you should now be ready to test the game's electrical system.

Disconnect everything from the electrical system in the game--the playfield, backbox, lighting, circuit boards, power supplies, coin door, etc. This will isolate the important components of the game from electrical damage if there is a problem during the first time power-up.

Plug the game in and flip the power switch. If you see a bright flash (likely a fuse blowing), sparks, or anything burning, turn the game off immediately and unplug it. You will need to troubleshoot these issues before turning it on again.

Do not plug in or unplug anything while the power is on.

3.8 Fuse modifications

Certain game systems have suggested modifications when it comes to fuses. Sometimes a recommendation calls for a different fuse type or value than what is indicated in a game, either because of a later service bulletin, or because of other findings. Also, sometimes it is recommended to install additional fuses to help protect known problem areas in games.

Now that you have tested and verified the operational status of the electrical system, be sure to review those and implement those recommendations before proceeding further. Then, test the electrical system again to make sure that you didn't introduce any new problems after completing the modifications.

3.9 Circuit Boards

Disconnect and remove the boards from the game and do a thourogh inspection of both the front and the back of the circuit boards.

3.9.1 Loose Parts

Sometimes loose parts (screws, washers, scrap wire) can end up lodged on circuit boards or heat sinks. These parts and pieces can sometimes cause shorts on the circuit boards, so be sure to check for them.

3.9.3 Batteries

If the MPU has a battery on it, remove it and throw it away. Some boards use removable AAA or lithium batteries, and some boards have batteries soldered directly to the board. It's better to trim out the soldered batteries if possible, and desolder the connectors later. The heat from desoldering could potentially trigger a leak.

Plan on replacing the battery with something else. Each solution has its benefits and drawbacks.

• A remote battery pack
• A memory capacitor
• A lithium coin cell battery
• A battery-less NVRAM board (to replace the board's RAM chip(s)

If the battery has already started to leak, the issue will need to be addressed in one of a few different ways. Each approach has their own benefits and drawbacks.

• Repair the board by treating it with vinegar, removing the affected components, sanding or sandblasting the affected area, sealing the exposed copper, and re-populating with new components.
• Send the board out for repair (note that some technicians will not repair extensive battery damage because it might not be economical).
• Simply replace the board with a clean/rebuilt original or an aftermarket replacement (if available).

3.9.4 ICs/Chips

Inspect all the socketed chips to make sure that they are oriented the correct way by comparing them to the schematics. Do not rely on the notch in the socket--it is possible that it was oriented in the wrong direction. If a chip is oriented in the wrong direction and the power was turned on, it will likely be damaged and need to be replaced.

3.9.9 MPU

Connect the MPU to the power supply so that it receives power. Make note of any on-board diagnostic lights and troubleshoot accordingly. Feel the temperature of each IC on the MPU; if it almost feels painfully hot, there is something causing the IC to short. Turn off the game immediately to prevent further damage. It's possible that the short is on the board, in a socket, or the IC itself was bad; troubleshoot accordingly.

Once the indicator lights show a full boot, proceed to the next step. If your game does not have diagnostic indicator lights, the displays will need to be connected next to further test/troubleshoot.

3.9.12 Sound

Sound can be set up in a variety of different ways, depending on the system. Some games use solenoids for chimes, some have dedicated sound boards, some games have multiple sound boards (sound effects, speech, and music are sometimes separated), and some have sound integrated into an MPU or driver board.

Most of the time, sound is dependent upon other boards working first, which is why it is last on the checklist. On a couple of systems, the sound board can operate and be tested independently of the other boards, however.

The weak spots on sound boards are usually the capacitors and/or amplifiers. Origional capacitors should be replaced. Amplifiers sometimes fail or blow.

Also be sure to inspect the speaker(s) for physical damage. The paper cone on the speaker is what helps produce the sound, so if that is damaged or torn, the speaker will not work well or at all.

3.10 Playfield

3.10.1 Physical Inspection

3.10.1.3 Flippers

Check that the coils are the correct ones and the EOS switch contacts are clean and make proper contact.

Typically for a game that has not been serviced in a long time, you will need to get a rebuild kit for the flipper assemblies to replace the parts that are commonly worn out.

3.10.2 General Illumination

Disconnect the circuit boards again.

Connect the plugs for general illumination and turn on the game. If there are obvious electrical problems, such as sparks or a blown fuse, turn the game off and troubleshoot.

If things seem normal, use a multimeter one the playfield connectors that are currently disconnected and check for stray AC voltage (VAC) from the general illumination. If there is voltage where there isn't supposed to be, that will indicate a short, and it will need to be found and addressed before proceeding further.

3.10.3 Switches

Plug in the connectors for the playfield and cabinet switches and go through the game's switch test diagnostics. There are normally either individual problems with switches, or issues with the switch matrix which cause the incorrect switches to register.

3.10.4 Feature Lamps

Plug in the connectors for the playfield and backbox feature lamps. Go through the game's diagnostic tests for the lamps, followed by the switch tests again to make sure that no shorts surfaced.

Use the appropriate approaches for your game for diagnosing non lighting, incorrectly lighting, or locked on lamps.

3.10.5 Solenoids

Plug in the connectors for the solenoids. Go through the game's diagnostic tests for the solenoids, followed by the lamp tests, and switch tests.

3.11 Wrap-up

At this point in the checklist, you have most likely been able to safely inspect and turn on the game. The next step would be to make note of what is or isn't working with the electronics and mechanics, and proceed to address those problems. Once those problems are addressed and the game is in working order, it should then be worthwhile to address cosmetic issues, replace the rubbers, clean/wax/repair the playfield, and complete an overall shop job.

(this page is a work in progress - 9/11/15)