Basement Power Flash Thunderbird

[CarlW]

This was found in a basement.

Plugged it in and everything worked.

Brought it home and noticed a few bare 120V wires touching metal. Glad that wasn't a problem. Still works fine.



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I know it will clean up pretty well. Previous owner installed an on off switch on the bottom tray.

Last one I worked on like this; I added a topper and RED leds in the two openings by the Thunderbird.

Power Flash Playfield Lights ON.jpg

Is it worth all the fuss?

[mxfaiman]

I love how on power flashes the backgrounds usually fade a ton but the white plastic parts on the front never yellow at all. I have yet to come across a powerflash where the white plastics on the playfield were heavily yellowed.

Nice find Carl.

[Moparformances]

nice machine

power flash has to be my number one favorite machines.. i have owed a few and would buy another if given the chance

[Mrtoad]

Very nice. I would love one.

[Super Dave Osbourne]

Great find, highly recommend them as worthy to keep.

[CarlW]

It's going ok...



Before 1.jpg Before 2.jpg After 1.jpg

Before 3.jpg After 2.jpg

Before K.jpg After K.jpg

[CarlW]

Termites or something damaged plywood in back of machine.

My fix was to remove two damaged plys with a knife and chisel. Cut, glue and screw a piece of 1/8" hardboard in place.

Termites 1.jpg Termites 3.jpg Termites 5.jpg

[Super Dave Osbourne]

Wow, you are dedicated. I don't see how that influences the playfield at all so I would have ignored the work to be done which you performed (not ideal, but I'm lazy for sure). The cell blistering repair and cleanup along with chrome is nice. That is a winner and keeper (before, and more so now its repaired). Nice work on the clean cell, and nice work on the shiny nails as well. Thank you very much for sharing!

I have three of the Tbirds, and one Chinaman all working and cleaned up. I wouldn't call them restored, or even rebuilt. Got them all in pretty good condition. Looking for another cheap clean Tbird to put into a 4 player carousel single ball feed system I have going on a project for once a year charity competition fun!

[CarlW]

Pictured are a few modifications.

Added trip wires for the ACE tulip.

Added "cheat button" wires. Touch these two wires together to open all tulips.

Modifications 1.jpg

[pachiwall]

Still searching basements for MY Powerflash!

[mxfaiman]

Still searching basements for MY Powerflash!

I have 3 of them. But they are all china men.

[pachiwall]

I have 3 of them. But they are all china men.

When you finally settle into Indiana...I'll be close enough to buy one of them!

[CarlW]

Added a second jackpot switch, bulb behind the Queen and related jackpot lever.

Redid the power block.


New Power Block.jpg Extra Jackpot Switch.jpg Mechanism Outside.jpg Mechanism Inside.jpg

[Mrtoad]

Great work. I would not even know where to begin.

[Moparformances]

question.. why did ya add the second switch... i like the idea of that location cause it will allow the light to burn for a longer length of time. but if im looking at it correct you will have one light turn on, then a second (original light) light turn on. the original light will turn off then the new light will turn off last..

why not just wire both lights to the same switch..

[CarlW]

question.. why did ya add the second switch... i like the idea of that location cause it will allow the light to burn for a longer length of time. but if im looking at it correct you will have one light turn on, then a second (original light) light turn on. the original light will turn off then the new light will turn off last..

why not just wire both lights to the same switch..

Just my opinion, I thought it looked better to alternate lights.
Your description is very accurate though.

Original bulb is behind the King; second bulb is behind the Queen.

Just me rambling about pachinko now...
In the past, I have added jackpot switches in three different locations on different model B's ; this is my favored approach currently.
My preference for a jackpot switch is like the switch on Sankyo's; tied into the see saw movement, this seems to keep the lights on the longest.
Model A's are like that too and I think Model C's?

[Moparformances]

Just my opinion, I thought it looked better to alternate lights.
Your description is very accurate though.

Original bulb is behind the King; second bulb is behind the Queen.

Just me rambling about pachinko now...
In the past, I have added jackpot switches in three different locations on different model B's ; this is my favored approach currently.
My preference for a jackpot switch is like the switch on Sankyo's; tied into the see saw movement, this seems to keep the lights on the longest.
Model A's are like that too and I think Model C's?

so the correct answer is

cause ya wanted to works for me

[CarlW]

Working out a cabinet for this machine.

Cabinet Side.jpg Cabinet Light OFF.jpg

Marquee is illuminated by a fluorescent, plug in, 120V fixture from Home Depot.

Marquee Backlight.jpg

Power supply for the Power Flash is 24V DC. (Solenoids and Lights)

Relay - Power Supply - Buck.jpg Counter.jpg

The Arduino power is stepped down through an adjustable buck to 9V DC.

The relay is for a cheat circuit that opens all of the tulips. There is a diode across the relay.

[Moparformances]

another fine looking unit...

the only thing i might change would be the way the text is running on the sides...

very nice again

[MrGneiss]

Snazzy!!