I love these threads.
It makes me think I should do the same to my machine.
Dissasemble, clean, repair/replace, assemble.

How long does a machine normally take to do?

Simon.

The game was presented to me as "dealer quality", which means 20 hours maximum with minimum parts. It looked good, but there were shortcuts everywhere, so I simply go through the proper process which will take around 35-40 hours. That's how long it takes to do a proper reconditioning. Although in total, it took my time and the previous tech's time, it is done properly. It certainly will play and look far better.

If you want to "have a go" at reconditioning or restoration, just take your time - it is not a race. Take photos and enjoy the process. I would not be doing it unless I loved doing it.