To remove a pop bumper, do you need to desolder the metal strips (lamp wires are they called?!), or is there another way to (non destructively) remove it?
Pinball info
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Removing a pop bumper
- Thread starter JT.
- Start date
The easiest way I've found to remove the staples holding the wires to the playfield is cut them in half with fine electronic cutters, bend the 2 ends up and pull out with pliers.
When I did my JM pop bumpers I carefully removed the staples and managed to salvage them and re-use them. The real pain was getting them stapled back down again, you definitely need a staple gun to get them back into the wood!
I just cut the wire strip in between the lamp and the first staple, then when i came to re fit it, i just soldered the strip back together. There was no way i could get anywhere near the area with a staple gun
Hi.
It depends how much you want to remove. You can fully clean and service most of the moving parts (switch, solenoid, bumper ring etc) without too much trouble. The problem comes if you want to remove the pop bumper body.
On the wpc games, it is a pig of a job as you must remove the lamp holder first. As described above you, need to deal with the staples. It is possible to loosen them, leaving them in situ (or at least leave 1 pin in situ), desolder the lamp holder and pull it out of the top of the playfield. When you rebuild it you can use a flat headed punch to tighten the staples back up
On older bally games it is much easier as the lamp holder uses push fit sockets, so they are staple free
It depends how much you want to remove. You can fully clean and service most of the moving parts (switch, solenoid, bumper ring etc) without too much trouble. The problem comes if you want to remove the pop bumper body.
On the wpc games, it is a pig of a job as you must remove the lamp holder first. As described above you, need to deal with the staples. It is possible to loosen them, leaving them in situ (or at least leave 1 pin in situ), desolder the lamp holder and pull it out of the top of the playfield. When you rebuild it you can use a flat headed punch to tighten the staples back up
On older bally games it is much easier as the lamp holder uses push fit sockets, so they are staple free
OP
OP
Thanks chaps.
Just done my first pop bumper JT. I pulled out the staples, desoldered the lamp tabs and removed the whole mechanism. Replaced the bumper skirt and replaced the lamp holder. I removed some interfering lamps to make access easier and staple gunned the tabs back down. Be aware of the length of the staples. I almost fired a 14mm staple through before I checked. It would've probably come through. So I ordered some 8mm ones from eBay. It's a PITA to get the staple gun in the gap but makes life easier to have the tabs stapled securely before soldering.
It's not as bad of a job as I was expecting.
Good luck
Gaz
It's not as bad of a job as I was expecting.
Good luck
Gaz