Popsicle Stick Track Covers

[SibSr]

Like cars, Pachinkos have multiple manufacturers all working within a set of guidelines regarding certain aspects like frame size, shooting handle and finger rest location, general layout of the playfield, etc. But also like cars the manufacturers had a lot of leeway in designing their own machines to fit the guidelines. While they all look very similar, when it gets to the details of how parts fit on a certain machine compared to others, there is a lot of variation. If you work with vintage Pachinkos, sometimes what seems like a complete machine at purchase my be missing an important part like the track cover. The part that covers the top of the dual ball delivery tracks going to the payout dispenser. Being a separate part these are frequently missing from otherwise nice machines, and are required to play the machine, as balls will eventually jump on top of one another in this location and cause jams.

dualballtrack.jpg

3D replacements for this part have been showing up online, with several models covered these days which is great. But what if you don't want to spend $30+shipping to get one on your machine you only spent $25 at a garage sale? And if you have an obscure model, there may not be a 3D replacement available.

Here is a $2 + 2 hours + wood glue solution for you. I use a hobby shop razor saw and miter box now to get better cuts, but the first one I just used a set of nippers to make cuts.

santoolsandmaterials.jpg

This was my first attempt at making one, as I didn't know where to get a replacement. Its a little clunky compared to the latest version.
sanyotrackcover.jpg
side view sanyosideview.jpg leading end leadingedgetop.jpg latching endlatchendshow.jpg in place latchendinplace.jpg


Next Post - version 2

[SibSr]

The first version fit a Sanyo machine.

Version 2 was for a Sankyo machine

The track covers are essentially 2 flat parallel surfaces I'm calling "decks" connected with a small spacer to raise one surface above the other.
Here are two popsicle stick "planks" for the "lower deck" showing how well they fit in the ball paths.
sanlowerdeckplanks.jpg


Once the front attachment point is determined, the length to the step up point is the next important measurement. the curved ends of the sticks have been cut off here for that.
Then the cross braces are added. They touch the backboard in the back and are long enough to span across to the front edge of the ball track assembly. This holds the track cover above the balls slightly.
All assembly is done with Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue. Same consistency as regular Elmer's but is yellow in color, dries in 15 minutes and is very strong once cured.
sanlowerdeckassembly.jpg

The "rear deck" required planks to be widened on the lead edge to latch properly.

sanreardeckaddedd.jpg

An additional layer of stick was added between the lower deck cross brace and upper deck planks to get the right height difference.
the white object is pointing at the important step-up point where alterations may be needed if lower deck planks were cut too long.

sanassembledsideview.jpg Installed you can see that spot is where the balls drop down from the upper to lower "deck" sanheelareacloseup.jpg

Not pretty but functional saninplacetopview.jpg This latching setup required something that extended from the cover into an opening to hold it in place.
sanfrontlatchcloseup.jpg

So with some scrap plastic and stick pieces I made a retractable latch that I superglued into place.
After playing the machine I found that I need a small screw as a stop to keep the latch from vibrating out of the socket.
sanlatchscrew.jpg

[SibSr]

Version 3 was done recently and is a little better looking.
This one was made for an older Maruhon machine I just finished

Measuring upper and lower deck planks upperdeckstart.jpg lowerdeckback.jpg and cutting (after measuring a second time of course) lowerplanksaftercut2.jpg

Measuring cross brace size trackwidth.jpg lower deck with cross braces lowerdeckhighview.jpg and upper deck test fit upperdecktestfit.jpg


Lower and upper decks joined with wood glue glueuppertolower.jpg with the A/C running in a small room, this glue dries almost before you can get the next pieces cut to size.

side view finishedsideview.jpg and in place with front lug for latching, and extra bracing at mid point inplacesideview.jpg

There are some machines that have longer than average track covers and perhaps popsicle sticks would not work, but there is also plastic that could be used as a substitute for them.

[SibSr]

The 3rd track cover was made for this old Maruhon machine that had been hanging on the wall of a barn in Oklahoma.
Not only was the track cover missing, but to make it hang right they removed the upper tray also.

originalfront.jpg toprear.jpg


The front has been finished...pics to follow. The back will be done soon now that I found a plastic container recently to use as a replacement for the tray.

That is the next DYI thread on my list. Repairing damaged trays..... and now a way to deal with no tray at all.

[Ahab]

Great job!

[sparky kilowatt]

MacGyver would be proud! Seriously, A+ for creativity and function.

[Moparformances]

i started with aluminum, cut with a Dremel and bent to shape..

now i use plexi, cut with a Dremel and heated with a small torch to bend into shape

the one thing that is important.. get a cover that works.. does not matter how ya get there

nice work..

[MrGneiss]

That's pretty Rad!!

[Drunkenclam]

Did you buy the stick seperately. Or are you forced to eat the lolly?

[SibSr]

Did you buy the stick seperately. Or are you forced to eat the lolly?

Actually I have a whole bundle of them I bought 20+ years ago for working on a model train layout. Don't even remember where they came from, but you can buy the sticks on Amazon of course!

[SibSr]

I recently obtained a 3D printer and printed my first usable pachinko part on Friday. Perhaps I'll be moving on from popsicle sticks soon!

[SibSr]

I recently obtained a 3D printer and printed my first usable pachinko part on Friday. Perhaps I'll be moving on from popsicle sticks soon!<br>