Stern Galaxy Restore

[Strangeways]

A cheap way of replacing the battery is to install a Lithium Calculator Battery. This solution was described to me by Skybeaux (Ken) a while ago, after he commented on my previous method of installing expensive memory capacitors. This is also an easier method

 

Nice work Nino - that board looks sweet.  How much are the lithium batteries+holder?  Caps are only around $5 and solder straight onto a MPU-200 as though they were made for it!  On 100's and Bally's you need a short jumper wire.

cheers
Ian

Ian - I bought the batteries from eBay O/S - Hong Kong, I think. I don't recall how expensive they were. The holders were around a dollar.

[Strangeways]

Update

All the parts that previously arrived have been installed - including a new On/Off Switch. The old once was simply too old. All machines I restore or recondition ALWAYS have new power cords installed - that is "a must".

I finished off the MPU and I've been busy repinning connectors - nothing exciting ! The original SD board had plenty of issues to deal with. I ended up replacing three TIP102, CA3081 and 74L154. The 74L154 had an problem whereby the Lower Left thumper was "on" at all times. The coil would burn out and cause issues with the corresponding TIP102. Thats all repaired and the original SD Board and MPU are functioning 100%.

Now I'm up to the flipper rebuild kit - which unfortunately has had a few issues. PBR send me the wrong bushings - so they are to be resent. Marco Spec sent me a "generic" plunger - not the correct size - BUT - It could work ! So I'll get back to that later.

The backglass needs to be sealed with Triple Thick - That's been done - and I have not taken pictures yet, because I was concentrating on getting the process done without distraction - I don't like working on Backglasses !!

The spinner has been painted white, but the paint is not to my liking. It is "soft" after 33 days drying - so maybe the paint coat was too thick ?

I'd say I'm 90% done. Very pleased so far - Pictures to follow tomorrow.

[Strangeways]

Time for an update

The MPU is finished. Battery is installed and I replaced the pins that needed to be done.





The coin door was completed some time ago, but the coin chutes themselves were very rusted. I cleaned them on the wire wheel, primed them and then painted them with the same paint that I used for the rest of the door. They should be chrome, but I think it looks great "as is".





Drop Targets

The drop target bank needed a rebuild as the targets themselves were worn and the plunger was corroded beyond repair. I ordered a new plunger and coil sleeve. Heres some "before" pictures ;





Bit of surface corrosion





Everything is cleaned and buffed. New targets are ready to be installed





After a couple hours work, we are finished !








Heres a progress picture of the cabinet of the machine. I picked up a new playfield glass off Dave (Silverball) that tony bought and installed it. Made a HUGE difference. Almost done !




 

[Strangeways]

Flipper Rebuild

I will cover this in detail in a thread of its own once I've finished the process, as there are some differences between my kit and the RGP Kit. I'm trying a different plunger. Marco listed them as being in stock when I ordered, but they sent me an equivalent.

Anyhow - What I'm trying to do is create a Stern Flipper Rebuild kit. Here's A picture of all the parts except the plungers and coil stops;





Here's the original plunger and links. I don't think they are the only style of original plungers, as I've seen the link in bakerlite and plastic. The plungers are a little different than standard Gottlieb and Bally.





Here is the plunger and link Marco sent me !





The idea is to remove the pin and replace the link with the replacement from PBR.


Link replaced. Using a caliper, the difference is 1/18th of an inch. The plunger is 2 1/8 inch. They are very close in size.





Here is the plunger, link, pawl etc mounted in the RHS flipper base. Coming along nicely !





More to come tomorrow !

[Maxprofits]

I am loving this tread! Great work mate. I am fixing up an old stern Cosmic Princess at the moment and much of the info and pictures you have supplied have been very handy. Love your work, very neat, very tidy. I am very interested in the flipper rebuild as I am thinking that I may need to do this myself when I get the old girl up and running.
Cheers,
Dan

[Strangeways]

Slight Digression from Flipper Rebuilds to the Backlgass !

The backglass was around a 7/10. Which is fairly good for a Galaxy - This is the better of the three Glasses I've seen for on machines I've restored. First of all, the channel was very rusted. The back of the glass was peeling in small section - but not flaking - yet. The top locking tabs were bent - and I cannot believe the glass did not break.

Here some "before" pictures of the glass ;







Not too bad..


The first step was to clean the glass. Initially, some light compressed air to move the cobwebs ! Then just water and a cloth, then a cloth dampened in water and windex. some paint flaked - that is unavoidable. Now I had a flat surface to work with !


Sealing the Backglass

Bit of banter recently on the pros and cons of sealing a backglass. In this case - It HAD to be done to prevent further problems. I've never "lost" a backglass using this method.

First - we mask up all the score windows with low tack masking tape. Ensure you allow 1 mm inside the score window to be exposed to allow the Triple Thick to form a nice "barrier" to hold any flaking paint right on the border between the art and the window. You MUST do this, or when you cut out the masking tape - you will cut out the paintwork around the window.





Close Up - See how I've left a 1mm gap between the window and the art ?





Next I use this method to apply Triple Thick

First coat is a light mist
Wait 10 minutes - But not too long or it dries
Second coat is a thick coat, running left to right
Wait 10 minutes
Third coat is a thick coat, running up and down

Leave the glass for at least 24 hours - no more than 48 hours

Third coat is a thin coat - left to right, then immediately up and down

Don't touch for 48 hours - at least !

I left this glass for a week before installing the cleaned plastic sides ;





Backglass channel

Tony ordered the same set that Pinfan used. Easy to install as well. I used some electrical tape in four sections on the bottom of the glass. It was already quick thick, but the tape ensured the channel would be a tight fit. Here's a picture of the glass, tape and new channel ;





30 seconds later - the channel is firmly in place ;





Complete transformation - backglass looks much better ;




Almost done !

[elkor-alish]

Mate, you are my new hero!

What a great thread, on an awesome resto.
You go to amazing lengths to restore your pins, I'm blown away.
I'll definately be watching for when you have machines for sale if they're all like this.

[Pinfan]

I'll definately be watching for when you have machines for sale if they're all like this.

He doesn't know how to do it any other way ! 

Its coming up nice Nino...

[Strangeways]

Mate, you are my new hero!

What a great thread, on an awesome resto.
You go to amazing lengths to restore your pins, I'm blown away.
I'll definately be watching for when you have machines for sale if they're all like this.

Happy to share my progress and experience. Some aspects of the restorations are picked up from other members here and the Marvin's guide. The backglass channel installation was initially discussed on Pinfan's Star Trek Restoration - check that out.

I get my "kicks" when others post their restorations. The time I spend documenting and sharing my work here is returned when others buy their first machine or start their first restoration.

This aspect of pinball (restoration), is starting to really grow - there are more pinheads willing to get their hands "dirty". With 100's of pins coming into the country annually theres a lot of opportunity.

[illawarra_steelers]

N.O.S.  ??

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GALAXY-UNPOPULATED-PLAYFIELD-COLLECTORS-PIECE_W0QQitemZ250503030890QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item3a5324e86a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Strangeways]

N.O.S.  ??

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GALAXY-UNPOPULATED-PLAYFIELD-COLLECTORS-PIECE_W0QQitemZ250503030890QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item3a5324e86a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Second hand - unpopulated.

[Strangeways]

Here's the final update on the Stern Galaxy Restore.

I have decided to create a Tech thread (later on), on my findings of the "custom" Stern flipper Rebuild Kit, as there are a few issues that need to be sorted out - easier to do that it it's own thread, rather than buried in this one.

Flipper Rebuild

Here's a "gotcha" that I was caught on. The original stern bushings are no longer available. The replacements are VERY similar, but are longer. When ordering from PBR, I assumed they would be exactly the same - they are NOT ! PBR trim the excess to the same size 1 1/8. But the first order they were sent with - they were trimmed to 1 inch ! Too short. The next order - 1 1/16 ! So I had the bushings sent out un-trimmed. I cut them using my bench grinder with the stone wheel. I then used a hand file to get them square and 360 grit sandpaper to smooth out the edge that will make contact with the bottom of the flipper base = less friction. They end up looking like this ;




Next issue - The replacement coil stops from Marco Spec are not good - they have the mounting holes in the wrong spot ! I had to elongate the holes to fit ! Here's a picture of the completed kit installed










I've tested the kit for a wwk - no issues - VERY powerful. The game is FAST to begin with, but with the addition of this kit, the machine is EASILY, the fastest SS I've ever played. VERY pleased !


Completed Game


I'm simply testing the machine - remember this was sitting in a storage facility for ?? years  - So everything needs to be checked. I leave the game on all day, and then find a display digit missing etc.. Everything has to be checked - so it is still in my Garage - getting played every day

Here are some final pictures - Note the original documentation (even the packing slip) have been laminated and stapled to the cabinet.





















New owner will have it next week 

[Ballywannabe]

Looks great Nino!

Yes, it is hard to get parts for Stern flippers which is a shame, as when they are going properly they are the best feeling flippers from that era (in my opinion ).  I agree that cutting your own bushings to the correct length is the way to go.  I was lucky enough to get some NOS Stern coil stops, but before that I was considering changing the hole arrangement on the baseplate to accommodate the easy to find Bally coil stops.

Interesting that your Galaxy has the correct (stronger) 25-450 flipper coil.  These are usually changed to the common 25-500 some time over the last 30 years!

Any classic Sterns in your new haul?

cheers
Ian

[Strangeways]

Looks great Nino!

Yes, it is hard to get parts for Stern flippers which is a shame, as when they are going properly they are the best feeling flippers from that era (in my opinion ).  I agree that cutting your own bushings to the correct length is the way to go.  I was lucky enough to get some NOS Stern coil stops, but before that I was considering changing the hole arrangement on the baseplate to accommodate the easy to find Bally coil stops.

Interesting that your Galaxy has the correct (stronger) 25-450 flipper coil.  These are usually changed to the common 25-500 some time over the last 30 years!

Any classic Sterns in your new haul?

cheers
Ian

I wish you were local Ian so you could have a few games - it is one of the best Sterns I've done (this is my third Galaxy). I might follow your suggestion when I restore my Flight 2000, as the "old style" Stern coil stops are not an exact fit. If there was no coil sleeve - then it would fit, and I didn't want to bend or modify the base plate unless I had spares. I used to simply remove the Stern hardware, and install Bally hardware - but I would rather use the Stern flipper assy.

No classic Sterns I'm afraid. I missed out on a Viper, which I would have loved !

[illawarra_steelers]

Came up sweet mate - and a really cool game to boot.

Now get off ya arse and get into the hundred or so of those beautiful EMs you have in storage