Side Rail Removal

[millsy]

Any tips on removing side rail rivets before i wreck it with my long screwdriver & hammer  - havent removed or refitted one yet.
Millsy

[Ford Fairlane]

+1 mate!!! my arcade cab is almost done and i wanna fix up gulfstreams cab and i really wanna know how to lift off the siderails too!!!

[Strangeways]

I've done this successfully a few times.

Depending on the age of the machines, they can be easy. The side rail nails are cheap, so I remove them with the full intent of damaging the old nails, not the side rails !

I use a couple of thin pieces of metal (30 cm or 40 cm ruler). First slide the piece of metal in the gap between the siderail and the body near the flipper button. GENTLY prize the side rail away from the body by twisting the piece of metal. DON'T prize the ruler AWAY from the body - you will bend the siderail - Just TWIST the ruler like the accelerator on a motor bike. The FIRST nail head should raise. I HOPE it has raised ! Now initially try an old pair of side cutters, and TWIST the nail counter clockwise - CAREFULLY. It MIGHT twist out - remember - they have a thread.

Continue along the entire siderail. But now you approach the nails from the bottom of the cab.

The aim is to not touch or bend the siderail.

Sometimes, the nails might be rusted, or just won't move out without more force. Be patient. Use a thin piece of metal NEXT to the nail, and a thin screwdriver and prize the nail out - but the golden rule is NOT to touch the siderail with ANYTHING sharp. Always place something there as protection.

I hope that sounds right !

[millsy]

Well described - Didnt realise the pins screwed out - would have bent the rail for sure.
Thanks for the tip 

[Retropin]

I use the same technique as Nino but always start from the back of the machine as i find the first to be the hardest.

The nail has only to be lifted very slightly, then with a set of nail removing pliers you can grip just under the head and twist out anti clockwise.

New nails look a treat!

[Jomac]

Once you have the Nails / Screws out,

Hold the rail ( I start from the front )with some pressure pulling out and up at the same time while heating up rail with a hair dryer , You can get them quite hot without damaging anything as long as you apply the heat directly on the rail , I have taken many off all types of pinball's without even bending them using this method.
A heat gun will also work but you need to be very careful as the heat from these is very intense and can damage art work on the cab , not to mention burn your hands real easy:)

Remember if you are any good with metal work , you can make many ramp protectors and Stainless parts from a single old rail.

[Strangeways]

Once you have the Nails / Screws out,

Hold the rail ( I start from the front )with some pressure pulling out and up at the same time while heating up rail with a hair dryer , You can get them quite hot without damaging anything as long as you apply the heat directly on the rail , I have taken many off all types of pinball's without even bending them using this method.
A heat gun will also work but you need to be very careful as the heat from these is very intense and can damage art work on the cab , not to mention burn your hands real easy:)

Remember if you are any good with metal work , you can make many ramp protectors and Stainless parts from a single old rail.

Joey

Do you use the heat method on the older (EMs etc), or are you reffering to the newer machines with adhesive backing ?

I ask as most of the games I've done are oldies.. and the siderails usually just fall off once the nails are out !


Another tip - When re installing the siderails, push a toothpick into the hole and snip it to add more "bite" for the new nail. Tap the nail in, don't BANG it in like a traditional nail.

[markc]

we use heat on the newer ones  as stated  here
hair dryer or heat gun to heat them up and they pull off easy

we normally replace the nails as most of the heads are rusty
I have heaps of the nails too on psp

mark

[pinball god]

I have removed rails via the old piano wire joined onto to a couple of handles trick (in this case paint rollers) and pull. Peels them off real easily without heat or damage to the rail.

[Creech]

That's a good tip. Thanks for sharing.

[Jomac]

Once you have the Nails / Screws out,

Hold the rail ( I start from the front )with some pressure pulling out and up at the same time while heating up rail with a hair dryer , You can get them quite hot without damaging anything as long as you apply the heat directly on the rail , I have taken many off all types of pinball's without even bending them using this method.
A heat gun will also work but you need to be very careful as the heat from these is very intense and can damage art work on the cab , not to mention burn your hands real easy:)

Remember if you are any good with metal work , you can make many ramp protectors and Stainless parts from a single old rail.

Joey

Do you use the heat method on the older (EMs etc), or are you reffering to the newer machines with adhesive backing ?

I ask as most of the games I've done are oldies.. and the siderails usually just fall off once the nails are out !


Another tip - When re installing the siderails, push a toothpick into the hole and snip it to add more "bite" for the new nail. Tap the nail in, don't BANG it in like a traditional nail.

I use this method on any that have adhesive back , Man that stuff sticks !!

Yeah your right about the old ones that usually just fall off :)

The piano wire method is also cool but a couple of times the wire dug into the edge of the cabinet , not that you see it once the rail is replaced

[Marty Machine]

Not sure if this helps? but once the nails are out, would it seem a good idea to drill in the nail-hole right thru the cabinet-side, therefore leaving you access in future to punch the nails out from the inside with a blunt tipped nail.

This would allow you to tap them out from the inside which eliminates all risks of damaging rails using the above-mentioned methods.

MM.

[Strangeways]

Not sure if this helps? but once the nails are out, would it seem a good idea to drill in the nail-hole right thru the cabinet-side, therefore leaving you access in future to punch the nails out from the inside with a blunt tipped nail.

This would allow you to tap them out from the inside which eliminates all risks of damaging rails using the above-mentioned methods.

MM.

I would not recommend doing this as then you would see the holes from the playfield sides. They can be seen on EMs.

[Marty Machine]

I would not recommend doing this as then you would see the holes from the playfield sides. They can be seen on EMs.

Oh yeh 
Ok, need to fit an inside covering then hehehehe.

Do any pins NOT use nails? would be a nicer finish if the rails were glued (removable) in place for a sleak looking finish and no ugly nailheads.

MM.

[Strangeways]

I would not recommend doing this as then you would see the holes from the playfield sides. They can be seen on EMs.

Oh yeh 
Ok, need to fit an inside covering then hehehehe.

Do any pins NOT use nails? would be a nicer finish if the rails were glued (removable) in place for a sleak looking finish and no ugly nailheads.

MM.

All EMs and SS with metal side rails have nails except DMDs - adhesive strip.