Pinball Machine Essentials: The Complete List for Every Enthusiast
Pinball Machine Essentials: The Complete List for Every Enthusiast
A pinball machine is not a piece of furniture: it is a 265-pound electromechanical machine that wears down with every game. Here is the complete list of what you actually need — the machine, wear parts, replacement boards, tools, diagnostics, maintenance, and the extras we all end up buying. With price ranges verified in July 2026, and a disclaimer upfront: Pinballs Store only sells replacement electronic boards. Toppers, neon signs, clocks, tools, waxes, accessories — we sell none of them. What follows is an enthusiast's recommendation, not a disguised product catalog.
1. The machine: what it really costs
First trap: there is no single "price" for a pinball machine. Here are real benchmarks (July 2026, including tax).
| Segment | Observed price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electromechanical (EM, 1960s-70s) | €1,000 – €2,000 as-is €2,000 – €3,000 professionally restored |
No electronics at all. Can be repaired with a screwdriver and patience. |
| Solid-state 1980s (Gottlieb System 80, Bally, Williams) | ≈ €1,500 – €3,500 | Intentionally wide range: condition and title make all the difference. This is the most accessible segment, and the one where boards fail. |
| DMD 1990s (Addams Family, Twilight Zone, Medieval Madness) | €7,000 – €10,000 from a European dealer | From ≈ €5,000 for a non-working project to €13,000–€15,000 for a flawless restoration. A "Medieval Madness" listing with no mention of condition means nothing. |
| New Stern (authorized German dealer) | Pro €7,950 · Premium €10,400 · LE starting at €14,275 | In France, expect closer to €9,000 – €9,600 for the same Pro: shipping, distribution, margin. The gap is real — don't be caught off guard. |
Good news for buyers: the post-Covid bubble has deflated. According to pinballprices.com market tracking, used pinball machines sold in 2025 for roughly 1.1% less than in 2024. For more details, see our guides How much does a pinball machine cost? and What is my pinball machine worth?.
2. Wear parts: what breaks, and what it costs
A pinball machine doesn't break down: it wears out. These parts are consumables, not exceptional repairs. Prices noted from a European distributor (Germany, including tax, excluding shipping) in July 2026.
| Part | Price | Why it's essential |
|---|---|---|
| Flipper rebuild kit (2 flippers) | ≈ €70 – €72 | Bushings, shafts, links, plungers. Do this as soon as the flippers feel "weak" or hit at an angle. |
| Flipper coil | €16 – €25 | A burnt coil smells like scorched varnish. It happens. |
| Coil sleeve | €0.69 | The 70-cent part that restores 20% of power to a weak flipper. |
| Complete rubber ring set | €14 – €29 (rubber) €19 – €37 (silicone) €45 – €60 (premium polyurethane) |
Rubber rings harden, blacken the playfield, and completely distort the bounce. Replace every 2–3 years even without heavy use. |
| EOS contacts / contact blades | EOS €6 – €9 flipper contact blades €10 – €22 micro-switches €4 – €13 |
A misadjusted EOS = a flipper that sticks up or loses its hold power. |
| Drop targets | €2 – €13 each complete bank €37 – €130 |
They snap clean off, often at the worst possible moment. |
| #44 / #47 bulbs | €0.20 – €0.40 each | The quintessential consumable. |
| Replacement LEDs | starting at €0.98 | Warning: on older machines, insist on "non-ghosting" LEDs, or your lamps will ghost. |
| Playfield glass (standard tempered) | €47 – €85 | Often pickup-only: shipping costs more than the glass itself. |
| Anti-glare / high-definition glass | €188 – €198 (Europe) ≈ $240 (PDI Invisiglass, USA) |
The only "luxury" that truly changes the game: you can finally see the ball under the lights. |
| Steel ball 1-1/16" | €1.80 – €2.25 | A scratched ball scratches the playfield. Replace them — it's two euros. |
| Remote battery holder | €2.73 | The most cost-effective part on this entire page. See below. |
The tip that's worth €300. On every machine from 1977 to 1991, the backup batteries are soldered or housed on the MPU board. When they leak — and they all eventually leak — the electrolyte corrodes the traces and destroys the board. A remote battery holder for €2.73, with a 60 cm cable, moves the batteries away from the board. It's ten minutes of work. It saves you a board costing €99 or €349. Details in our article Leaking batteries in a pinball machine: dangers, damage, and the definitive solution.
3. Replacement boards: where we come in (and where we don't)
Let's be direct: this is our business, so read this section with the critical eye it deserves.
On a solid-state pinball machine from the 1977–1989 era, the original boards are the structural weak point: corrosive batteries, dried-out capacitors, corroded traces, drifting power supply, oxidized connectors. A modern replacement board solves this problem permanently. Our boards are FPGA-based: the original ROMs are interpreted in an FPGA (this is not software emulation), in a Plug & Play design, battery-free, with native Freeplay and the original coin mechanism still fully functional.
And here is the limitation, stated honestly: a replacement board fixes the electronics. Period. It won't fix a worn playfield, unstick a jammed target, replace a dead coil, or fix a misadjusted contact. If your machine has a mechanical problem, a new board won't change anything — and we'd rather tell you before the purchase than after.
- Gottlieb System 80 / 80A / 80B — GottFA80_Plus (all-in-one) from €349 · Full version with integrated sound board €399 · Godri80 (driver board) €99 · Gosof (sound board with speech) €129 · GoPOP80 (pop bumper driver board) €29. Guides: System 80 all-in-one board and System 80B specifics.
- Williams System 3 to 7 — WillFA7 from €349. The guide.
- Bally (1977-1985) — BallyFa (CPU board) €299 · BallyDri (power supply + driver board) €199 · BallyLa_60 (lamp driver board) €149. The guide.
To understand what each board does in a pinball machine (MPU, driver board, power supply, sound), read Pinball machine electronics explained.
4. Tools: the real minimum, and the false necessities
| Tool | Verified price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Multimeter | Entry-level (Voltcraft VC-20) ≈ €37 incl. tax · Fluke 115 ≈ €299 incl. tax | Essential, non-negotiable. A €37 multimeter handles 95% of pinball troubleshooting. The Fluke is a comfort upgrade. |
| Soldering iron / station | Pinecil V2 €67.50 · Weller WE 1010 ≈ €243 incl. tax · Hakko FX-888D ≈ €256 incl. tax | Essential from your first repair onward. The Pinecil (USB-C) is the best value for money right now. |
| Manual desoldering pump | < €20 | Good enough for spot repairs. Tedious for mass desoldering. |
| Desoldering gun (Hakko FR-301) | ≈ €382 incl. tax | Justified luxury only if you're desoldering entire boards. Otherwise, no. |
| Imperial (SAE) nut driver set | Complete pinball tool kit ≈ $90 in the USA | Critical point: pinball hardware uses imperial fasteners, not metric. You need 1/4", 5/16", 11/32", 3/8". A metric set will never grip properly. |
| Playfield support / lifter | OEM brackets ≈ $50 · dedicated tools (PinJack, PinTisserie) $150 – $280 | Recommended as soon as you work under the playfield. A good support prevents bending ramps. |
| Headlamp, telescoping magnet, inspection mirror | A few euros | Underrated. You'll retrieve a screw that fell into the cabinet at least once a month. |
| Torque wrench | €200 – €280 | No, honestly. See below. |
About the torque wrench, let's be honest: no Stern, Williams, or Bally service manual publishes a torque specification for the legs. The only value circulating (36–38 N·m) comes from a forum post relaying an email from Stern's technical support — it is not a manufacturer specification. The real risk, in fact, is over-tightening, which strips the threads on the leg plates. A 9/16" wrench and common sense are enough.
5. Diagnostics: seeing what the machine won't tell you
On a 1980s pinball machine, the question is never "is it broken?" but "where is it broken?" A contact under the playfield? A burnt driver? A broken trace? Without diagnostic tools, you're disassembling blind.
On Gottlieb System 80/80A/80B, our diagnostic board Lisy80 answers exactly that. What it is, precisely: a replacement CPU board that runs your machine's original ROMs, and exposes a web interface (LISYcontrol) accessible from any browser — including your smartphone, standing right in front of the machine. In practice:
- Real-time switch matrix: every switch displays as closed (red) or open (green). Lower a drop target: if it doesn't turn red, the fault is under the playfield, not in the board. You just saved two hours.
- Solenoid testing: the board sends a single pulse to one solenoid at a time — impossible to burn it out by mistake.
- Lamp testing, display testing (you can write anything on them), sound testing, and dip switch adjustment from the browser.
- It also eliminates the reset board (notoriously finicky on Gottlieb), the chronic ground issues of the System 80, and the batteries — and therefore the corrosion.
The LISY project itself is open source (Ralf Thelen, Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license): you could theoretically build it yourself. We sell the assembled, tested, and supported version. And no, it won't fix your coil: it will tell you that it's the coil.
Lisy80 — diagnostic board for Gottlieb System 80 / 80A / 80B
Full web interface (switches, solenoids, lamps, displays, sounds, dip switches), original ROMs, battery-free, Plug & Play.
€199 — 6-month parts and labor warranty against any failure not caused by misuse, + 30-day money-back guarantee. Free technical support.
→ See the Lisy80 · If you're looking for a "just make it work" solution instead, check out the GottFA80_Plus (from €349), which replaces CPU board, driver board, and power supply all at once.
6. Maintenance: where many enthusiasts do more harm than good
This is the chapter where myths cost money. Let's sort them out.
- Novus (kit 1+2+3, ≈ €17 incl. tax). Novus 1 = cleaner, no abrasive: that's the one for routine maintenance. Novus 2 = fine abrasive (light scratches). Novus 3 = heavy abrasive. Something worth knowing that nobody mentions: Novus never mentions pinball anywhere on their website, and explicitly advises against using 2 and 3 on "coated" plastics. All the "safe on playfields" claims come from resellers, not the manufacturer. Novus 2 generally works fine on a varnished playfield or one protected by mylar; on an older unvarnished playfield, it will strip the paint.
- Wax. Any pure carnauba paste wax does the job (Blitz Wax, automotive carnauba waxes). Avoid "cleaner waxes" containing silicone.
- Millwax: proceed with caution. Marketed as a cleaner-wax, its base is actually silicone and petroleum distillates — there is no wax in it. Silicone penetrates the wood and makes any future refinishing impossible (the primer "fisheyes"). Acceptable on an old unvarnished EM playfield. Bad idea on a modern varnished machine.
- Magic eraser (melamine sponge): it's not a cleaner, it's an abrasive — compared on forums to 1200-grit sandpaper. With alcohol, it removes the varnish rather than the dirt. Only use it if you're prepared to refinish.
- PinSnake (≈ $45). We checked: yes, it really exists. It is neither an LED strip nor a ball retriever. It is an articulated cleaning wand, the exact diameter of a pinball (1-1/16"), that you snake through orbits, tunnels, and hidden ramps to clean them without removing the playfield. You attach a microfiber cloth (velcro) and a rubber ball that tackles black ball marks. Their slogan: "dental floss for your pinball machine." Launched in July 2024, winner at the TWIPY Awards 2024 (best non-interactive mod).
Our full method: Cleaning a pinball machine: the complete maintenance guide. And if you're aiming bigger: Restoring a vintage pinball machine: the complete guide.
7. Guilty pleasures: mods, toppers, and lighting
None of this is essential. Everyone ends up buying some. Prices noted in July 2026 (US dollars for American brands: conversion and shipping are on you).
| Category | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official Stern topper | $399.99 (generic) · $999 – $1,499 (licensed) | The most expensive mod per square inch in the world. |
| Third-party / custom topper | $50 – $315 | Mezel Mods, Laseriffic, independent artisans. |
| Reproduction translite / backglass | ≈ €70 (Europe) to $300 | Takes ten years off a machine. |
| Mirror backglass | ≈ $250 / £250 | More of a collector's item than a gaming piece. |
| Pinball neon signs and clocks | ≈ $100 (standard neon) · $199.99 (Stern Infinity Mirror Sign) | For the game room, not the machine. |
| Custom shooter rod | $45 – $100 (third-party) · $179.99 – $224.99 (official Stern) | The most visible mod for the least money. |
| Side blades / art blades (cabinet interior) | $99.99 (Stern) · ≈ $110 (mirror blades) | Installs in 20 minutes, transforms the cabinet. |
| Side armour (metal) | $269.99 – $399.99 | Only fits recent Stern machines. |
| Pin Stadium (playfield lighting) | $299.95 – $649.95 | LED bars mounted inside the cabinet, 10–15 min installation with no soldering, RGB control via app, transferable between machines. Solution for a too-dark playfield. Budget alternative: Comet Pinball spot kits (from ≈ $17). |
| PinSound (replacement sound boards) | PinSound PLUS ≈ $440 | French brand (the Manaud brothers). Drop-in sound boards for Data East / System 11c / WPC / DCS, with enhanced sound packs. |
| ColorDMD | $439 – $549 | Color DMD display for 1990s machines. LCD version recommended for a first purchase, but doesn't fit every cabinet. |
Two clarifications, because you read a lot of nonsense out there: the "hi-fi pinball machine" doesn't exist as a product category — the real audio players are PinSound, PinWoofer, and Pinnovators (which does audio, not lighting). And the "backbox stand" sometimes cited in equipment lists: we found no commercial product by that name. So we're not listing it.
The starter list: if you can only buy six things
- A multimeter (≈ €37)
- A decent soldering iron (≈ €70)
- A set of imperial (SAE) nut drivers
- A remote battery holder (€2.73) — install it today
- A complete rubber ring set (€14 – €37) and a bottle of Novus 1
- A diagnostic tool suited to your system (for Gottlieb System 80: the Lisy80, €199)
Total: under €350. That's the difference between "I own a pinball machine" and "I know how to take care of my pinball machine."
FAQ
What is a "PinSnake" exactly?
It's an articulated cleaning wand for pinball machines, the diameter of a pinball (1-1/16"), sold by PFXPinMods under the name PinSnake (≈ $45). You snake it through orbits, ramps, and tunnels to clean them without removing the playfield; a microfiber cloth attaches via velcro. It is not an LED strip, a wiring tool, or a ball retriever — three common misconceptions.
What tools do you really need to maintain a pinball machine?
The real minimum: a multimeter (from €37), a soldering iron (from €67), a set of imperial (SAE) nut drivers (pinball hardware uses inches, not millimeters), a desoldering pump, a headlamp, and a telescoping magnet. A torque wrench is not necessary: no manufacturer's service manual publishes a torque specification for the legs.
Does Novus 2 damage the playfield?
Novus 2 is a fine abrasive, not a cleaner. On a varnished playfield or one protected by mylar, it generally works fine when used sparingly. On an older unvarnished playfield, it strips the paint. For routine maintenance, use Novus 1, the only one of the three that is truly a non-abrasive cleaner. Note that Novus never mentions pinball in its official documentation.
How much does a new pinball machine cost in 2026?
From an authorized German dealer (July 2026): Stern Pro €7,950, Premium €10,400, LE starting at €14,275. In France, the same Pro typically goes for around €9,000 to €9,600. A restored 1980s machine remains far more accessible: expect €1,500 to €3,500 depending on the title and condition.
Is a replacement board enough to fix my pinball machine?
No, and this is important to say. A replacement board fixes electronic problems (MPU, driver board, power supply, sound). It won't fix a worn playfield, a burnt coil, a misadjusted contact, a broken target, or a cut wiring harness. On a machine bought "for parts," always budget for mechanical spare parts as well.
Does Pinballs Store sell toppers, neon signs, or tools?
No. Pinballs Store only sells replacement electronic boards for vintage pinball machines (Gottlieb System 1 and System 80/80A/80B, Williams System 3 to 7, Bally (1977-1985)). The toppers, clocks, neon signs, tools, waxes, and accessories mentioned in this article are independent recommendations: we don't sell them and earn no revenue from them.
Sources & further reading
- PinSnake (PFXPinMods) — the articulated cleaning wand
- Pinball Universe (pu-parts.com) — spare parts, European prices incl. tax
- Pinball Universe — new pinball machine prices (Stern, Jersey Jack, American Pinball)
- Novus — the 3-step system (official manufacturer documentation)
- LISY (Ralf Thelen) — the open source project
- Pin Stadium — playfield lighting kits
- PinSound — replacement sound boards (France)
- ColorDMD — color DMD displays
- Pinball Prices — used market trends
- Flippers.be — tumble polishing balls and metal parts
