Good old bodgy jobs..........

[kryley]

Hey guys!!

Just thought I'd start another interesting topic....

What are the best (or worst) bodgy jobs you've seen on an AMF machine?? Here are a few of mine....

(1) On one lane, the distributor linear arm broke where it curves, and we needed all 16 lanes, so the mechanic on duty grabbed 2 paddle-pop sticks, put one on each side and wrapped it to buggery with gaff tape!! Surprisingly enough, it worked for 1 frame... [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

(2) On another lane, out of the three bolts that hold the cushion mounting box onto the kickback, one had broken off inside the nut on the other side of the kickback, one had it's nut become "unstuck" and fall off, and the other had it's nut threaded. The head tech (no longer there) didn't have the time, and/or was too lazy to fix it, so he raced out to his car and grabbed a bright orange tow rope... wrapped around the bottom of the cushion and up over the "L" bar where the distributor sits! It ended up staying there for about a month!!!

There's heaps, heaps more (I worked at a centre where money for spare parts was rare!) but I will save them for another time.

Remember - super glue, gaff tape, cable ties and WD-40 FIX EVERYTHING!!! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

Have fun!!!

[8270 pinspotter]

Re: Good old bodgy jobs..........

I've got plenty of these!

Curtain hanger broke and we didn't have any because somebody used the last one and didn't order any. So, I grabbed a bungey cord, hooked one end on the rod, and the other to the hand rail. Got it thru till we got some a couple days later.

Had a machine with a worn cushion block causing pins to get jammed under the plank and head mechanic (no longer there) was too lazy to replace it. He took a chain and wrapped it around the suicide bar the hold the cushion up


The little hook on the end of the idler arm for the spring in a kicker lift broke off. Same head mechanic used a hose clamp to replace the hook. This is ok to get it thru the night but not when it's left on for two years [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

Had plenty of BE motors with plugs duct taped to the stator. Got rid of those with direct wiring.

Table wiring was pretty bad too, but no more respot cell wires for me thanks to XOP boards.

Give me some time and think of some more. My machines were in pretty rough shape till previous mechanic was fired. There startin to come around now [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[Mas8230]

Re: Good old bodgy jobs..........

My center was a wreck four years ago, but its starting to come around. I still find things though. However, I thought my place was bad. There are some real works of art around here.
One center(8230): Baseball bats and broomsticks were jammed under the pits to keep them up on at least 5 of the 12 lanes. Obviously not a temporary fix.
Same center: sandwich bags under the table motors to catch the oil. The funny and true thing is that when the bag is full, it gets dumped back into the motor.
Same center: No pin curtain, a bath towel. Doesn't look like they're planning on replacing it.
Same center: Chains wrapped around the cushion. Can you say ball damage?
Different center: springs for kicker belts, streched beyond the j-box to a steel rod on the wall.
- Instead of replacing fluourescent lights in the back, just cut the cord and danlge a work light. I've seen that, 4 pairs out of 8.
- How about cirular fans clamped onto the pinwheel frame to keep the backend motor cool.
- Another center around here has a dowell rod running in front of and behind the cushion to keep it in place.
[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

[Mas8230]

Re: Good old bodgy jobs..........

A rivet in the sweep motor on a 30 has gotten me through a few nights. It's good to have somebody with at least a 40 inch waist around when a weldment breaks too. Especially in the middle of a tournament! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]