I'm hooked!

[Moparformances]

And don't worry, I'll stick with it, even if it means I have mopar's voice permanently stuck in my head.

Good god lets hope that does not happen

[beachcat]

And don't worry, I'll stick with it, even if it means I have mopar's voice permanently stuck in my head.

[BG1996]

Good god lets hope that does not happen

"...but still, a nice machine."

Yep. Too late.

[BG1996]

One of my favorite theories is rearing its ugly head again... "Both the best and worst feeling in the world is starting to scrub at something you don't think will come clean...and it starts to come clean."

As some of my pics showed, I had light to moderate rust on the chrome frame on the front of my machine. Looking for something to do in the overnight hours that didn't involve triggering jackpots, I starting at the rust with some #0000 steel wool. There are some stubborn spots, but what I've gotten to so far is fantastic!

One question I had, though, is if anyone knows off-hand the size of the screws that hold the chrome to the face of a Nishijin B? I'm sure I can run the old screws up to Home Depot and compare visually, but I wondered if anyone could make my stop easier? I was initially going to try to keep them in use as part of the original machine, but most of the screws are rusted pretty bad and a couple have their heads stripped.

[Moparformances]

they have a strange name... but i cant rember ... i found them at my local True value...

there tapered on both sides...

take a sample with ya and i know there out there

[JACKSJE4]

There are several different kinds and sizes depending on the year and model. I always take one with me to my local ACE hardware to match (better selection). Look for either stainless steel or zinc "oval head" screws.

I find just about any hardware I need for my pachinkos at ACE.

[OneBigTuna]

I have been going to my local friendly neighbor hardware store for my things. They are all very helpful and knowledgeable and know where everything is.

I came in there with a paper list of quantities and beside each one I scotch taped the screw, nail, tack etc. We went piece by piece and got what I needed, and I swapped things as well, like I got brass nails instead of the original ones etc. As for the chrome frame on the machine, I went with the stainless phillips head screws. At 12cents each I spent about ~$1.50 They were a #4 or #3 I think, about 3/4" or 7/8" long. Being stainless I never have to worry about rust at all.

I got everything I needed for fixing the back of a pachinko including new front pane glass for under $20. I have tons of brass nails, screws and tacks leftover for about 7 or 8 more pachi's. Good Luck!!

[BG1996]

Thanks everyone! Can't wait to get back at it!

My scrubbin' arm, however, isn't quite as enthusiastic.

[JACKSJE4]

I have tons of brass nails, screws and tacks leftover for about 7 or 8 more pachi's. Good Luck!!

I hear ya Tuna! I have also built up a supply of Pachinko hardware that I use with all of my restorations (see pic). Everything I use on a regular basis is in there.

[BG1996]

Picture time!

Okay, just two this time... but I had to show off what a night or two of steel wooling has done to the chrome. Shiny! Still some knicks and rough spots, but from a distance, it looks worlds better. Even the wife said "Wow!" when she got home and saw what I had done. (And it was a good Wow this time even!)

There is still a bit of rust around the inside nooks & crannies of the slot for the (plexi)glass, and some around the plastic on the bottom section (shooter panel, I'll call it). I took out all the screws and cleaned up the plastic around the shooting mechanisms, but couldn't get the "Nishijin" label or the ball tray to come out without force, so I decided to let it go (for now!)

Replaced all the screws around the edges of the chrome with new stainless oval heads and also broke out a little Brasso. (Although all I've done so far is polished part of one nail head on the playfield and most of the knocker on our front door. But it looks terrific!)

The other picture is of the date stamp I mentioned in an earlier post. It's on the top of the "front panel" of the frame, the part that swings open.

Still trying to tackle the jackpot problem and figure out the best/easiest/safest way to clean up the playfield. At some point soon, I'll probably get dangerous with the wiring, too.

Thanks again for all the help!

[BG1996]

I hear ya Tuna! I have also built up a supply of Pachinko hardware that I use with all of my restorations (see pic). Everything I use on a regular basis is in there.

I'm now up to a used prescription bottle and a salad dressing cup I snuck out of the cupboard.

[JACKSJE4]

Wow! That machine is looking great!

I'm always amazed at what a little steel wool and some elbow grease can do.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[Drunkenclam]

I'm now up to a used prescription bottle and a salad dressing cup I snuck out of the cupboard.

Don't get salad dressing on the cell as it may stain. Also will make a mess on the balls.

[JACKSJE4]

Also will make a mess on the balls.

I came so very close to giving you a

[BG1996]

Don't get salad dressing on the cell as it may stain. Also will make a mess on the balls.

20 years from now when you're scouring eBay for "Zesty Italian" Pachinko, you're going to wish you were me.

[BG1996]

So I'm starting to think the jackpot issue is an age/rust issue. Maybe not literal "rust" (as in the gunky orange stuff), but just general stiffness. I've gotten the jackpot to pay out a little more frequently lately, though there are still several times when it doesn't want to work right. I'll probably break down and post a video before long to give visual help, but the big things I've noticed is that the "jackpot lever" (the one at the top, near the ball return switch and the "figure 8") wants to move, but doesn't always pull back far enough to dump a jackpot. Also, the lever at the bottom of that mechanism (the one behind the plastic, to the right of the see-saw) doesn't always want to drop to the bottom to pay out.

Occasionally, as well, the see-saw won't move back to the top after transferring a ball to the jackpot mechanism. I know where to go to "reset" it, but that doesn't help much during a game.

I also noticed that the jackpots seem to pay out more often when I drop the ball into the lower targets than when they go into the tulips or esp. the center jackpot.

Oh, and great tip about ACE Hardware JACKSJE4! If I could just drag one closer to my house!

[Moparformances]

sounds like your about ready to start taking things appart and cleanind the pivot points..

but the best part it sounds like your geting the hang of it

[BG1996]

sounds like your about ready to start taking things appart and cleanind the pivot points..

but the best part it sounds like your geting the hang of it

Yeah, I'm walking that fine line between "dealing with it" and total destruction. I've taken apart most of the parts that involve screws, but I'm a little scared to go beyond that. Like I said, I need a second machine that I don't care about breaking to get some confidence.

[JACKSJE4]

Looking forward to reviewing the video and providing further help, but I tend to agree with Mopar. I think it may be time to take the back apart and clean all of the pivot points and linkages. You will learn a LOT more about how the jackpot payout mechanisms work in the process. Cleaning and reassembly of the mechanics will do wonders for the performance of your Pachinko machine.

As for ACE Hardware, I'm sorry that you don't have one close by. True Value and Lowes are also good places to go for the specialized screws and parts, but I find ACE just seems to have everything I am looking for, and the people there are so darn helpful (plus there is a Radio Shack right next door).

In the hardware isle at the Lowes closest to me, there are rows of drawers where they keep all of their screws, bolts and specialty hardware. You can find a lot of what you would typically need there.

Good Luck!!

[Moparformances]

As for ACE Hardware, I'm sorry that you don't have one close by. True Value and Lowes are also good places to go for the specialized screws and parts, but I find ACE just seems to have everything I am looking for, and the people there are so darn helpful (plus there is a Radio Shack right next door).

funny to read this... my local Ace is just horrible.. they stock nothing usefull... i have to drive past them to get to the True Value... im surprised there still in business...

Just depends on where ya live...