Data East Star Wars Restoration

[delarge]

Now that is a SWEET restoration! I still plan to out LEDs in my DE Star Wars and give it a proper clean.

One part of the restoration process that has caused a speed bump are the big screws that go into the pop bumper caps. Where can you get these exact screws? I have a couple of replacements, but they weren't the right size.

Cheers!
Adam.

[Crashramp]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

[Crashramp]

Now that is a SWEET restoration! I still plan to out LEDs in my DE Star Wars and give it a proper clean.

One part of the restoration process that has caused a speed bump are the big screws that go into the pop bumper caps. Where can you get these exact screws? I have a couple of replacements, but they weren't the right size.

Cheers!
Adam.

PSPA have them. I brought some while in store a few months ago. Unfortunately I can't remember which ones they are. I just had a look on there site thinking that they may jump out at me but there's far to many to be sure.

I put LED's in mine also and IMO They look great. Particularly the blue in R2D2's head. It really make him pop when lit.

[ktm450]

Looking great so far mate 

[aristi69]

looks good i wish i will do this 2 mine.

[Strangeways]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

[Crashramp]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

Thanks, I must look into a tumbler.

[Strangeways]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

Thanks, I must look into a tumbler.

There are a few really good tumblers on the market. Topic is being discussed here ;

http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=9544.0

 

[Crashramp]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

Thanks, I must look into a tumbler.

There are a few really good tumblers on the market. Topic is being discussed here ;

http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=9544.0

 

Thanks for the link, I knew I'd read that somewhere.

[Strangeways]

Board Rebuilds

Often overlooked and nearly always create service calls in the future. Best to alleviate that concern now ! General rule of thumb on Data Easts is to replace ALL the fuse clips on the Power Supply, PPB and flipper boards. They ARE the weak link in these games. I often find creative repairs on boards, and some of them require the boards to be removed and checked to find them !

One aspect of restoration (reconditioning and "shop outs") that is almost always overlooked are the fuses. I don't think I've ever worked on a game with a full set of correctly rated fuses. This IS DANGEROUS ! A blown fuse means there is a problem that needs to be attended to ! The fuse is the BEST diagnostic test there is ! When one blows - there's a problem. Replacing the fuse with a higher value can then create problems at the next weakest ling - usually expensive boards !

All fuses on this flipper board were different values. They should all be the same. I simply replace ALL of them with NEW fuses !





PPB Board - Looks good ! But the problems with this board were serious !





Turn the board over ;





Close up ;





Those points were not soldered. They look like they were "spot welded" ! There's a HEAP of damage to connectors due to over fusing the Flashers on one circuit. REALLY poor workmanship.


Connectors

Again - A quick scan and they appear to be correct. But are they ?





Burnt to a crisp. I had to trim 5 cms off the wires as the copper was burnt under the wiring. The actual wiring was burnt out !





After replacing the connectors and rebuilding the boards, I moved on to the trigger assembly. Tired and not working correctly, it needed a rebuild and a new decal.





So I stripped it down completely, cleaned it and rebuilt it.











On the home stretch now.

[Pintoxicated]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

Thanks, I must look into a tumbler.

Remind me to show you my tumbler the next time you are over.  I will take the lid off and you can look into it as long as you like. 

[Crashramp]

The metal parts look like they have come up great. What's your method for polishing/regraining?

I use my Tumber for the metal pieces and Green Scotchbrite or 180 Grit Wet/Dry sandpaper to regrain the metal guides.

Thanks, I must look into a tumbler.

Remind me to show you my tumbler the next time you are over.  I will take the lid off and you can look into it as long as you like. 

  Yup, what can I say?

On another note. Looking good Nino, I'm really enjoying this thread.

[Pintoxicated]

Sorry.......couldn't help my twisted sense of humour.

You're right though, machine is coming up a treat Nino.

[Strangeways]

I ended up buying new Pop Bumper Caps as the old ones were chipped and cracked. I also opted for white rubbers with the factory black post rubbers. It looks much better with white rubbers. MartyJ TIG welded the main ramp as it had a couple of broken tabs and he does such as great job repairing them.




I have not installed the target decals at this stage.











Often overlooked (or not even vacuumed !) - The insdie of the cabinet ;





New FULL flipper kits - Almost double the price of Bally / Williams, but they SHOULD be replaced.





I'm very happy with the playfield. Plays really well.





Cabinet is in really good condition.





Front door after reassembly. I painted a semi gloss black and then a Clearcoat. Bolts / hardware are also repainted and cleared.








Completed game. It will be moved to my gamesroom until the new owner's house is completed..

 

[Crashramp]

The completed machine looks excellent Nino. Im sure the new owner is going to be over the moon with it.
 One question though, in so many of these games that i have seen, R2D2's head has very patchy chrome. yours look great though, did you have him re-chromed or was it already in great condition?