Broken nail/pin repair

[wrkey]

Last night my wife was playing the Sankyo Pochi game and noticed that one pin (at the very top) was wiggling and occasionally causing a ball to get stuck. Well, I opened the front glass and the nail/pin did seem to be loose and therefore blocking the hole where a ball was supposed to go in. Taking a pair of pliers (ok I know... it already sounds stupid) I gently (or so I thought) tried to move the pin back (now you know it was a bad idea).

It's amazing how fast a bit of profanity can just pop out when something breaks that you didn't want to break. Looking at the piece that came off, I could tell that the pin itself was already partially broken as there was a bright section from where it had just broken and a duller section where it had been broken previously.

So, as it sits today, the nail/pin broke off just below/inside the cell wall. Which means I can't snag it with a pair of pliers. I don't know how these things are put in, so I can't determine if it can be pulled out or do you have to unscrew it?

Heck, I don't even know if it can be replaced.or not. Luckily it is one of the two top center pins so it doesn't necessarily have to be replaced.

Any hints on how to replace? Or should I leave it alone? Success stories? War stories?

I appreciate any help you guys can give!

Thanks,

Rusty

[Eddie]

Can you take detailed pics of the pin and area in question?

[johntofva]

Heavyguitarman replaced all his nails with great success. So, yes I believe it can be done. But the question is, "Is it worth the effort?"

[compirate]

My guess is to get a nail setter/drift and drive the nail out the back (try not to break anything else!).

[Zaffro]

I know in wood and metalwork there are specialised bits for taking broken bolts out of the said material. Not sure if it would work in this case though but I suppose its worth a look.

[Youngjedi]

If there is nothing else on the other side of the cell, a bit slightly larger than the nail drilled from the back side. just a little. then use a nail set from the front and try to tap it back through. A new nail can be secured in with JB weld.

Good Luck!

[musky]

I would try compirate's and youngjedi's suggestion. finding a drift small enough will be hard. You don't want to make the hole too large and blemish the finish on the front of the cell.

[hanabi]

Way, way back when we bought a Julie Pinball, we had the misfortune to have a nail / pin break

It was also one of the top nails, the higher of the pair located there ( must be the pin that takes the most 'hammer'??)

Anyway, this nail had broken off level with the playfield and it was decided to leave the remains of the pin as it was, because of any damage that removing it may cause and also because Julie has a lot of 'star's scattered about at the top which made the pin not at all noticeable unless you knew exactly where to look

We sourced some new pins and one was carefully placed as close as possible to the original, a brad awl or small watch makers screwdriver was very carefully used to make a hole before the new pin was installed

And there have been no problems since

Not sure if yours has broken off level too or how noticeable it is on your cell playfield, but it could be an option to consider??

[wrkey]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't quite decided what to do yet. For those that asked... here's a photo of the broken pin area. If I do move to fix it, I'll have to find a replacement pin. Any ideas on where I can get another pin?

Thank again for all the help!

[luckydog]

I wouldn't mess with it, if you don't point it out, no one will notice

but, then again some of us can't live with something like that

[H20Dreams]

Looks like leaving it out might make it easier to hit the start pocket which = more fun (but a missing pin would probably drive me nuts).

[Youngjedi]

To Fix or not to fix...That is a great question. I would try to fix it, but that's me. I like a challenge and I like things to be the way they are meant to be. I would weigh the results...Leave it and keep the cell looking nice, or try to fix it and risk damaging the picture on the cell.

As for replacing the pin, My first thought would be to look for a pin in a corner somewhere that would'nt be missed and would'nt leave a noticable hole unless you knew where to look and try to use it for the top.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[portercbl]

I have a vintage pachinko that had a couple nails broken off from it's days in Japan. To fix it, they just hammered the old pins in flush with the cell surface then hammered new pins right next to the old ones. They are a little noticable because most of the old cell faces were white and the pins stand out. Since all of the cells of the modern pachinko's are so very colorful, this is the way I would fix the pin and be done with it. You would never even notice the repair.
But being the repairer and playing the game, you would stare at your repair. Every time, you plays that particular machine, you would miss all of the fun because in the back of your mind, you would think that your machine is far from perfect, and stare, stare, STARE!
Or just get on with your life and forget it! NOT!
Jerry

[birdbrain]

Jerry has some issues to work through

[hanabi]

until this thread, I had completely forgotten about the pin that we had to replace,

So it is possible to put it out of your mind...

Even a Pachinkoholic!!

[wrkey]

Having recently purchased another machine, I've decided to leave the pin alone until a later date. Currently I have three machines with only one mounted in a cabinet. All three are working now but are in great need of a good cleaning of the mechanics. So I've decided to get'm cleaned up and then build two more cabinets and THEN, MAYBE, I'll move to replace the pin.

Thanks to all who have left comments. They were all helpfull and greatly appreciated!

[heavyguitarman]

I just ran across your thread. If it was me, I'd look behind where the nail was making sure nothing was in the way, take another nail, clip off the point, and carefully tap it in right over the first one, driving the first one back. It can't come out the front without altering the cell. After the 2nd nail starts progressing inward add a small amount of wood glue and keep tapping. If you need any nails message me i have some authentic pachinko nails from my first project. I've never done this before try at your own risk, but it doesnt sound too risky to me.

[wrkey]

Bringing an old thread back to life to give my resolution.

Well.. I got the Poochi mounted in my wall cabine and wired up and playable and the missing pin was getting on my nerves. Because it was missing, the pocket above the center was getting used too much and it didn't really do anything except pay a single jackpot.

So... getting brave I pulled the cell out and using a finishing nail as a drift, I pushed the original nail piece farther into the wood. Eventually I could not push it in any more but it still wasn't completely out of the way. But, knowing that I could bend a pin, I put in a spare one at a slight angle and then bent it straight.

Pin replaced, looks like all the others and the frequency of the top pocket is back to normal.

[MrGneiss]

Sounds like a great repair!!