Centaur ][

Restoration/upgrades/fixes/fabrication of pins and vids
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semicolin
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Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Here we go!

I learned my lesson with the Meteor that I can take all of the before photos that I want to and it won't amount to a hill of beans if my phone gets shredded by a snowblower. This time, I'll keep it in one thread and post as I go.

So here is the before:
46615EBF-4FAB-4B76-BA5B-9437EBB65228.jpeg
This won't be a full restoration. It will be a deep clean, playfield swap, and bulletproofing.

First step tonight: start coating the bottom of the new playfield with polycrylic. It'll need a few coats, but there will never be a fingerprint on the bottom.
image.jpg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by tombiosis »

Looking forward to seeing and playing it one day! Following.
Pins: 8BDlx, Rush Pro, The Walking Dead Pro, Iron Maiden Pro, Deadpool Pro, Tommy.
Gone but not forgotten: 6M$M, Fish Tales, Sorcerer, WPT, Elvis, Centaur II, Sure Shot, Firepower, Big Buck Hunter Pro, JP pro, EBD1984.

WTB: Fathom, TSPP, BSD, GOT.


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Re: Centaur ][

Post by HPR Pinball »

I'm in love with this title! :)
The video game i want to play is always the one i don't have :FP:
Les arcades, j'suis tombé d'dans quand j'tait pti !! :-)

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by cait001 »

Following
backglasses wanted: Star-Jet, Fairy, Star Trek (1971 Gottlieb)
marquees wanted: Roller Aces, Quiz Dragon, Strider, Varkon, Dark Planet, R-Type (w/ship), Quantum, Ninja (Sega)
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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Took my inventory today. Got the old field out of the machine and started taking stock of connectors, needed parts, broken bits and field repairs. Started placing orders. This game has seen a lot of years on the route.
74FEF8CF-3AA5-40C6-8937-B142FCA9E800.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by cait001 »

ahhhh cool to see the shooter-lane multi-ball mechanisms. I had never looked at that before.
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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

I'll try to record a 4K video later of how the sort-pass-kick mechanism works later. For now I'm parts-blocked.

I've ordered the obligatory stuff: coil sleeves, bushings, plungers, coil stops, jewel posts, and assorted other hardware. Have to wait until Great Plains Electronics comes back online after their break to order up the obsolete MLX series connector housings that Digikey no longer carries. Going to repin everything, and considering how much of this game is insulation displacement connectors it's going to be a lot of work. I could just take the old ones off and run them through the ultrasonic cleaner, but I'd rather not lose track of the pins. I'll swap in new ones, scrub the old ones, and add them to the inventory. It's always good to have spares anyway, and this won't be the last Bally machine that I overhaul. My shooter lane cover was in rough shape so I decided to replace the whole apron assembly, even though my old apron isn't bad.

Printed off new score cards and coil sleeves, etc.

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »



Here's how the ball storage and lock assemblies work together.

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Got my Great Plains order in. As soon as I receive that, I'll start to connectorize the playfield machinery. This will allow me to remove mechs one at a time to disassemble, deep clean, polish, dial in, and then install them on the new playfield.

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by Fifty »

super cool ball mech. thanks for sharing that!

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Replaced a pile of rusty headers and ran the display harness through the ultrasonic cleaner.
image.jpg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Gave the displays a bath to get rid of the black gunk. Now that the display harness is dry, I repinned the entire display section and got rid of all of the unreliable insulation displacement connectors. Looks much more organized now… and the wire colours pop!
8EC50988-E96D-41BE-87A0-7861511FD60C.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

I hate being told off by my tools.
B0431426-4190-4610-AD48-B13C620D3CC4.jpeg
Not much to do today while I'm waiting for parts, but I've got enough connectors to start working on the knocker and the outhole kicker. Disassembled and taking stock of what's busted.
60B211B8-FF10-45DC-B981-D62A74B610AF.jpeg
96FAF79A-7686-4C57-BFB4-A04C2D23A971.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Took the coils out of the hot tub, blew them out with the compressor, and attached new labels. They'll sit in the dry jar with some silica gel for a couple of days while the rest of their assemblies go through the tumbler.
coilsinjar.jpg
Sayonara, pals. See you when you're shiny.


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Re: Centaur ][

Post by cait001 »

ADMONITION!!!
backglasses wanted: Star-Jet, Fairy, Star Trek (1971 Gottlieb)
marquees wanted: Roller Aces, Quiz Dragon, Strider, Varkon, Dark Planet, R-Type (w/ship), Quantum, Ninja (Sega)
blog -- collection -- want list -- Pinball Women Ottawa -- Ottawa Pinball Map -- ratings

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Follow up: cleaned and polished, these mechs are ready to be reinstalled. Still waiting for the rest of the parts so that I can really pick up steam.
CF6F2D11-5C62-4870-B8D2-6C4A5353035A.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by World_of_Warships »

Totally following!

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Another slow day as I wait for parts from several suppliers. Some shipped quickly and it’s the post office that’s slow. Another big name supplier— which shall remain nameless— has been sending me updates every three days for the last couple of weeks: “shipping soon” “we lost it but we know it’s here somewhere” and most recently “still looking lol big warehouse.”

Cleaned up and repinned the solenoid expander and aux driver. They’re the first to be moved over while I wait for the Mate-N-Lok connectors to arrive. Hopefully they’ll make it this weekend. Connectorizing is a four-hour job and I want to watch the March Grand Sumo while I tackle it. Nobody spoil it for me.
3457CA57-86C5-4878-84B3-863AACE42F3B.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by Pinoffski »

Thanks for sharing
just asking about the coils
They'll sit in the dry jar with some silica gel for a couple of days ?

I will be following

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

Coils get dirty over time. All that black schmoo inside a game is coil dust: wear dust from the plungers, sleeves, pivot points, etc. The cleaner blasts off that dust in minutes making parts look brand new, but if I put parts away wet they’ll rust or corrode.

After they’ve been through the ultrasonic cleaner, a lot of water accumulates between the turns of wire. I blow them out with compressed air, and any remaining water is absorbed by the silica packets.

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by Pinoffski »

Have a lymans tumbler
I have thought of purchasing a ultrasonic cleaner
thanks for the tip :thumbup

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

I have a 10L one, which is big, but not big enough for things like fully assembled drop target bank and harnesses. The banks have to be pulled apart (which isn't a big deal) and harnesses go in the dishwasher instead.

If I had unlimited money and space I would go for the 22L or 30L sizes next time.

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

I have never actually had a good experience with CPR. I want to like them, I really do, but I spend far more time cursing them than I should.

Pop bumper base doesn't fit. Hole is too small and the cutaway is routed incorrectly. Looks like I'm going to need to Dremel out the hole. Not sure how I'll fix the plate landing but if I want to do a nice job I think I'll have to buy a router now too. Ffs. Careless and no attention to detail.
A9943CCC-9DA6-4591-A455-53E65A85FB74.jpeg

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Re: Centaur ][

Post by tombiosis »

That sucks. Would it not be easier to modify the plastic piece? Maybe you could sand it to fit...?
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Re: Centaur ][

Post by semicolin »

It's hard to see from the angle but the part they didn't route out is actually beneath the screws. I bought a router last night and I'll just have to wait. Just how it goes.

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