Support this Pinball Repair Website & PHoF. Please purchase the Marvin3m.com/top

Scope.
This document is a restoration guide for arcade and flipper pinball games. No experience is assumed. This document does not cover pinball repair. If your game doesn't work, first see http://marvin3m.com/fix.htm and get your game working. This document is three parts (part one is here, part two is here and part three is here).

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started:
1. Necessary Tools and Parts
2. Making a Parts Buffer
3. Vibration Parts Polisher & Rock Tumblers

2. The Cabinet and Backglass

1. Replacing the Bottom Panel
2. Checking a Re-Painted Cabinet for Original Paint
3. Re-Painting a Cabinet
4. Legs and Coin Door (rust removal)
5. Put the Legs On (stripped threads)
6. Clean the Outside
7. Sealing the Backglass (Krylon Triple Thick, etc.)
8. Touch-up the Backglass
9. Touch-up the Playfield
10. Clear Coating ("Diamond Plating") a Playfield
11. Polish the Shooter
12. Clean the Score Reels
13. Install a new Power Cord and Switch
14. Install a New Start Button

3. The Mechanics

1. Rebuilding the Flippers
2. Rebuilding the Pop Bumbers
3. Performance Tips
4. New Under-Playfield and Backbox Lamps
5. Sunken/Low/Loose Playfield lamp Inserts

4. The Playfield:

1. Under the Ball Arches
2. Cleaning the Playfield with Magic Eraser (Melamine Foam)
3. Cleaning the Playfield and Replacing Rubber

Originality.
Generally speaking, I like to keep my games as original as possible. I would like to stress that cabinet repainting is generally a bad thing, in my opinion. Unless the original finish is already gone by a previous owner, or the cabinet is damaged, a repainting usually isn't necessary. In most cases it's better to have a worn original cabinet, then a perfectly mint repainted one. Original backglasses are kept unless a repro is available and the original is missing paint (and you have the extra $200 to spend). As for game play, I do make some modifications there, but they are all reversable if need be.

Game(s) Being Restored.
Most of this document can be applied to any EM or Electronic pinball from 1947 to present. This includes both EM and Solidstate (Electronic) pinball games (though many pictures taken are of a 1965 Gottlieb "Ice Revue" game).