In Progress Cirqus Voltaire

[MajesticPinball]

At the beginning of the year I bought my absolute holy grail game Cirqus Voltaire! It previously lived at Chief Coffee in Chiswick and I travelled there quite often only to play it. I usually just log my work on my facebook page but i thought i wouldnt get a better game to document for my first shop log on the forum!

Enough back story, initially the game didnt look in too bad condition:

 

[MajesticPinball]

A few playfield shots before stripping down the machine:




Some pretty badly damaged inserts under the ringmaster, also one of the Volt rollovers has been badly touched up:


Plastics are off:


Playfield nearly stripped as far as I'm willing to go, will be taking the targets, slingshots and flippers off next:

 

[MajesticPinball]

Has a really productive few days, firstly some misc. problem fixes:

1) Highwire ball lock - Mechanism and coil were totally gunked up, cleaned and replaced coil sleeve
2) Sideshow diverter - Both connections to the coil were snapped off, replaced the coil and re-soldered wires
3) Flippers - Both flipper mechs were fine however 1 had a broken EOS switch and the others EOS had one leaf fitted backwards, installed a new EOS and flipped the others leaf round the right way. Took both mechs appart and cleaned everything.
4) Menagerie ball switch - Switch was REALLY bent and twisted and one connection was broken, installed a new leaf switch
5) Orbit diverter - broken spring, replaced and added a washer to stop the diverting flap scraping on the playfield

 

[MajesticPinball]

Cleaned up the subway ramps:


Took appart both slingshot mechanisms and cleaned:


Took appart the ring master and cleaned/adjusted:


Took appart the boom-balloon jet bumper and cleaned/adjusted:

 

[Banzaipinabll]

Coming along nicely, I have a CV half done.

 

[MajesticPinball]

Thanks @Banzaipinabll hopefully shouldnt take too long to get done, miss playing it already even with all of the issues it had haha

 

[MajesticPinball]

Targets, flippers and Volt rollovers are all off and now its time for a clean and wax!

 

[MajesticPinball]

Been very busy recently and cant wait to get it finished.

Most of the major under playfield mechs are back in place, posts and targets have been cleaned and put back, brand new target foam and brand new jet bumper skirts/bodies etc.
Waiting for a parts order to arrive to finish off the rubbers as well as a new metal link for the jets.







Love a freshly waxed playfield!

 

[MajesticPinball]

Fitted some decals to cover up the ugly volt rollovers. Looking for a decal for the ringmaster special insert, if anybody has any spare i would appreciate it!

 

[DRD]

I think Stern should read this shop log.

It might teach it how to make pinball mechanisms.

 

[MajesticPinball]

I havent really liked any of Sterns games in a very long time

 

[DRD]

When you see the quality, artistry and beauty in a cv and compare to any stern ever produced, it is a one sided contest

When you then look at the engineering in things like that elevating pop bumper and the ringmaster (or even the playfield hinge mechanism), it is another planet to what stern does.

 

[MajesticPinball]

Couldnt agree more! CV is beautifully designed both mechanically and visually. I’ve really enjoyed working on it and cant wait to start playing again

 

[MajesticPinball]

Been very busy the last week and shes almost done! Sadly, my phone has completely stopped working so i have no images to share reassembling the machine













Bought a new blue Menagerie ball to match the neon, the old green one cleaned up well but thought it looked a lot nicer with the matching ball/neon colour.

A few little things still left to do: I still am yet to work on the backbox, going to clean it all up and change over to warm white LEDs. New backglass trim is on order from france which has been a nightmare to get hold of due to the larger size of the backglass. Still need to do something about the ringmaster special insert, not quite sure what yet.

The backbox cannon ball cleaned up quite nicely:

 

[MajesticPinball]

Backbox is all cleaned out and fitted with gorgeous warm white LEDs, really pleased with how it looks!



Sam at @Chief very kindly gave me the original backbox scrolls when i picked up the machine so will clean them both up and attach them next:


I still have a credit dot which is telling me to take a look at the Cirqus Luck switch for the backglass cannonball. Ive been fiddling with this switch and have been struggling to get it adjusted correctly for quite a while now. The switch is either too stiff for the cannon ball to trigger it causing it to sit on top of the switch or the ball flys through without triggering the switch so will probably just replace it.

I also have a batch of battery holders on order so that i can get those naughty batteries away from the MPU board. This is a job ive been meaning to do on all of my games so will probably make an evening of it and get them all done at the same time.

Other than that shes all done! Still get to source a decal foor the Ringmaster Special insert. Im thinking of buying an insert decal set but i only need that one so if anybody wants to have the rest please let me know!

 

[Andypuk]

Hi,

I had the same issue with my Cirqus Luck switch for the backglass cannonball. Ended up replacing it and its worked like a dream since

I've also put 2 balls (fnar, fnar) in the backbox so you can fire them quicker when in the mode.

Andy

 

[MajesticPinball]

Thats a really good idea, I never thought to put a second ball in there. Will have to try and hunt down a second cannonball now! That switch will be coming out soon and i’ll pop in a new one.

 

[Mick S]

Hi James, just got a CV which also needs a new bottom back glass trim. Can you give me the website you sourced your replacement one from? Cheers Mick.
PS hope you are still enjoying Pinball Magic

 

[MajesticPinball]

@Mick S Finding the trim was an absolute nightmare. I cant fully remember to be honest, I’m pretty sure the sides and top were from Ministry of Pinball and the bottom was either from pinball heaven or pinball mania i honestly cant remember though.

I’m loving Pinball Magic, it still kicks my rear at almost every opportunity!