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Lifting pinball machines 3m vertically

Julian Hepworth

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1 10 Years
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
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406
Location
Taunton
Taking inspiration from...


.. I'm thinking of using a hoist to move machines between the ground floor of my planned pinball barn and the mezzanine floor

I can't decide if this is a silly idea or one that might actually work.

Originally I was going to use a track that runs round the ouside of the plot that starts on ground level in the front and passes the rear at first floor level to move them via vehicle.
I've now thinking that by installing a hoist on a steel beam with a horizontal travel of 2-3 metres would mean I could lift them up on their legs vertically 3m and then slide them sideways 1m onto the first floor and save a lot of ball ache.

Has that ever been done before ? It would need a special cradle I think.

I remember Pin Anon Nick had a telehandler on the farm that he used to fix an aerial at a meet many moons ago - I can't believe he didn't use it to lift a machine up , even if it were a Popeye to then just drop it - that was how he rolled.

(@Sgt GrizZ ; for the avoidance of doubt , I am not anti-Popeye - I have one and I'm certainly not planning on dropping it ; at least not deliberately..)

Any thoughts greatly received .

Thanks
Julian
 
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its fine, a guy has the same on pinside. if you look there is a thread about game rooms and as I recall he has a picture of it. Similar setup to yours with a balcony/mezz above a ground floor...

Neil.
 
its fine, a guy has the same on pinside. if you look there is a thread about game rooms and as I recall he has a picture of it. Similar setup to yours with a balcony/mezz above a ground floor...

Neil.

I've seen winches used to slide machines up stairs on rails and I've seen PMWolf's cheeky elevator for taking them on their ends, but not found anyone winching them with the legs on yet. - maybe there is a reason for that.

Either way, I've cross posted on pinside and got traction, so thank you.

God I love the internet...

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Why not install a through floor lift. I understand they are about 12k new which I am sure you would want for your new build but you can pick them up for 3k used on ebay.
 

Why not install a through floor lift. I understand they are about 12k new which I am sure you would want for your new build but you can pick them up for 3k used on ebay.
I did consider a lift but they take up quite a bit of real estate on 2 floors for something that isn’t used that often - I could also use a hoist to move playfields in and out .
 
You can have the lift externally. Google for 3m pollock steplift. I suppose I am at the age where upstairs pins are no go however you get them up there. But you are right you would lose space for 2 pins one upstairs and one downstairs.
 
I think I'm going to try and borrow an engine hoist with a leveller and see what it feels like lifting them a foot or so off the ground.
I think that will tell me if it can be done with staps or if it needs a cradle.

It might also tell me it's a stupid idea.
 
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