Play Meter

Buying Used Equipme~nt bY
$1,500. {)() for a pinballlll "Never
happen" is the response you would
have gotten from most operators
five years ago. Yet, today you can
spend that much and more for the
new machines. Despite statements
from machine manufacturers that
switching to digital was the only
way to hold down prices, the cost of
buying new equipment has been
continuously rising. More than one
video manufacturer offers a game
costing in excess of $4,000.
So what do you do when you
need another piece of equipment for
that new spot on the route or for
your arcade? The alternative now
being taken by many operators is to
purchase used machines. But, if
you choose to follow this alterna-
tive, you must be more careful than
ever. Because of the high price of
new equipment, many operators are
holding on to their used machines
longer than ever. So the quality of
the used games has been declining .
What I will address in this article is
some of the things you should look
for when purchasing that used
machine. Later in the article, we will
talk generally about where to get
that machine.
First, let's discuss some items
which will apply to just about any
kind of equipment. (Later, I'll get to
some specifics on particular types of
games.)
One of the first things you'll want
to check is the condition of the
cabinet. Check it well. The cabinet
can tell you a great deal about the
history of the particular piece that
you are looking at. Don't forget to
look underneath to see if there is
any damage from dropping or
kicking. Check the paint job and the
condition of any control devices
(steering wheels, shifts, plungers,
etc.). If your inspection turns up
any evidence of excessive abuse, be
prepared to spend extra time
checking out the insides and the
machine functions. Excessive dam-
18
age may forecast operating prob-
lems in the future.
Now that you've checked the
outside, it's time to run a thorough
check of all the functions that the
machine should perform . Read the
instructions and determine exactly
what the machine is supposed to
do. Then play the game and assure
yourself that each function does
indeed work. Don't take anything
for granted.
Don't assume that
because you get a free ball at
30,000, you will get a free ball as
expected at 75,000. Take your time
and run through every item. This
will help you in two ways: first, it
will give you confidence that the
machine is a good one, and,
second, it will help you in your
troubleshooting when you get the
game to your location and a
function does not work . If that
function worked in the sales room,
then you can be fairly certain that
the problem is probably a minor one
caused by the moving of the
machine.
I recommend that you never buy a
game that does not have an
up-to-date schematic. Most games
are relatively easy to fix if you have a
schematic to work from. Without
one, you may needlessly tie up your
ace mechanic for hours trying to
figure the game out to solve a
simple problem.
In conjunction with looking at the
schematic, check the insides of the
game. In addition to checking for
excessively worn components or
missing parts, you should look at
the wiring and note any unusual
splices or wiring runs. If you find
anything out of the ordinary, check
the schematic and determine if the
schematic has been changed to
reflect the wiring changes. Again,
you could loose a great deal of time
if your mechanic has to wade
through a maze of wiring harnesses
every time the machine has a
problem.
J.W. Sedlak
One frequent problem area often
overlooked by buyers is the coin
mechanism . All operators know the
coin mech problems are the most
frequent - and the most aggrava-
ting - of the problems that occur in
the field. Check the coin mech for
any signs of excessive bending or
repair work. Even if the game is
open so you can get a free play,
drop a couple of quarters in the slot
to make sure they go through easily
and are counted properly.
Many areas of the country have
specific types of weather conditions
which affect the games. Ocean salt
water can cause excessive deterio-
ration of metal parts and the hot dry
climates of the mid-west can cause
wood warpage and other problems.
When looking at a machine try to
find out where it comes from and
then pay particular attention to any
problem areas which are peculiar to
the area .
In addition to these general
considerations, there are some
particular areas you will want to
check out on certain types of
machines. I've listed below some of
the major areas to check on the
most common machine types.
PINBALL . One of the critical
parts of the machine is the playfield .
Check it over and look for any
cracks or ridges that may interfere
with the roll of the ball. In addition,
check the playfield for any warpage
or peeling. Another area to check is
the point at which the legs are
attached to the body. Make sure all
legs can be fastened securely and
that the wood in the corner is not
broken . Make sure the top glass,
back glass, and the door are all held
securely in place .
VIDEO GAMES. The first thing to
check is the manufacturer's name.
The industry has had so many
companies that have produced one
or two machines and then gone out