The Aussie Pinball Arcade

Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Handy hints and tips => Topic started by: robm on June 05, 2010, 09:16:54 AM

Title: Washing Coils?
Post by: robm on June 05, 2010, 09:16:54 AM
I seem to remember reading a post somewhere that someone washed their coils in mild detergent then left them in the sun for a day?

Just wondering if i was dreaming or if this is a good idea or not?  I would like to tidy everything up under the playfield, and the coil wrappers in particular are pretty dirty with black crud -  or would the water dissolve/stuff the wrappers?

Is it best to just hit it with a light spray of nifti or metho?
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Retropin on June 05, 2010, 09:23:24 AM
You can give the wrappers a wipe down with a damp cloth... doesnt take much for the print to start coming off though.
Meths will definately take the print off.
By all means give the coils a wipe down if they are black with sooting etc... dont go soaking them.. its really not a good idea, and yes be careful with the labels, the print lifts easily
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Ballywannabe on June 05, 2010, 09:42:40 AM
Wot Retro says.  You are unlikely to hurt the coil, but the print comes off pretty easily. 

Start easy and work your way up until they are clean enough for you.  I would go compressed air, dry cloth, damp cloth, damp cloth with a little detergent.  Anything more and you are likely to have clean but unidentifiable coils!

cheers
Ian
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Strangeways on June 05, 2010, 11:41:03 AM

Use compressed air to get the dust off the coil wrappers. Spray nifti on a rag and wipe the coil. I use an old toothbrush to clean both ends of the coil, and wrap a rag around a scredriver to clean the barrell of the coil. Nothing worse than sliding a new coil sleeve in and having it either get stuck or push the dirt out on your new plunger/link !

I think that you can print out new coil wrappers - images used to be on sites such as Ballsofsteel (shut down recently)
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Homepin on June 05, 2010, 12:32:16 PM
coil wrappers here:

http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Inkochnito on June 05, 2010, 05:18:32 PM
I can also do some wrappers on request for you.
I just need to know the width of the coil and which text is supposed to be on it.
There already is a nice collection of most common wrappers.
I think the hardest wrapper would be the Black Beast wrapper.
No font, but an image is needed for that one.
To use my wrapper files you would need colored paper to fitt your printer.
Simply print the file on the colored paper and cut along the lines.

Peter
www.inkochnito.nl
If you like my work, please make a donation.
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: robm on June 05, 2010, 05:50:29 PM
Thanks heaps for the replies,

Cleaning the ends,inside with nifti and printing a new wrapper seems to be the best bet!
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: Rod71 on June 06, 2010, 12:10:41 PM
lol.  from the subject i thought this might have been about washing machine inlet valve/solenoid problems.  Was gonna say, hey I just replaced one in my old Hoover!  :lol
Title: Re: Washing Coils?
Post by: johnwartjr on June 08, 2010, 08:28:16 AM
I soak mine. Works great for me :)

Of course, the detergent I use here doesn't seem to be available in your country - I only know one brand that won't take the printing right off the label.

That's also only on original WMS branded coils - the repro ones won't take a washing, the label falls right off.