In Progress Will I ever enter - The Twilight Zone

[AlexP]

I need soldering tips because I'm really struggling with these coils and soldering in general, as you can see it looks like crap. Not sure if it's bad (no) technique, crappy solder, too much/not enough flux or is my iron too hot.

Is it best to remove the coils to solder them? Any advice welcome because I'm loosing the will.

 

[drhex]

I have seen worse. temp controlled soldering iron plus flux core solder does the trick. Better to solder mounted as long as you don't splatter solder everywhere as the coil will be fixed...

 

[Taxiturn]

I’m also pretty amateur with a soldering iron so take this with a pinch of salt, but that doesn’t look awful to me, if you can get the wire through the hole in the lug and hook it around a little bit that helps a lot with keeping it in place for a good connection. Otherwise you can sort of end up needing three hands to hold the iron, hold the wires in place and feed the solder.

If you are soldering in a position above other components in the bottom of the cab then I usually chuck down a rag or piece of cardboard so if it does drip, you don’t end up shorting other stuff

 

[AlexP]

So cracking on with the soldering, pretty much done all the flippers, coils and anything else that was standing still for too long. Managed to replicate the bumper lamps as I was putting them off for ages. Found a loose wire which I think belongs to the "Shoot again" lamp, can anyone confirm?

Next will be to get the cabinet up the stairs into the spare room.

On a side note I'm doing the Cancer Research 100 Pushup a day in September Challenge after my father died of cancer this April, any donations welcome.

 

[AlexP]

So last weeks task was to get the cabinet up some stairs to the only room "The Boss" has deemed suitable. With the help of a family member we managed to manhandle it up the stairs with just an inch spare.

The offending stairs.


It's new home after being in the garage for ages.


Lets take a peak.


Looking good!


Front and coin door







Chrome side rails -





All the cabinet work was completed by Ant from the forum, not a paid promotion but if you need your cabinet or whole machine fully restored - he's your man!

 

[s000m]

Great job on decal alignment

 

[Ant-H]

Great job on decal alignment

Thanks mate.

Looking forward to seeing this all finished

 

[myPinballs]

May sound like a stupid question not being into electronics, but I presume there is no polarity to how the solenoids/coils are wired up, except for the flipper coils or coils with diodes?

Coils with no diode have the diode on the driver board and yes it doesnt matter which way round the actual wires go on, but I always put the power side the to same on each one usually the same side as the flipper coil is done so its consistent and easy for future testing etc.

 

[myPinballs]

this is a real nice restoration and progress. I cant wait to see it finished. Still best wpc game in my view, though i don't own one anymore, i have whitewater instead, as i played too much tz over the years ha