Stripping down a TAF

[strongs]

I'm getting VERY tempted to have a go at stripping down my TAF but I'm just so damn nervous that I'll break it. I know that I should take plenty of pictures of where things go but it's still extremely intimidating! All of those wires, screws & bolts! If I broke something I think I would literally cry. Are there any guides on here? Specifically for a TAF would be great. The idea is to strip down the play field and give it a good clean & wax, replace rubbers and clean plastics. It's not in any kind of desperate need of cleaning but I want to get to know my game and how it is put together / works.

 

[JT.]

Most people on here say this is a good thing to do, and to be honest it is not that hard - take a photo of every piece before you remove it, write notes as you remove each bit, and put stickers on wire connectors so you can reconnet them; then put it back together in the opposite order to your notes. The topside is easiest, obviously the bottom side is more complicated, so will take longer.

It will help you to clean the playfield, but I've done it a couple of times and on both occasions broken something - nothing too critical (e.g. like damaging a ramp), but still a PITA. If the only reason you are doing it is to clean it, then I definitely wouldn't remove any wireforms - that is not easy to do without damaging the playfield.

But if it's generally already quite clean, I'd be asking myself, why bother with the hassle / risk? Then again, if you are not happy with it and want to give it a go, apart from the risk of damaging stuff, it's really not hard.

 

[ronnie63]

Just make sure you DON'T put too long a screw through the playfield from underneath seen it done a few times!

Ronnie

 

[Pin Muncher]

Done that Ronnie, not the best feeling when you lower the playfield and see a screw sticking out luckily on my TZ it didn't damage the artwork was easily covered up by a blue dot, you would never know

 

[ronnie63]

Done that Ronnie, not the best feeling when you lower the playfield and see a screw sticking out luckily on my TZ it didn't damage the artwork was easily covered up by a blue dot, you would never know

I think we have all done it at some time, live and learn lol

 

[Dunc]

I can honestly say I have NEVER done a shop of a pinball before I started my corvette. But just thought sod it, and went for it. It's going back together well. I've taken LOADS of pics. Also having a genuine manual is a god send and deffo a must!

I bagged everything together in sealed bags and labelled it all. For example "sling shot parts" etc.

Just photos photos photos!

Then again, I am used to restoring cars and that's so much more intimidating LOL!

Dunc

 

[Monkeyboypaul]

Taken me nearly 2yrs to put AFM back together! It'll be a beaut though, that's if I actually get to complete it...

Note - It was down to a pile of parts, nuts, bolts, cables, etc, so not a 'mere' playfield strip and clean.