For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast Feed

The basics of how to disassemble the metal bits on the playfield of a typical game, and how to clean. I'm super cheap, so I hand polish these items - discussion of products used and any extra precautions needed. Next episode I will discuss the lamp springs on bingo playfields - they are conspicuous in their absence.
Episode 123 - Cleaning Metal


Continue reading...
 
Bingo lamp shield springs are beautiful pieces that are difficult to remove, but very satisfying once cleaned. Removal requires a good degree of caution. Follow these instructions and you should be good!
Episode 124 - Bingo Lamp Spring Removal


Continue reading...
 
Jeff is one of the co-hosts of 'The Pinball Podcast' located at thepinballpodcast.com We talk about EMs he enjoys, repair, and I try to talk him into a local Magic Squares bingo.
Episode 125 - Interview with Jeff Rivera 7-8-15


Continue reading...
 
Vic Camp comes back on the podcast to talk about his current collection, bingos, and Gottlieb wedgeheads. Note that the package deal for 10 bingos is still available in New Jersey - contact Vic for the (100% working) bingo collection at campgames@yahoo.com.
Episode 126 - Interview with Vic Camp 2 - 7-9-15


Continue reading...
 
You've got a great new game, but your cabinet looks like it has been in a nicotene testing facility for the last 40 years... how to bring back the beauty, as well as how to protect it.
Episode 127 - Cleaning your Cabinet


Continue reading...
 
A large amount of surface rust can be a tell-tale sign that the mechanisms in the head or the cabinet are frozen in place. Evaluate any machine with rust carefully before purchasing. How to remove rust from your siderails, legs, and coin door, as well as smaller parts.
Episode 128 - De-rusting


Continue reading...
 
Sadly, my nickname is Coil Burner. Steve gave me that name after I blew up his Golden Gate. Now that I'm aware of that issue, I pay close attention to payouts. I'll be detailing the issue and remediation in a future episode.
Episode 129 - The Story of the Coil Burner


Continue reading...
 
The Magic Screen games between Sea Island and Bounty have a design flaw that will sometimes cause a coil to remain locked on during payout. The timer unit steps up in certain circumstances during payout and will shut off the motors. This causes a coil that is normally engaged during payout to remain on and fry. Fixing this problem is thankfully pretty easy! I would recommend that everyone make this modification on their screen games to prevent heartbreak when you're not looking.
Episode 130 - Magic Screen Timing Bug


Continue reading...
 
Sometimes, you don't have the time or correct parts to fix a problem. If I am going to create a hack to fix a problem temporarily, I like to ensure that it is easily reversible and will cause a minimum of damage to the game in case it goes wrong. With a time crunch before a group of newcomers to pinball came over, I had to correct a flaky switch that incremented the score on an older machine. A freely rotating contact on a leaf switch can, sometimes, be soldered in place to allow for continued operation without a replacement switch at hand. This is a very easy hack to reverse, as I simply have to replace the switch and the issue goes away (I'll be doing that soon).
Episode 131 - Quick Switch Contact Repair


Continue reading...
 
Score motors are the 'brains' of any EM game. Tonight I discuss Exhibit's score motor orientation and function in the 1947 Exhibit 'Mystery' that I own. I also added a quick addendum to last night's simple 'hack' podcast.
Episode 132 - Score Motors - Exhibit


Continue reading...
 
Gottlieb used the same style of score motor for pretty much their entire EM life. Discussion on orientation, maintenance, advantages and disadvantages of this setup. I enjoy the compact setup of these motors.
Episode 133 - Score Motors - Gottlieb


Continue reading...
 
Bally's Score Motor design changed quite a bit over the years, depending on the style of game they were making. In a future episode, I'll dive into the control unit, which is a beautiful, complex electromechanical marvel. This episode, however, I talk about the relatively straightforward, no-frills Bally score motor, its ease of adjustment and common issues (really the same common issue that plagues most score motors that have been sitting and transported many times without being used for a long period of time).
Episode 134 - Score Motors - Bally


Continue reading...
 
The last (for now) in my score motors series detailing the differences between the various manfacturers and their approaches to the same problem. Williams score motors have a service plug that can be moved that will lock all the cams in place. I wish this option did not exist. Any Williams with this option constantly trips me up.
Episode 135 - Score Motors - Williams


Continue reading...
 
Bally's Control Unit was an ingenious design for several reasons - in the bingos, one of the most impressive designs was how very serviceable these units are. You take one part Bally score motor, add in some more power and clutches, and you have a rather simple design that allows for servicing from almost any angle. I love 'em!
Episode 136 - The Control Unit - Servicing


Continue reading...
 
The first switches in the control unit are required for timing out the motor, thus saving wear and tear on the motor. It is crucial that these switches are adjusted properly or your motor will never stop running.
Episode 137 - The Control Unit - First Switches


Continue reading...
 
This is our continued series looking at the control unit on a Bally bingo - specifically the 1972 Double-Up. These switches are involved with normal gameplay, and only comprise a little over half of the switches and cams involved in making the game operate as per normal.
Episode 138 - The Control Unit - Second Switches


Continue reading...
 
In our next-to-last episode detailing the workings of a Bally bingo control unit, we examine the switches necessary for the operation of the payout. When a winner has been determined, the machine has to have some way of stepping up the replay meter in the backglass.
Episode 139 - The Control Unit - Payout Switches


Continue reading...
 
The final set of switches on the control unit govern the search process. Everything from the release of the search disc to the lockout of footrail buttons happens here. The control unit is complete - from switch stack A to switch stack ZB!
Episode 140 - Searching for a Winner (in all the wrong places)


Continue reading...
 
How to use a multimeter to troubleshoot various aspects of a game. A bit of a small electical/electronics crash course in how current flows, what to expect, how to change your settings appropriately, and how to zero out your meter.
Episode 141 - Using a Multimeter with an EM Game


Continue reading...
 
Some of the basics about how to construct a circuit, how the circuit actually functions, and how to measure and calculate the values of Votage, Amperage (current), and Resistance.
Episode 142 - Basics of Electrical Theory


Continue reading...
 
Wanye Neyens was a prolific designer through much of Gottlieb's woodrail and metal rail EM production. His career spanned at least 179 machines (according to the IPDB, 177 machines made it to production). He is 97 years old today, July 29, 2015. Happy Birthday, Mr. Neyens!
Episode 143 - Happy Birthday, Mr. Neyens!


Continue reading...
 
What is a transformer? What purpose does that heavy thing do in your game? These questions and more answered!
Episode 144 - Transformers


Continue reading...
 
Flippers have undergone a bit of change since the beginning of the flipper era (1947). Different designers had different techniques for using the flippers, and they certainly changed the face of pinball. I also discuss the basic pieces of the flipper mechanism.
Episode 145 - Flipper Construction


Continue reading...
 
How to take apart a flipper and change them. The same basic rules apply to any EM pinball machine with flippers.
Episode 146 - Changing a Flipper


Continue reading...
 
Originally known as 'Flipper Zippers', this feature allows the flippers mounted on the playfield to 'zip' together, closing off the outhole. The feature is pretty simple under the hood. One of Bally's innovations during the EM era, pioneered by Ted Zale.
Episode 147 - Zipper Flippers


Continue reading...
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
You can interact with the ChatGPT Bot in any Chat Room and there is a dedicated room. The command is /ai followed by a space and then your ? or inquiry.
ie: /ai What is a EM Pinball Machine?
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • xenonph @ xenonph:
    @ejrcooney Try right clicking on backglass with mouse pointer, and you should see B2S DMD Visibility setting at top of window.
    Quote
  • E @ ejrcooney:
    Want to make visible the default. Right now it is set on hidden.
    Quote
  • xenonph @ xenonph:
    Try
    posting your question here https://pinballnirvana.com/forums/forums/vp-vpm-first-aid-station-need-help.87/ so to help you better.
    Quote
  • xenonph @ xenonph:
    I sent you message with pic showing where to make visible adjustment.
    Quote
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Pinped has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    daleks12 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Stephen has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    docdoc has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Exnihilo_Mundus has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    angmarg52 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    tully619 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    smorndb has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Tech49 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Topsi Klaus has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Forsaken43 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    duduky72 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Gerge has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    nunolilo has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    DavidT2025 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Gary-7 has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Thunderbird has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    alug has left the room.
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    bluebird has left the room.
  • HZR @ HZR:
    It’s nice to go all see a place I can play actual machines!!!!
    Quote
  • Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs:
    Sunrise74 has left the room.
      Chat Bot Mibs Chat Bot Mibs: Sunrise74 has left the room.
      Back
      Top