Addam's Family Recondition !

[Strangeways]

As promised - Here is the first of a container full of games that I bought that will be reconditioned or restored. I'm starting on an Addams Family.

Objective

This machine is not in need of a restoration - and the game actually works, and is more of an "as is" and working machine. However, I'm going to recondition the machine to a point where it will be cosmetically and functionally better than most of the machines that change hands. It won't be "Collector Quality". It will however, be at the standard that I will be happy to put my name against. Most of all - I want to ENJOY the process.

Condition

Playfield - 8/10 - Has a few wear spots - Up near THING outhole and just in front of the attic. The mansion area is REALLY GOOD. Overall - I'm happy, and it should scrub up well ! The ramp has a crack it - just around the usual area !

Cabinet - 8/10 - Scruff marks and a couple of dints. But will scrub up better. Door is a bit of a disaster !

Electronics - 9/10 - WOW - No GI connector issues - in fact, it is really tidy.

Let's Begin

Here are some pictures of the machine - "warts and all" - it actually works 100%. A couple of lamps out and rubbers are a poor..

[ajlaird]

Great starting point - if it was me I would probably be playing it for a year or two before doing anything with it.

[MartyJ]

Looks great Nino.  That will clean up like new. 

[Strangeways]

Great starting point - if it was me I would probably be playing it for a year or two before doing anything with it.

Zac and I played it for almost two weeks before I decided to start it.

Here's the plan for this machine;

New Door
New Ramp
New Bookcase base and body
Cliffy for the chair hole
Rubber Kit
All Globes
Flipper Kits

The boards will be inspected and upgrades will be done where necessary.

Teardown to commence shortly !

Orders have been made and received from our Sponsors, so things should move rapidly

[ktm450]

Looks like it is in very nice condition Nino, can you get new RH slings for TAF?

[rads]

Isn't it great that we can now afford to put a new door on every machine!

[Strangeways]

The Teardown


As with all restorations, reconditioning or just repairs - it is vitally important that you document the process by taking notes, or pictures. You can refer back to these during the rebuild, and you can also work out why you have so many screws left over ! DMDs sometime look daunting - but if you take your time, and plenty of pictures, then the process of re assembly is so much easier.

Buy a good automatic screwdriver and socket set - it will save you HEAPS of time. I use my 1/4 socket with extension and Ryobi Lithium driver I bought from bunnings for $70 - lasted 2 years and a few pinballs !

"Before" Pictures - Typically - these are pictures I will refer to later on..







Here's a tip - Wonder why your shopped pinball has dirty rubbers after 10 games ? The subway ramps have not been cleaned !



Topside







After and hour or two..





Everything removed from under the playfield

[Strangeways]

Teardown continued ..

Once we have everything removed from the top and bottom, we need to move through each assembly. I usually start with the flipper assemblies. I remove the bushing and give the base a clean. The bushing needs to be inspected for excessive wear, or cracks. I replace them if either problem is encountered. I just soak them in nifti / water and then clean with a toothbrush / scotchbrite. Leave them in the sun or dry them with compressed air. Top LHS assy has been done - others are yet to be done ! No point in installing flipper kits if the rest of the assembly is filthy !





Upper Playfield and plastics

A quick clean with Nifti and a rag on the stripped playfield and we have this to look at !





Now that looks VERY nice. I was really pleased with the playfield. Not perfect, but really good around the outholes and the mansion is sweet !





Plastics are soaked in a bucket of arm water and nifti. Then washed with a toothbrush or small paintbrush. Leave in the sun or dry by hand. Next I will polish with Novus. Notice ALL the hardware is removed - no screws etc !





Metal


Metal is washed with Windex - not Nifti. I place the smaller bits into small containers and drop boiling water and Windex. Leave for and hour or two and then place into smaller container - like plastic tea containers. Spray Windex, and shake ! Drop the parts into clear water, then leave in the sun or hand dry - they are ready for the Tumbler ! The ball guides and everything elase are cleaned with Windex and regrained with green scotchbrite. don't waste you time or money on cheap windex - it smears - use the real stuff.











Tumber

Whats so good about a tumber ?

I have a GRAF tumbler that I swear by. I bought corncob media and I only use Flitz (only from the USA). I've tried everything else, and although Brasso is GREAT - it takes 8 - 12 hours to give the same result as Flitz in 4 hours. The corncob lasts TWICE as long. I cleaned the posts etc for a very good reason - so the tumber POLISHES the parts - No CLEAN them ! If you don't clean your metal - the dirt gets picked up by the corncob - and it does not polish as effectively.

So IMPORTANT notes for tumbling ;

CLEAN anything you want to polish FIRST - It's a polishing tool - not a cleaning tool !

So what EXACTLY is Flitz ? Here's my tumbler all set up.





Here's my cleaned metal - But you think it looks clean - why polish ?


I squeeze out around about two or three rotations of Flitz - looks like this ;





Switch the tumbler on for 4 hours and find something else to do !


 

[Caveoftreasures]

EXTREMELY TALENTED is all i can think/say.

YOU MUST have the best memory to know where to put all those parts back to.

EXTREMELY TALENTED.

where can i drop off all my pins to ? 

[Strangeways]

EXTREMELY TALENTED is all i can think/say.

YOU MUST have the best memory to know where to put all those parts back to.

EXTREMELY TALENTED.

where can i drop off all my pins to ? 

Thanks for the kind words.

I take plenty of photos - sometimes over 100 per machine. I also use a caliper to measure the different posts and take photos of the post and measurement. Often, it comes down to experience. But if you enjoy what you do - then it is not as hard as it looks. Addams Family is an easy pinball to do - just time consuming. But working on pins does not "consume time" - it is more of a way of "passing time" doing something I like !

 

[morrie]

looking good but have you thought about using
one of the playfield rotisseries markc has, makes the job a lot easier
At the end of the day if i work on a playfield in the cab for long hours i end up with neck pain and a headache
the rotisserie prevents this and makes the playfield more accessible
I wouldn't do a playfield restoration with out one great product 

[Strangeways]

looking good but have you thought about using
one of the playfield rotisseries markc has, makes the job a lot easier
At the end of the day if i work on a playfield in the cab for long hours i end up with neck pain and a headache
the rotisserie prevents this and makes the playfield more accessible
I wouldn't do a playfield restoration with out one great product 

Yes - I've got two custom made playfield stands and one of Craig's stands. At the moment - I'm pressed for room in the garage until a couple more pins are gone. It is just difficult setting things up for 3 hours then packing away. When I have the rotisserie mounted on my trolley, it makes like so much easier.

[pinball god]

Looks like you won't get much for this one Nino. I notcied broken sling plastics. Offer it to me for just under a K and I'll atke it off your hands 

Seriously how far off before you reckon it'll be for sale?

[tonyt]

Looking good Nino. Where abouts in the states do you get Flitz from please?

[Strangeways]

Looks like you won't get much for this one Nino. I notcied broken sling plastics. Offer it to me for just under a K and I'll atke it off your hands 

Seriously how far off before you reckon it'll be for sale?

I will have to source a set of slings - or make the RHS myself. I think it will be finished in a week or two. I still have to do the boards etc..

Looking good Nino. Where abouts in the states do you get Flitz from please?

I bought it from Marcospec in my last order. I've been haggling Mark and Greg to get it in as part of their supplies as it is a fantastic product. I just noticed it is no longer on Marco's site ?