Learning pinball repairs

[dendoc]

Just an enquiry. The more I read and play pinball machines, the more I realise how little I know.

Does anyone have a good suggestion about the best way to learn about maintenance/repair? I know this can be divided into art work, electrics, mechanics, routine cleaning/restoration, but I would love to get to know more about solving problems like bad flippers, faulty displays etc.

Andrew (beaky) comes over and sees a problem with something, goes through everything from transister soldering to reverse diodes to loose optos or poorly contacting thingamajigs. He is self taugt, and took years to accumulate this vast array of skills.

Would love to have some basics of this. Is there a TAFE course on electronics of something that can be done to start learning this stuff?

[swinks]

I think we all at some stage fall into a situation of how do I fix this.

I reckon the best way to learn is to try and solve it, and this can be solo or asking questions on here, but if uncomfortable definitely go the 2nd option. With fixing little problems here and there the skills build and you understand more and more.

Hope that helps

[Cow Corner]

I just call beaky, get him to fix it and pay him what he wants.
 

[Freiherr]

You learn a lot from other good people and Aussie Pinball.
Basic knowldege of how a machine works is highly recommended and repair involves a process of elimination similar to car repairs.
A very basic book for starters available on internet is "Pinball Machine Care and Maintenance" by B.B. Kamoroff. More specialised works require specific manufacturer manuals or system reference books.
The web and this forum are valuable for chasing up parts, referene and first hand experience.

[Crashramp]

Just an enquiry. The more I read and play pinball machines, the more I realise how little I know.

 Welcome to the club!   

[Retropin]

I found EM machines quite easy to get my head around 20 odd years ago.
Eventually, i got myself a FLASH that had been in a bush fire with the intention of getting it going. I remember emailing my dad in UK ( an electronics engineer) and asking him what the brown things are with a wire at each end.. theres columns of them... they were the 1W resistors that need to get replaced with 5W...LOL. I knew nothing about electronics.
Marvins site was up and free at the time and this was a great help although i still didnt know what i was doing.
Eventually, i took myself off to night school and did 3/4 of an electrical engineering diploma.. it taught me a lot and i loved the AC side of it all more than all the digital stuff.
10 years down the track and ive forgotten most of what i learned as i just dont use it... the AC i do.. but i dont have to K map anymore.. or use flip flops... design circuits using NAND gates only etc.
But now i read Marvins stuff and i go beyond it as i now have a better understanding of it all... i dont use his method of testing transistors.. i think it sucks to be honest.

I still know nothing.... but do know just enough now to work through a redundant TTL circuit... even a CMOS Zaccaria circuit ( these can hurt the head!).. can honestly say that i really did enjoy the TAFE course.. gave me an insight into the whole mathematics of the world.
I still have my notes and often read up on them to refresh the memory... so yes.... TAFE electrical engineering will give you the basic language

[Crashramp]

You learn a lot from other good people and Aussie Pinball.
Basic knowldege of how a machine works is highly recommended and repair involves a process of elimination similar to car repairs.
A very basic book for starters available on internet is "Pinball Machine Care and Maintenance" by B.B. Kamoroff. More specialised works require specific manufacturer manuals or system reference books.
The web and this forum are valuable for chasing up parts, referene and first hand experience.

+1 to that. Particularly the the knowledge shared amongst the AP forum community. Lots can be picked up reading the responses to others problems and when you have your own, helpful advise is never far away.
 I'd still be trying to get my first machine working if it wasn't for AP and in particular Pinister (Blair) who's helped me out with house calls more times than I can recall.

[Caveoftreasures]

when u break down a pinball machine to its basics, u soon learn that some things from the wiring harness onwards are pretty basic, and straight forward to learn if u like this sort of stuff...spending many years with electronics n wiring in security industry taught me alot for fault finding and a alrm in many ways is like a pinball machine, espescially chasing cablkes, fault finding and working out what parts are faulty, playing up etc. The computer boards on sec stuff is sooo much more modern compared to older 90's dmd pinballs so all these old parts appear on the old computer boards in pinnys, and thats where Beaky comes in, otherwise, yes u can learn via a part-time tafe or online course....

or, buy Andy(Beaky) a few bourbans n he can teach u in a few hours what it will take in a month on a course.lol

**Note, its good to see more people interested in the workings of a pinny, but since John(Dendoc) is one of Australia leading specialist surgeons,  its not hard to see why u want to know how it works properly. great idea.

[Strangeways]

I was lucky as my Father and Uncle passed on their experience to me when I should have been chasing girls around the oval. I completed a "Basic Electronics Certificate" and then an "Advanced Electronics Certificate" at RMIT over 3 years. I loved the course - I think it is a diploma nowadays. But it sets the foundation of the basics - AC, DC, Amplifiers, Op Amps, power supplies, digital - I really enjoyed it. But these courses need the experience you get from tinkering. I broke a lot of things and copped my fair share of electric shocks - all part of the learning process !

When RGP and Marvin's site came along - it REALLY opened the doors to home repairs. I think Clay and Steve Young did a lot to get the home market going. The Marvin Repair Guides were the holy bible.

The best way to learn is to get your hands dirty and ask questions here. I'm still learning new things every day, and that's what keeps it interesting for me !

[Homepin]

I should have been chasing girls around the oval.

So that's where they were - no wonder I could never find them -I HATE sport.......

[beaky]

I do try my best to explain things when i am working on machines. I am always happy for the customer to look over my shoulder and ask me questions as i am working.

If you are unsure about the repair task then ask on the forum and wait until you have an answer that has been agreed apon by several members.
on the rare occasion when i come across a weird or strange fault i will even ask on here just in case someone else has come across the same problem and has a solution, this can save me hours of fault finding.     

If you decide to try repairing a machine your self first thing you must learn are the danger zones (high voltage & mains wiring).
for example early bally and WMS SS and EM machines have exposed live 240vac mains fuse holders which can easily be touched when the playfield is in the up position and there are many EM's and SS machines with no cover on the back of the mains power switch just inside the door.

if you are unsure and even when you are sure make sure the machine is unplugged from the wall outlet and it's power source is via a circuit which has a safety switch just in case you forget to unplug it.

 

[Caveoftreasures]

Well said mate. Safety first, electricity off, no need to risk your like getting shocked.
Even the open door theory on most dmds to interrupt mains power n high voltage doesnt work if the door button is faulty/been hacked.
I watched my brother screech when he put his arm against a under side of a next gen p/field when the door switch hadnt worked properly. 
He has never said whats that thing do again.lol

[dendoc]

I'll get a copy of that book. I'm just a bit impatient. For those who remember Joe 90 - I want a pair of his glasses to hook into Beaky brain.

All the advise is great, and watching Beaky at work is so much fun. Very logical and good explanantions. Don't want to go into pinball repairs myself, just like to understand things. There is so much to this hobby, that's why I like it.

I might look into a TAFE course at some stage too. Thanks for the help.