Newbie wants to know - What's missing?

[wizard1969]

Hi guys, just picked up my first Pachinko machine. It powers up, things spin, most lights are working, but can't play the game. When you turn the knob, you get a clicking but nothing is happening with the play field. There are only a few dozen balls in the machine. I have been at this hobby for only about an hour,so forgive my ignorance. It looks like a bottom tray is missing on the back of my machine, and I suspect other pieces are missing, so any advice (see included pics) is greatly appreciated as to what I need etc...


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[JACKSJE4]

Welcome to PachiTalk!

I think the first thing you are going to need is 1,000-1,500 more balls! The machine needs at least a few hundred loaded up in the back before you can play it, and you will want a lot more than that so you won't need to keep refilling the upper ball tray on the back while you play it. The best place to find Pachinko balls is on ebay - search for auctions from goldenstatetraders1, as I believe they have the best prices and are also a very reputable seller. I use them regularly and am always happy.

You will also need to add a catch tray for the losing balls that will exit the machine near the bottom at the rear. A cardboard box, tupperware container, or anything that will fit in that space should do the trick.

I know others will chime in with more information and tips, but I think your first order of business is to feed your machine a proper diet of 1,000-1,500 pachinko balls.

Again, welcome to the addiction...er... hobby.

~Jeff

[luckydog]

"ditto"

[wizard1969]

So if there are 50 or so in the feeder tray and a dozen or so in the pocket tray, I shouldn't expect it to work at all? Is there not enough pressure or something to feed the balls? Still trying to figure out how it works! :-)

[pachiwall]

You have a huge ball jam in the back! You need to clear out all those stuck balls before it will function properly. Working linkages by hand should get them out one at a time. If that don't work then the whole back comes off pretty easily. It is a Model C style, they come apart pretty easily. My only Model C is a vintage, so it don't have all the electronics that your early modern has. I'll dig up an old thread so you can see what I mean.

[wizard1969]

Does the whole plastic cover swivel out? It looks like it has hinges on the right side, but I am not sure how to get it slide out.

[Moparformances]

no i dont think it will swing .. as i rember pinching all the tabs will allow the back to come off.. it might hinge..

clearing the ball jam is the place to start..

and of course

Welcome to Pachitalk

[wizard1969]

Ok, it did swing out once I unscrewed those pinch tabs, I was able to clear the ball jam.

[Drunkenclam]

If you can pop open the front glass, then swing open the lower assembly where the front tray is. Check to make sure the balls can get to the shooter.

[Moparformances]

sounds like now all you need to do is put 95% of your balls in the back top hopper and the last 5% in the front shooter tray and give it a whirl...

hope that does it for ya

[wizard1969]

Thanks for everyones help! I found what was causing the ball jam, the plastic in my machine is incredibly brittle. Looks like a tab was broken and was allowing a cover to slip down and prevent balls from escaping. Also the holders for light bulbs deteriorated and caused the bulbs to fall down and block the balls. If I can replace the entire pink plastic piece I would, as it is very brittle (see pics). I imagine that getting spare parts like this is next to impossible, so how do you guys repair these? Could you recommend a glue that won't eat this already brittle plastic? When I opened the front tray a plastic part fell out (see pic). Not sure where that is supposed to go, it looks like it too deteriorated and fell off. By pushing down the top hopper switch with my finger I was able to shoot some balls (yay!). I am just trying now to restore/replace these broken bits so I don't get that jam, I also need a replacement for the tabs that hold the CPU case (last pic)

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