Pinball game reset mod
Introduction
For anyone with an arcade with all the pinball machines on free play, or just a massive home collection, the problem with people starting a 4 player game, playing couple of balls and then walking away is a constant annoyance. Now the games are stuck in a situation where a new game can't be started until every player's first ball is plunger, but more importantly, just wanting to end the game means you have to open the coin door and reset the game through there. You'll be opening the coin door all the time. This mod came to be as I needed to take a game to an expo where everything was on free play and have the expo staff be able to end the unfinished games. After publishing a video about it, I was asked to release the model, so here we are. Note that modern Sterns (the ones with big color screen) do not need this. You can just hold left flipper button and start button at the same time until it ends the game.
Installing this mod assumes you know what you are doing when opening a commercial arcade game. Do not attempt to modify a game if you have no idea what you're doing. You install this mod at your own risk.
What it is?
- A 3D printable frame that fits in place of most common mechanical or electronic coin rejectors.
- It has a switch, with its blade reaching into coin return slot. Lifting the coin return flap activates the switch.
- The switch operates the game's slam tilt, which instantly kills the ongoing game and returns it to attraction mode.
Instructions
- Print the frame out of any cheap material. PLA is fine. 0.24 layers are more than enough.
- Attach a switch to it. A zip tie was intended, but you can use screws and nuts if needed.
- Solder wires to the common and normally open terminal. A multimeter should beep when you close the switch.
- Optional: if you want this to be removed quickly, solder hook clips at the other end of the wires.
- Pull the coin rejector from the pin's coin door. The latch mechanism vary so I can't give more detailed instructions.
- Put this mod's frame into the rejector's place. Adjust the switch blade so the switch closes when the return flap is raised as far as it goes. Close the latch.
- Either solder or attach the hook clips parallel to the slam tilt switch in the coin door.
- Now you can reset the game with the coin return flap.
FAQ
- Q: Why won't you just quickly turn the power off?
A: Constant quick power cycles aren't doing any favors for the power supply.
- Q: Which games does it fit exactly?
A: Any game that has a coin mech the size of the frame of this mod AND a slam tilt switch.
- Q: Isn't slam tilting super bad for my game?
A: Slam tilt is typically activated by kicking or kneeing the machine. That IS harmful. Just pressing the switch isn't. This mod is safe
- Q: One or both of the pegs in the model won't fit the coin rejector attachment spot
- A: This model was made with the most common combo (2 pegs at front), feel free to cut the excess pegs away as needed. I tried to make the model as compatible as possible, but there's infinite amount of coin doors out there, all with their own little quirks. You may also have to add screws in some models.