Which manufacturer has built the best machine for servicing?

[MartyJ]

I guess this is a bit like cars.  Sometimes they are engineered with the mechanics in mind, sometimes not.

Now in my limited experience, I've only ever pulled apart 2 x D.E machines and 1.5 x Williams machines.  From this bunch, I actually found the D.E's easier to work on, playfield plastics easier to get to (ie not having to remove 3 to get one out to swap the globe) etc..

I would be interested in the more experienced guys opinions on this?

[Strangeways]

EMs - Gottlieb by a long way
Solid State - Bally
DMD - Bally/Williams - Special mention to Data East

[Retropin]

EMs - Gottlieb by a long way
Solid State - Bally
DMD - Bally/Williams - Special mention to Data East

Almost... Id MUCH rather work on a Williams SS than a Bally...,.LOL

[MartyJ]

EMs - Gottlieb by a long way
Solid State - Bally
DMD - Bally/Williams - Special mention to Data East

I had picked up a Gottlieb King Pin about 4yrs ago but on sold it.  Kicking myself now.  I never actually got to work on it.

I have just found working on the Williams a few akward things to get into and around.  I mean the D.E's are by no means perfect.  For example, trying to put the screws (backbox) back in for the power supply.  The front hinged lamp board is completely in the way?

But on the LAH, I like the little rubber strap to hold the PF up whilst you are working on it.  I certainly dont leave my Williams up if I am more than 5mm away from it for fear of it crashing down.  

I found the D.E ramps to be more sturdy and playfield plastics much easier to remove and get in to globes.  Posts and rubbers, no different.

[illawarra_steelers]

1950 - 78 EM's - Gottlieb

The rest who cares 

[Marty Machine]

I discovered yesterday that GTB bumpers come off nicely with REMOVABLE screws too....unlike williams (as far as i know) that use those pointy permanent mount screws....yuk!

A big plus to GTB. !

MM.

[Pinballace]

I really liked to work on Capcoms.  They really were ahead of all the others with the onboard diagnostics and their manuals were soooo much better on the tech stuff.  Not only did they put the schematics in the manuals they did a circuit analysis as well.  For the EM's, it was Gottliebs.  For the early SS's (1970's-80s') it was Bally (before the Midway disaster).

[Chuck]

Some may say I'm biased ;-)  Pinball 2000 is the easiest to service machine ever IMHO.  The driver board is very clean and durable.  The removable playfield rocks.  The only tricky part is the original computer which isn't really user serviceable (it would lose points on the computer.)  Although the computer is easy to replace is you had a spare. 

[pinnies4me]

Agree on the P2K playfield bit with Chuck. Recently shopped a SWE1 for a mate, and taking the playfield out sure made things a lot easier.

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

For me:

EMs = Gottlieb by far
78 to 85 = Gottlieb by far
85 to closure Gottlieb by far

Also dont mind Zaccaria electronic pins there easy to fix also, comfortable with the Bally/Stern late 70s early 80s also