The vertical plastic is inserted through the new horizontal plunger core - take care that
the latch hook on the vertical piece is oriented correctly, so that when the horizontal
piece is pulled in by its coil, the vertical piece will be unlatched. Look twice if you
have to - it's a lot easier to do it now than to have to disassemble everything again later.
Once these two parts are together, hook the vertical piece back onto the key on the eyelid
plastic. Slip the two white clips over the eyelid pivots, and pop the whole mess back
into the metal frame.
Make sure when you're threading the cores and coils and end brackets
together, that you (ahem) don't forget the return springs... like I did here. Take it
apart and try again.
That's better... Core (and spring) through end bracket (and don't reverse the end
bracket either!!) then into coil, then other end bracket. Screw brackets to box wall.
I put the horizontal plunger support shelf bracket on at this time too, to keep things
aligned better.
Repeat the above sequence, with the other core, spring, bracket, coil, and end bracket.
This coil's end bracket is open, so the brass end of the core shoots through it. This
photo shows Rudy's eyes closed, with the vertical plunger all the way up. The vertical's
catch is above the horizontal plunger here. The return spring does some of the work,
gravity on the eyelids does the rest. (been there, done that, failed the course)
Here's what things look like when the vertical coil is pulled in fully - Rudy's eyes
go wide open. Notice that the catch on the vertical plunger plastic is below the horizontal
plastic, and pointing toward the back of Rudy's head. When his eyes are normally open
(next photo) and the horizontal coil fires, the vertical spring will push his eyelids
closed (previous photo).
Normal 'eyes open' position of all the parts. Here the vertical plastic plunger's
catch is resting on the horizontal plunger's plastic, keeping the vertical at the
right height for Rudy's eyes to be normally open.
Done yet, doc? Can I have my face back now? I'm hungry for some steel balls!
After cleaning the wood part (Rudy's tongue, actually) and maybe checking the action
of the 'ball swallowed' switch, slide the wood back into the metal frame, screw it down,
and reattach the two jaw-closing springs. Put everything back into the playfield - head
first, then jaw motor assembly onto jaw link, then jaw motor onto playfield, and
reconnect all your wires.
Back to the Funhouse Restoration homepage.