Data East "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Reconditioning

[Strangeways]

TMNT - Background

The game was from a recent import and as per most of my games, it was hand picked, so it was already in cosmetically good condition. The reconditioned machine is for a Customer who collects Video games and is also a fan of the TMNT.

Objective

To recondition the machine, rather than a High end Restoration.


Condition Report

Cabinet - 9/10 - The best TMNT cabinet I've ever come across. Very nice colours and not much scuff marks or damage. Very pleased with it.
Playfield - 7/10 - Obviously factory mylar, but in some uncovered areas, there is wear to wood. Most plastics are broken.
Electronics - 9/10 - Excellent. The only visible issue is some corrosion around the battery area.
Backglass - 10/10 - Perfect - in fact, it is NOS.


Before pictures














Playfield is exceptional in the visible areas.





Below is an example of the wear areas. This will be attended to in visible areas.





The posts are fluro GREEN. Not standard Green. I had to order them from Pinballlife as no one else stocks them !








Below is a picture of the stripped playfield. Everything is removed.





I see most "shopped" or "reconditioned" games don't have the Pop Bumpers checked. Below is an example of why this is a mandatory step in even the least amount of effort in "shopping" a pinball.





All the mechanisms are stripped cleaned and polished. At this point I replace anything that is broken or looks worn. While that is going on, I did the minor touch ups and placed mylar over some of the wear areas I touched up and then I finally polish and wax the playfield. The tumbled metal posts and new green fluro posts are installed.





The spot targets are cleaned and new felt installed behind the Spot Target.





Obviously the cabinet is completely stripped and cleaned !

[swinks]

cleaned up nice, I would like to get this in the future for the kids.

Did you find any of those pop bumper brackets?

[Pintoxicated]

One machine that has long been on my wishlist, purely for the theme alone.  Very hard to find a half decent one and yours looks pretty good from the start Nino.

[Boots]

What does the power connector look like on the top right of the power board? mine was badly burnt at this connector.
This is for the GI and is taken off for the display 12V, it may need replacing mine did, I also replaced all the backbox GI with leds to reduce the load.
The centre ramp also cops a hammering

Great game

[noj472]

Can't wait to see the end result of this one. A simple but very addictive game.

[oldskool1969]

never played one, but looks like a lot of fun.
Nice clean up 

[pinball god]

Great job as usual

[pinnies4me]

Looking nice!

[Boots]

The posts are fluro GREEN. Not standard Green. I had to order them from Pinballlife as no one else stocks them !

Mark C has them:  http://www.pinball.co/Products/23944-550-5034-11.aspx

[Strangeways]

cleaned up nice, I would like to get this in the future for the kids.

Did you find any of those pop bumper brackets?

http://www.rtbb.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_173&products_id=1521

They are blue, but the lower pop bumper is not seen !

What does the power connector look like on the top right of the power board? mine was badly burnt at this connector.
This is for the GI and is taken off for the display 12V, it may need replacing mine did, I also replaced all the backbox GI with leds to reduce the load.
The centre ramp also cops a hammering

Great game

It was replaced on the power supply, but the housing was the IDC original connector with some creative wiring. I ended up replacing the housing and pins. The male / female GI input from the transformer was fine.

The posts are fluro GREEN. Not standard Green. I had to order them from Pinballlife as no one else stocks them !

Mark C has them:  http://www.pinball.co/Products/23944-550-5034-11.aspx

I bought new ones from Pinballlife as www.rtbb.com.au didn't carry them and I needed "classic stern" flipper rebuild kit. Great price AND they partially refund shipping !

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2865

[BuzzMoo]

Great process shots! I like the design of this machine... classic cartoon turtles, a long way away from the travesty that was the latest CGI TMNT!!

[Strangeways]

The ramp looked to be in good shape, but it needed repairs and re enforcement in some areas. What I used is simply some of the bluesteel used on ramps trimmed to size and the edges filed. I used a strong adhesive and clamped overnight. There already were factory protectors at the entrance and the ball entry area, so I simply copied the original idea.











The "Skill Shot" decal was removed and then I used mylar to attach it to the bottom of the ramp, where the ball could not longer wear it out.


Finished Ramp





One of the metal guides was broken. Luckily www.rtbb.com.au stock them so I simply used the rivet press for a 5 minute repair.








All the mechs are rebuilt. I use FULL Data East flipper kits for my reconditioning work.





Some touch up work is done near the slingshot area and the ball drop areas near the inlanes.





The plastics were really poor on this game, and I asked Daniel if he had any in his stash, and he pointed me to Nick, who had a full set that were in excellent condition ! Thanks Guys !


The top section is coming together nicely with the better plastics. Pop Bumper assemblies are rebuilt with new parts and look heaps better !

[indazone gav]

Looking great, love these restore threads 

[flippnaussie]

I'm surprised somebody hasn't made pop bumper caps in the shape of a turtle shell... that would add a little something.

Simon.

[Caveoftreasures]

My TMNT game has factory turtles standing/laying/resting ontop of each of the pop bumper caps. You can take them on and off if u want.

Also, don't forget to buy the brand new spinning pizza disc sticker. Its very thick n durable n makes the machine look new again.
I put Leds thru mine and it looks great (playfield only).

Lookin good Nino.