Author Topic: Strikes and Spares Restoration  (Read 3476 times)

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Offline Brettski

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Strikes and Spares Restoration
« on: March 14, 2015, 11:19:00 PM »
Hi All,
I recently completed a Strikes and Spares restoration and created a website outlining the process.
I thought I would share it here amongst people who can appreciate what is involved in this type of project.
It's not greatly detailed but if anyone has questions please ask. Enjoy!

You can view it here

http://www.strikesandspares.com.au

Regards: Brettski... :)

Offline Freiherr

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2015, 11:39:24 PM »
Great work Brett and welcome.
I love the way you documented on the web with some nice photos.
Your Strikes and Spares looks so sexy.
NICE!
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If you remember playing pinball in the 70s you were having a good time.
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Offline guyricho

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2015, 12:56:58 AM »
Ok doing a restoration of that quality is one thing.
But shrinking your self is just down right amazing  &&


Offline pinball god

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2015, 10:15:40 AM »
Well done. Next you can produce a book called wheres Brettski. Hours of fun trying to find you in a pinball photo
Still loving my Metallica Premium

Offline DSB

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2015, 12:30:35 PM »
 $.$ Brett! and  %)%
Nice to meet you yesterday. Your machine looks sweet!!!

Offline Crashramp

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2015, 11:55:58 PM »
 $.$ Brett and  %)% to AP. Great work on the Strikes and Spares.

Offline Brettski

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2015, 02:09:39 AM »
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the comments on my machine, much appreciated.
Yes Dan I enjoyed our catch up the other day, need to get some more practice on that Indiana Jones, that was a great machine to play and I was impressed with the work you have put into them. I look forward to another game sometime.

Brettski... :)

Offline goodolddays

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2015, 07:32:22 PM »
Just read your restore thread Brett .

Your game came up looking great  ^^^

You are the 1st guy I can think of  who has used cans of clear to spray the playfield .. I had been wondering about trying that myself at some stage .

Your site inspires me to get back to work on my Playboy .. can't wait to get her finished and playing again soon.

Cheers
Dave
« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 07:44:41 PM by goodolddays »
I need more room ! and more $$$

Offline DSB

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2015, 07:39:38 PM »
Quote
Yes Dan I enjoyed our catch up the other day, need to get some more practice on that Indiana Jones, that was a great machine to play and I was impressed with the work you have put into them. I look forward to another game sometime.

Thanks mate, You are welcome anytime.

Offline Strangeways

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2015, 12:22:01 AM »
Very nice - thanks for sharing. Brought back some memories of when hobbyists used to document restorations on their own websites (Reminds me of Wotto's site - for those that can remember).

you will need to register a domain for each future restoration  #@#
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Offline coon82

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2015, 08:56:03 AM »
Well done Brett. The game and your site looks great.

Quote
Ok doing a restoration of that quality is one thing.
But shrinking your self is just down right amazing   &&


I like this too!
Wanted:   Black Hole (1981Gottlieb)

Offline Brettski

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2015, 02:44:17 PM »
Thanks again for your comments.. :)

Dave, I researched a lot to see what would be good to spray clear on the playfield but all along it was a gamble, the Americans have used a product called Krylon and it comes in a Crystal Clear Acrylic and also have one they call triple thick which is recommended for preserving backglasses. I found White Knight Crystal Clear Acrylic at Bunnings and decided to try it as I expected it to be similar to the Krylon just different brand.

The idea here was to restore it without going over what it is worth, I could have bought a CPR Playfield and I could have looked at professional clear coating but decided to give the cans a go.
Using a satin instead of high gloss made it look more true to the original, that was another experiment I took a gamble on! :)

The only issue I have seen so far is in the yellow area between the flippers where the bonus score lights are, this is the area I had to fully redo and I have spotted some slight crazing appear but only in this particular spot, I may have to repair this spot again in a few years but it is minimal and doesn't seem to be developing further so it may have been a curing thing (playing on it too soon). This machine is meant to be played so over all I am very happy with it.

I also have a full size graphic of the playfield in colour separated layers Photoshop PSD file so as a last resort if the home clear job didn't work out I could have had an overlay printed and gone down that path.. or ultimately a CPR reproduction.

That's all well and good but now I have technical problems, when it turns on it only shows the GI lights and nothing else happens. The MPU LED didn't flash at all so I bought a new Alltek Ultimate MPU board, replaced the capacitors (large ones) on the Solenoid board and re-crimped all the MPU and Solenoid Board connectors and still no go! :(

At least it looks good! :)

Don't think I will be registering too many domain names somehow! LOL ;)

Cheers: Brettski...

Offline DSB

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2015, 07:49:14 PM »
Hi Brett

Time to grab the a multimeter. I think you need to start from the start as it were. Unplug J3 on the A2 bridge rectifier. Then try checking test point 3 (TP3) on the A2 rectifier board. Best to check to the +5 REG return which is pin 17 of J3 which you have unplugged. You should get around 12VDC by the schematic. Once confirmed plug J3 back in and move to the driver board. Test from TP 5 to an earth which you find on the board as you may have a bad earth. You should also get around 12VDC. Let us know how you go. This will check if the unregulated voltage is reaching the 5 volt regulator.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2015, 07:51:08 PM by DSB »

Offline Brettski

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2015, 12:34:05 AM »
Thanks Dan,

I did exactly that, I removed all connections and started with the rectifier, all good there! connected the solenoid board and checked the voltages and all came up ok there so I plugged it all back in and Bingo!!
I reckon it was the connections from the rectifier, they were quite fresh meaning they had been repinned recently by a previous owner so they are in good condition but after removing them and then connecting again seemed to do it. I must say I have learned a lot from this exercise and at the very least performed some preventative maintenance, especially with a new mpu board, capacitors on the solenoid board and the repinning all the connectors. That Molex Crimper I borrowed from Nigel was a gem! It's the ratchet type and basically fool proof, made easy work of a tedious job.

Thanks so much for your advice, if you are ever up the northern end you must stop by for a game of retro pinball!

Cheers: Brettski... :)

Offline DSB

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Re: Strikes and Spares Restoration
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2015, 08:14:21 AM »
Great to hear.  ^^^ Sounds like a bad connection. Just remember that refitting the plugs can sometimes only be a temporary fix. If the fault returns try leaving everything plugged in and do the same tests to try and determine which connector/header is faulty. You may have a cold or cracked solder joint somewhere.