Repairing One Of The Most Complex Pinball Machines Ever - Williams' Grand Prix

[@TheRealLizardKing]

I'm late and with a backlog of my dose of pinball repair videos, but I'll get back on track! Keep up the great job!

[@cheeseparis1]

You've done these score wheels a thousand times, but each time there's something new and interesting to learn. Thanks for your videos!

[@pezjohnson]

I recently worked on a Grand Prix for a friend before he sold it. It's such a great game. You can really tell that they poured just about everything they could before they HAD to move to Solid State electronics into this game. Looking forward to this one. Thanks for making the videos.

[@theberiah]

Another Grand Prix !?!? Learned a lot from all your GP vids to get mine going awhile back. Keep em coming.

[@dlschgo]

You earn your money. And I bet the customer is still getting the bargain of a lifetime. Fantastic!

[@anthonygiordano6341]

Awesome video! I have this machine that I purchased off of eBay a few years ago and I love it.

[@paulclarke7571]

Holy maxed out game components Batman! Just jammed packed full of stuff to mess with Ron. Thanks for taking the time to film your repairs for all of us. Muchly appreciated. Cheers from Canada!

[@christhompson2006]

"... till I'm forced to lean forward. " i love it.

[@mfranzusan3014]

Looks like another fun one, Ron! Can't wait to see this series!

[@Cool_Retro]

This was a very popular machine back in '76. Awesome!

[@williamnutley5509]

They sure packed a boat load in that one! Thanks, Ron! Catch you on Friday.

[@truthslayerone264]

I liked using that super-lube for switches and gears around electronics. It worked great, didn’t migrate and was clean and doesn’t dry out.

[@Erwinhooi]

Awesome EM! Enjoyed this video, thanks!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@timwasson1115]

The scoring reel refurb is great - thanks! I've got a '74 StratoFlite which has a one reel not resetting. Then a flipper rebuild where it's scratching the playfield and I might be playing!

[@kenlanier2131]

You cant beat good documentation. I dont know what us old fellers did before the interweb.. :)

[@jtveg]

Thanks so much for sharing. 😉👌🏻

[@GutsyGibbon]

I’m going to be working on my Grand Prix after Christmas when I visit my daughter. Perfect timing. I may be bugging you again soon. Can’t wait for the next installment.

[@AbrahamdeLacy-xm8sb]

It wants to run, Ron! I can tell it's close. We hear it flexing on the starting line. Cheers 🍺

[@LyonsArcade]

This one is not going to go easy, we'll have to drag it kicking and screaming back into the light...

[@DavidSmith-rc7hs]

Fantastic job😊😊😊😊

[@irieman442]

I love this game! Coincidence that video drops before the last F1 race of the season for 2024? I think not!

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Great video and this is a very complex machine !

[@dreadpiratekiel]

I am honored to get to work on one of these, but to be honest, it doesn't ever need work. Such a great game and nothing beats ripping those 1k spinners.

[@Ren_G.]

Ron in the house!😎

[@JamesUK-je4ew]

I recall you mentioning (in another video?) just how complicated “Grand Prix” is… looking forward to this. ❤ Regards

[@MichaelWhitley-n9y]

The inside of this game looks great.

[@memadmax69]

Those change machines bring back memories too... Especially the ones that had dirty sensors or whatever and you had to constantly take dollars and rub them on the side to get all the wrinkles out.

[@naytch2003]

Nice looking machine

[@dnbreyen]

And the Academy Award for Best Pinball Repair goes to Ronnie!

[@photosbychristensen]

these kid this day don't how fun going to the arcades. that cool the paper work is still with the pinball machine. love the sound of pinball when you start the game Can you still find parts still for the older pinball. Thank you for sharing

[@LyonsArcade]

Yes you can usually find most of the parts, except for the artwork....

[@kenlanier2131]

There is alot going under that payfield :) I still dont get how those genius (mad scientist) designed those machines. Very impressive!

[@LyonsArcade]

They just built on what was already done... so they first just had a few lights, then they added bumpers, then more, then more, it was cumulative. This one was just a little bit more complex than the previous one....

[@meltysquirrel2919]

All it's missing is a relay relay! 🤓 Pretty amazing to think how they worked out how to get all of that to fit into the machine. And, like you said, they improved the score reels and had them figured out. Just like a lot of tech they got it figured really well before it got replaced by the next technology - solid state. Aint that how it goes, just when ya get good at it the game changes! 😅 Another really fun game! 🤠

[@jamesm90]

Great video. I'm so cross that 40 years a go when i was a kid I had a machine that obviously has scrore reel switches unadjusted and the machine wouldn't reset. I got so frustrated with it. Eventually my father got rid of it because i couldn't fix itand couldn't find anyone that knew about them. Such an easy fix and such a waste of a cosmetically good pinball.

[@ezone913]

Complex, but crazy fun to play.

[@andysodyssey8174]

This game has been in many pinball tournaments I’ve played in . Seems I play this one at least a couple times a year. Pretty fun game especially when you actually have to play it to win . So you have to learn it. The older games in my opinion are more of a challenge than a lot of newer games . What that saying ( they don’t make em like they used to)

[@rtcharger7484]

Best of The Best....

[@psy0rz]

I would definitely add a transparent plate to the back, and add some lights so people can see it working. Its a piece of EM art :)

[@Jetrulez15]

Hey Ronnie! I happen to be working on a Grand Prix myself where the left spinner completely broke off! I've got a new one with fresh decals but I was wondering, if at all possible, you could show the spinner mech and how it works/goes together? It would be a huge help to me since I've never worked with spinners before. If you can't, I totally understand!

[@mikeclinton6494]

Ok..... Another "cool" pinball repair video! Question... What cleaner/technique are you using to clean the actual score reels without damaging the ink numbers? I have a nice Little Chief that a previous owner smudged most of the numbers attempting to clean them. I have some replacement reels and plan on swapping them out over the winter. Documenting the dismantling, cleaning and reassembly of these score reels is a valuable resource for anyone working on a mid-70's Williams EM -Thanks.

[@thejunkman7581]

Awesome game. ❤

[@kenlanier2131]

LOL Address card.. Thats how they do SPAM now. So True!

[@randycarter2001]

Actually the pressure of the contact pushes the grease out of the way. The electricity doesn't go through the grease. Another benefit of the grease is it reduces oxidation. The drawback is airborne dust sticks to it.

[@LyonsArcade]

Ackwualaly

[@CreamyCornCob]

I have an original, one owner (me), Bobby Orr Power Play pinball from Bally. One of 17K made. With complete, virgin, ordinal schematics, manuals - everything. I'm in the PNW. Who wants this thing? The back glass doesn't have a single scratch on it. Playfield - just like it was in the late 70's - early 80's.

[@martywolfman]

I think you'd HAVE to remove the tilt bob when its on wheels, a decent nudge will send the machine half way across the room!

[@markjackson1444]

This must be at least your third Grand Prix….maybe more. As you say, it’s always about the two bonuses resetting. I also noticed that when you started a game, the lights for player 1 were not on, but they were on for players 2,3, and 4. This don’t seem quite right to me, but I know you’ll track it down Ronnie. …You are experienced on this game. Looking forward to how you go with it.

[@preste3]

Spent a full time year fixing these things to help pay for university, around 1977. Good times, bad times. What can I say...

[@dnpmod]

Dancin Dancin Daaaaanciiiin! 🕺

[@ShawnBernard70]

" 'Where did you learn to do that with your fingers????' 'Tell me again about the Super Lube.... slowly' " .... 😝" What is... Things Ronnie has probably heard in his life "

[@Zerbey]

I looked up the address on the card and that building is still there, but for lease now. In case anyone wants to start a new pinball company at a very iconic location!

[@JayAlfredoG]

6:18. Someone’s been watching Vice Grip Garage.

[@lawrenceveinotte]

I hope one day you fix a Williams 3D, and I can afford to buy it from you. Lol

[@LyonsArcade]

I don't know that one

[@repro7780]

My goodness.....it must have been a job to assemble these at the factory!

[@coldinspringfield7571]

you must be getting some cash from super lube because you show it in almost every video lol

[@LyonsArcade]

I just use it a lot... It's a great American product.

[@VintageTexas59]

Dang..this brings back memories trying to find the problems...pulling my hair and some cussing involved... :)

[@jagdtigger]

22:38 VOltage is what breaks down the insulator, and current is what keeps it broken down......

[@LyonsArcade]

OK

[@jasonsteverson4609]

Hey Ron!!

[@LyonsArcade]

Hey Jason!

[@Jesselovespinball]

Jasons got the bug !

[@SkylerLinux]

Given that there are casters you can "click" on or off such that when it's at it's destination it's on it's feet and stable. It should have them.

[@billentsminger3360]

wondering about the rollover switch in the left spinner lane....what does it do???

[@LyonsArcade]

I figured that out in some previous video, there was a good reason for it but I can't remember what it was :)

[@Squeezer999]

so this would of been one of Williams's last EM pinball games before they switched to solid state?

[@LyonsArcade]

It was one of the first games that they made solid state, as a prototype. The legendary "System 1"... System 2 was Aztec, and then System 3 was actually released (Hot Tip). System 2 seems to actually predate System 1.

[@GHILLIESARCADEANDMORE]

Cool

[@garb7477]

Always assume you are taking it apart and cleaning it. Allows you to know for certain it's clean and you get to learn about the machine as you work on it. Get a podcast (or place this channel on in the background) and enjoy the tinkering I say.

[@87Benz-tf9qs]

On the average what does a good working pinball game cost. There is a big store here in portland i need to check out sometime.

[@LyonsArcade]

One that's been worked through like this one, in this shape, we'd probably sell for $1500 or so. A Solid State game would be more like $2200 or so and a DMD era game probably $3000 and up.

[@Vamptonius]

10:12 - Argh! A robot in disguise!

[@slothsquatch5023]

Vroom vroom

[@baperacks-com6801]

I love doing the cosmetics

[@chrisSP0234]

Ah yes

[@Petri547]

C'mon people! That tape is cheating! C'mon now! You can't do that! It ain't right!

[@williamsudbrink4187]

Let it out, man! You keep it bottled up and you'll get an ulcer like me.

[@mfranzusan3014]

Exactly. That tape is a dime-store fix. Fit a white rubber in there, at least it'll look right. Lol

[@LyonsArcade]

It's typical, one thing people can't stand is anything different, so if there is anyway to lose the ball at all they consider that a flaw instead of a design of the game. I have people complain all the time that you can lose the ball between the flippers, as if there is some merit to being able to hit the flipper button when the ball gets near it, and that's all the game entails. It's like bowling with the bumpers up.

[@Ratzfaz]

14:05 u should send this in. i would lmao if u get the catalog. ;-)

[@lileveretteyoakumiii]

Yodelayheehoo

[@IndiAcres]

👍✅️🤯

[@angrydove4067]

That's a urine sample cup in the coin box.

[@cornbread1955]

👍👍👍😎☕

[@Nookdashiddole]

Praise Trump ❤

[@sb-ul9vs]

Boat anchor

[@chrisSP0234]

Just like the boat anchor bingo games! 😆