Topic: Opinions on this Coin-op please

[Steve NH]

Ok so I've heard the mantra enough times "buy a coin-op"

New posting in my area.

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/tag/953346027.html

So would this be an older 'Brown Marble'  about 10 yrs old?

I've read the thread "thinking of buying a table t2000 F5?"

So my concerns should be -
1 - level surface
2 - bent rods

what else?

I am looking at it tomorrow

PS this is just to put in my rec room for when I have families over with kids.

thoughts much appreciated

[papafoos]

Looks decent to me.  Check the edges of the goal for chips.  Check the entire table to see if any of the laminate is coming up.  Open the cabinet and check out how clean it is and check for spill stains.  Tables that have been in bars can look pretty rough inside.  If it's only been in an individual's house, it may still look new inside.

I don't recall these tables have a problem with unlevel playfields, but if liquid has gotten under the laminate, it can warp.  You might try to bargain him down a little in price, but I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor.  Coin Ops retain their resale value best of all the models, so if it's in decent shape and you maintain it, you'll probably get your original investment back if you resell it.

[bbtuna]

PART 1

good choice...the brown marble is at least 10 years old (probably more like 12-15) but they are the best table Tornado has made in the last nearly 20 years and that is covering a lot of ground.  The table should last your life-time

here is the "what you should know" about the brown marble...

1.  $550 is a top end price right now so for that kind of money it needs to be nearly perfect (what does nearly perfect mean? see below)
2.  Assuming there isn't any serious structural issues (warped top, blow out goal edges, broken legs) then this table will not only play as well as any available, it will last another at 25+ years with some TLC

What to ask about so you know what you are getting into.
1. First and most important is, is the table surface level...no warping...it would be very weird if a BrMrb had warping but don't assume it is okay because it could warp if it sat in a bar long enough and had enough beer spilled on it - this would be a total deal killer
2. Second and also probably a deal breaker are the edges on the goals...if they have been hit enough times that they are starting to chip away, we call this a "blown out goal" then you probably want to pass on this one and wait for the next table (there will be more)...it can be fixed but it is very complicated and requires real skill
2.a Feet and legs...legs need to be solid and feet in good shape and working (meaning they can thread up and down)...if not, these can both be easily replaced, just impact offer price
3. Bent rods - rods need to all be straight, no bends at all...the person can tell if the rods are bent (if they aren't certain) if they spin one and it wobbles...bent rods are not a deal breaker because they aren't too hard to replace but they are $35 each plus shipping so you would want to figure that out into your offer
4. Cracked or broken men - same as the rods, not a deal breaker but a cost if some need to be replaced but much lower impact at $5 each...you will want to get 2 or 3 of each color anyway unless the person has extra with the table
5. Balls...are there any with the table and what shape...this is the least of the things but good to know because balls are $3 each...just an aside, a ton of people don't like them but if the ball is a genuine Tornado ball but is well used from a bar, I love them because they get very sticky and are good for control especially for a new player...they bounce a little more too but that doesn't bother me...you will not find universal agreement on this point just my opinion for what its worth

I have played on a Brw Mrb regularly for 3 years that sat in a bar for 12+ years and it still remains my favorite Tornado table to play on...if you are buying used, more questions about table wear on the Brn Mrbl but you can get a great deal on one of the best tables EVER made (Tornado or anything else)

[bbtuna]

if this table was privately owned and has only been in a basement and the table top is not warped, I would definately pay the $550 even if I had to replace a couple of rods because unless it was a very strange situation, if it sat at a house it got little use and it would be nearly mint...I would kill for one of these tables

but, assuming it came out of a bar $550 is top dollar...I might still pay it but the surface would have to be level, no blown out goals, and all rods perfect no bend at all

depending on condition will determine a good offer price

papa metioned laminate pealing...if this is the outside laminate no big deal, it won't impact play and you can just glue it back down yourself however, you should be able to use that to negocaite a better price

[Steve NH]

Thank you for all the feedback

I bought it today.

Playing Surface - looked great, no matter where I placed a ball it didn't move or roll, just stayed where I put it.

Goal - not a single chip

Rods - no bending as far as I could see.

Bushings - one was split - he replaced it and gave me 2 spares

Men - One was cracked - he replaced it and gave me 2 spares (1 ea color)

I also remember someone once saying that the 'grippies' on the feet of the men will eventually wear. - I didn't see any signs of wear on them at all.

Under the cabinet - one slight stain on one section. 

Laminate - near perfect - (except the chip I put on it loading it into the car grrrr - can be glued back tho)

Very nice guy - I paid the $ 550 he was asking - am very happy with it.

Glad I paid attention to the Mantra. No question I can't see how I could have spent $ 550 any other way and had anything anywhere near this quality.

Again thanks..

[Syronis]

Glad you bought the table. You should read up on forums here, there's alot of friendly articles here about table maintenance, and a lot of knowledgeable people (not me), who are willing to help. I've asked a ton of questions to various people, and everyone was also really helpful when I was searching for my table.

[bbtuna]

great purchase...it is okay to pay top dollar when you get a top dollar table that is why there is a top dollar

if you love foosball you will love the table and if you decide you aren't as interested later down the road you can still feel VERY good that you have as good a table as has been made and will very likely be able to get all or nearly all your money back

clean it up top to bottom...most people use a mix of 50/50 water and 409 cleaner ... I personally was taught many many years ago never to use anything on the surface of the table or on the men so I have always just used hot water and elbow grease...it is the safe way and guarentees you don't leave any foreign substance on the table

on the cabinet or inside you of course can use pretty much anything but the 50/50 will serve very well there

take all your bearings apart and clean any built up gunk from the bearing half's...if there is a lot of junk you may want to use the 50/50 mix...just a note, keep track of the upper and lower bearings so they go back in the way you took them out...reason is the bottom bearing gets most of the friction and is smoothed out over time to the shape of the rod...you would only want to flip them if you had some reason to think the bearing is bad but don't start with that assumption or you it will be like breaking in brand new bearings (not bad but takes time and creates a little extra friction for a while which can sometimes be heard like a scratching sound)

the non-split side of the bearings may be gunky too and the ones on the non handle side are easy to remove but if they look like they all need a good cleaning you will need to remove handles which is probably the hardest thing to do on the table...make sure you have plenty of extra roll pins before beginning this phase of clean up

roll pins 35 cetns ,  http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fts-110-020.html

after you have all your bearings cleaned and before you replace them (rod to rod or all at the same time, makes no nevermind) clean the rods really well to remove anything substance left on them like silicone, beer, Jack, or other "special" creative liquids people use to "lube" the rods

hopefully you were given some Silicone but if not you NEED it...I recommend buying a large supply bottle and the small applicator travel version because it is by far the best way to apply silocone and you can use the big bottle to refill the smaller

8 oz bottle $12 http://tornadofoosb.powweb.com/store/page6.html

Pocket Size $2.50 http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fooslube.html

Do you have a "bearing wrench"?  I forgot to ask if this came with the table, usually does but if not the bearing maintenance will be harder...you have to have one

Bear Wrench $5.50 http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fts-110-049.html

Did you get a roll pin "punch" with the table?  if not, again you NEED one of these...you can use other things like a counter sink to get by but this is made for this application and is worth the investment and is a standard table maintenance tool

here is the punch everyone uses standard with every table sold
Roll Pin Punch $5 http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fts-110-021.html

however, recently foosball.com found a big boy version of this which I bought and it is much much better, easier to use, I absolutely love it...to me, well worth the difference in price...you can't tell by the pictures but trust me when I say the standard is like a 6 year old and the big one is like a professional NFL linebacker...okay, that may be overstated a little but you get the idea...foosdirect is the only place I have ever seen it

Big Boy "Super Pin Driver" $8.95 http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/superpindriver.html

I have given you links all to foosball.com's foosdirect because they are the ones who support this forum...the only exception is the large silicone because you can only get that at Tornadofoosball.com (which is not owned by Tornado by the way)...

TF is a fine place and most items, to tell you the truth, you can get are for a little less and the owner is a 30 year vet of the industry, pure Tornado guy, and trustworthy but I recommend here to support the owner who brings us this board and this board helped you make your table purchase and will help you with maintenance and improving your game

the differences in price don't really amount to so much compared with the extra you get here

sometimes you may not have a choice but when you can, I say throw your business to foosdirect

these are the only two viable options for parts and accessories for the Tornado owner

if you need wraps and some other stuff, there is no comparison, this site is significantly better

let me know if you have more questions and finally again

YOU ROCK DUDE...CONGRATULATIONS...GREAT PURCHASE