Repairing and renovating pinball machines is a lot of fun and can also be a lucrative activity since some of these machines are very valuable. It is important to know what you are doing when you work on a pinball machine or you might cause more damage.

Replacing bumpers is something you will have to do sooner or later if you work on pinball machines since these parts go through a lot of wear and tear.

Bumpers in good working order will provide you with faster action and will make playing with the machine a lot more fun. Replacing bumpers can be intimidating if you have never done it before but it is possible to renovate a machine that needs new bumpers as long as you take your time and break this process down into smaller steps.

Start by taking the pinball machine apart so you can access the bumpers. You will have to disconnect the wiring of the machine in order to access the playfield. Take the time to label each wire so you can put the machine back together correctly. Most machines have color codes for wiring but it is best to place some colored tape on wires to remember what they were connected to since you will probably have several wires with the same color.

Once you have access to the playfield, you should be able to remove the bumpers by removing a few screws and staples that hold them down. Be very careful when removing them if you plan on re-using the same bumpers. If you plan on replacing them with newer pieces, make sure these new parts will fit properly.

Clean the playfield while you have the machine taken apart. If you plan on re-using the same bumpers, take them apart and clean them thoroughly. You can start rebuilding the bumpers.

Start by aligning the base with the screw holes on the playfield. Place the small spring in the center of the base. The next step is to place the skirt of the bumper over the spring. The large holes in the skirt should align with the screw holes. Place the body of the bumper in the skirt and use a screw to hold everything together.

You can then move on to installing the lamp. There should be two small holes for the lamp holder in the body of the bumper. Push the lamp holder all the way to the bottom of the body and add the bulb. You can now place the cap over the bumper and tighten it with screws.

You can then move on to working under the playfield. Place the bracket assembly under the bumper and connect the wires to the lamp and to the rest of the machine. Connect the scoring switch to the bracket assembly very carefully and test it by pushing on the bumper.

Take your time when replacing your first bumper. This process will become a lot easier once you get used to it. Keep in mind that replacing a bumper can be different from one model to another.