Tech: IJ Playfield Removal From Cabinet

[LexingtonVAPin]

I am starting a playfield transfer. I have done WPC before. Not sure
if I have ever done the latch / slide type cabinet mech, though.

Of course IJ is a widebody with lots of heavy toys.

I got the playfield unplugged. Now I want to lift it out and put it on
my rotisserie.

When I pull it forward enough to get my one arm to the back of the
playfield, I cannot lift it because the locking mech holds it in place.

When I slide the playfield down towards the back to unlock the mech,
given the weight, I do not have enough leverage to lift the playfield.

I do not like working on a playfield in the cabinet, but I could remove
some of the heavier mechs / toys on the playfield and then maybe I can
lift it.

I was thinking of removing the side rails which will remove the locking
mech. But then the bottom of the playfield will be sliding on the wood.
Not great, but should be OK. I would rather avoid that when putting
the new playfield back in, but any damage should be covered by
installing the metal rails, I hope.

I could remove the side posts on the cabinet, but I am not sure what the
heavy playfield will rest on. Don't want it dropping to the bottom of
the cabinet.

I was never a big muscle kind of guy, and even less so with age, but my
wife and I have always been able to manage this before.

Suggestions?

[Joseph 'Tony' Dziedzic]

I am starting a playfield transfer. I have done WPC before. Not sure
if I have ever done the latch / slide type cabinet mech, though.
Of course IJ is a widebody with lots of heavy toys.
I got the playfield unplugged. Now I want to lift it out and put it on
my rotisserie.
When I pull it forward enough to get my one arm to the back of the
playfield, I cannot lift it because the locking mech holds it in place.
When I slide the playfield down towards the back to unlock the mech,
given the weight, I do not have enough leverage to lift the playfield.
I do not like working on a playfield in the cabinet, but I could remove
some of the heavier mechs / toys on the playfield and then maybe I can
lift it.
I was thinking of removing the side rails which will remove the locking
mech. But then the bottom of the playfield will be sliding on the wood.
Not great, but should be OK. I would rather avoid that when putting
the new playfield back in, but any damage should be covered by
installing the metal rails, I hope.
I could remove the side posts on the cabinet, but I am not sure what the
heavy playfield will rest on. Don't want it dropping to the bottom of
the cabinet.
I was never a big muscle kind of guy, and even less so with age, but my
wife and I have always been able to manage this before.
Suggestions?
--
http://orcalcoast.com/

The best suggestion is to have two (or even three) people; populated widebody playfields easily exceed 150 pounds. I have an ST:TNG playfield that will be going back into the cabinet in a couple of weeks and am dreading that lift.

To remove the playfield you'll want to lift the front edge and pull it forward about six inches, leaving the front playfield slides just barely resting on the front edge of the cabinet, then rotate the playfield upward as far as it will go without hitting the plastic channel where the top edge of the playfield glass rests. You can then reach inside the cabinet and pull the "top" edge of the playfield - which is now resting on two wooden strips on the inside left and right sides of the cabinet - forward a bit more to get room to reach an arm behind the playfield back panel. (I'm pretty sure IJ has metal "feet" mounted on the back panel that slide on those strips.) A two-person lift from this position is difficult but not impossible. It *might* help at this point to remove the rear-most playfield pivot posts to give you a bit of extra room; I haven't tried that before, but seems promising.

I wouldn't remove the playfield slides; too much chance of the playfield going out (or in) and either skewing and gouging the bottom or catching on something (wires) under the playfield.

I've actually thought of attaching an electric winch to the ceiling, and by hooking the winch cable to the two playfield slides on the front edge of the playfield it should be possible to lift it out that way. I haven't tried this in practice, though.

Another help is to have the cabinet resting on a pinball dolly and removing the legs from the game, which will allow the dolly to drop a few extra inches and get the cabinet a bit closer to the floor. Or if you have one of those "lift and tilt" dollys just put the cabinet sans legs directly on the floor to improve your lifting access to the playfield.

Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic

[LexingtonVAPin]

Post by Joseph 'Tony' Dziedzic

I am starting a playfield transfer. I have done WPC before. Not sure
if I have ever done the latch / slide type cabinet mech, though.
Of course IJ is a widebody with lots of heavy toys.
I got the playfield unplugged. Now I want to lift it out and put it on
my rotisserie.
When I pull it forward enough to get my one arm to the back of the
playfield, I cannot lift it because the locking mech holds it in place.
When I slide the playfield down towards the back to unlock the mech,
given the weight, I do not have enough leverage to lift the playfield.
I do not like working on a playfield in the cabinet, but I could remove
some of the heavier mechs / toys on the playfield and then maybe I can
lift it.
I was thinking of removing the side rails which will remove the locking
mech. But then the bottom of the playfield will be sliding on the wood.
Not great, but should be OK. I would rather avoid that when putting
the new playfield back in, but any damage should be covered by
installing the metal rails, I hope.
I could remove the side posts on the cabinet, but I am not sure what the
heavy playfield will rest on. Don't want it dropping to the bottom of
the cabinet.
I was never a big muscle kind of guy, and even less so with age, but my
wife and I have always been able to manage this before.
Suggestions?
--
http://orcalcoast.com/

The best suggestion is to have two (or even three) people; populated widebody playfields easily exceed 150 pounds. I have an ST:TNG playfield that will be going back into the cabinet in a couple of weeks and am dreading that lift.
To remove the playfield you'll want to lift the front edge and pull it forward about six inches, leaving the front playfield slides just barely resting on the front edge of the cabinet, then rotate the playfield upward as far as it will go without hitting the plastic channel where the top edge of the playfield glass rests. You can then reach inside the cabinet and pull the "top" edge of the playfield - which is now resting on two wooden strips on the inside left and right sides of the cabinet - forward a bit more to get room to reach an arm behind the playfield back panel. (I'm pretty sure IJ has metal "feet" mounted on the back panel that slide on those strips.) A two-person lift from this position is difficult but not impossible. It *might* help at this point to remove the rear-most playfield pivot posts to give you a bit of extra room; I haven't tried that before, but seems promising.
I wouldn't remove the playfield slides; too much chance of the playfield going out (or in) and either skewing and gouging the bottom or catching on something (wires) under the playfield.
I've actually thought of attaching an electric winch to the ceiling, and by hooking the winch cable to the two playfield slides on the front edge of the playfield it should be possible to lift it out that way. I haven't tried this in practice, though.
Another help is to have the cabinet resting on a pinball dolly and removing the legs from the game, which will allow the dolly to drop a few extra inches and get the cabinet a bit closer to the floor. Or if you have one of those "lift and tilt" dollys just put the cabinet sans legs directly on the floor to improve your lifting access to the playfield.
Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic

Thanks Tony for the suggestions.

Pre-Covid, I have a few helpful friends who can lend a hand. But right
now, it is just the wife and myself.

I thought getting the WPC pivot games was hard (FH, TAF, etc.). I
dislike working on those games in the cabinet, I can get the playfield out.

I know I have removed WH2O before which has this mech. Not sure how I
did it, but I suspect the playfield is a lot lighter.

The metal slides on the back of this did catch on the pivots the one
time I tried to lift it.

Some have suggested removing the front or all four legs and lowering it.
Removing the front legs is promising. Removing all four I fear will
make it more of a back breaker. I may try my pneumatic table.

I like the winch idea, but don't do enough of these to make it
worthwhile - unless this puts me in the hospital. Then one would have
been enough.

Since I am doing a playfield transfer, all the stuff has to come off. I
am eying some heavy looking metal stuff like the drop targets and the
ball trough, and others. I suspect I will remove those while in the
cabinet.

This will be a two person lift, the other being my wife, or it will have
to sit for a while. My customer will not be happy.....

[LexingtonVAPin]

Post by Joseph 'Tony' Dziedzic

I am starting a playfield transfer. I have done WPC before. Not sure
if I have ever done the latch / slide type cabinet mech, though.
Of course IJ is a widebody with lots of heavy toys.
I got the playfield unplugged. Now I want to lift it out and put it on
my rotisserie.
When I pull it forward enough to get my one arm to the back of the
playfield, I cannot lift it because the locking mech holds it in place.
When I slide the playfield down towards the back to unlock the mech,
given the weight, I do not have enough leverage to lift the playfield.
I do not like working on a playfield in the cabinet, but I could remove
some of the heavier mechs / toys on the playfield and then maybe I can
lift it.
I was thinking of removing the side rails which will remove the locking
mech. But then the bottom of the playfield will be sliding on the wood.
Not great, but should be OK. I would rather avoid that when putting
the new playfield back in, but any damage should be covered by
installing the metal rails, I hope.
I could remove the side posts on the cabinet, but I am not sure what the
heavy playfield will rest on. Don't want it dropping to the bottom of
the cabinet.
I was never a big muscle kind of guy, and even less so with age, but my
wife and I have always been able to manage this before.
Suggestions?
--
http://orcalcoast.com/

The best suggestion is to have two (or even three) people; populated widebody playfields easily exceed 150 pounds. I have an ST:TNG playfield that will be going back into the cabinet in a couple of weeks and am dreading that lift.
To remove the playfield you'll want to lift the front edge and pull it forward about six inches, leaving the front playfield slides just barely resting on the front edge of the cabinet, then rotate the playfield upward as far as it will go without hitting the plastic channel where the top edge of the playfield glass rests. You can then reach inside the cabinet and pull the "top" edge of the playfield - which is now resting on two wooden strips on the inside left and right sides of the cabinet - forward a bit more to get room to reach an arm behind the playfield back panel. (I'm pretty sure IJ has metal "feet" mounted on the back panel that slide on those strips.) A two-person lift from this position is difficult but not impossible. It *might* help at this point to remove the rear-most playfield pivot posts to give you a bit of extra room; I haven't tried that before, but seems promising.
I wouldn't remove the playfield slides; too much chance of the playfield going out (or in) and either skewing and gouging the bottom or catching on something (wires) under the playfield.
I've actually thought of attaching an electric winch to the ceiling, and by hooking the winch cable to the two playfield slides on the front edge of the playfield it should be possible to lift it out that way. I haven't tried this in practice, though.
Another help is to have the cabinet resting on a pinball dolly and removing the legs from the game, which will allow the dolly to drop a few extra inches and get the cabinet a bit closer to the floor. Or if you have one of those "lift and tilt" dollys just put the cabinet sans legs directly on the floor to improve your lifting access to the playfield.
Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic

I took a lot of metal off the bottom, including the subway, a bunch of
solenoids, VUK, flippers, pop bumpers, idol motor and ball trough.
Tough to tell if the ball trough or the subway was the heaviest.

It made the playfield pretty light. My wife and I got it off relatively
easy. It is on the rotisserie now.

Thanks for the suggestions.