FiRST off, my only experience with pinball machines is playing them.
I am currently looking at a F-14 Tomcat machine for sale. The owner claims everything works except (unfortunatly) the upper and lower right flippers, a few bulbs and the motor that turns the lights on top of the back box.
When the right flipper button is pressed, it looks like it wants to move, you see attempted motion but no go. It is and remains in a semi lifted position. The upper right won't move at all. Is this usually an easy cheap repair? Should it be the solenoid or EOS switch?
Besides what is mentioned above, the back glass is great, playfield good for a 1987, sounds and lights work, exterior has some chipping, scratches etc. No signs of dry rot, rust or anything.

As this will be my first pin, I'm just looking for something to play, doesn't have to be collector condition or even 100% functional.

What else should I look at/inquire about and how much (in your own opinion,experience) would you offer? I've got a price in mind but I want to see what everyone says.

Thank you

If I can give my opinion here, flipper issue is not a big deal... Flipper rebuilt kit are available all over the place!

Eric

Beware of "fully working" - its has different meanings, mostly based on whether you are the buyer or seller.

I would read the clay guide to pinballs for that vintage ( http://marvin3m.com/fix.htm ) and try to get an idea of how to run tests for the switches, displays and coils.  

There's a price guide  availabe for about $20 from a MAACA-member's site:  http://www.canadapinballparts.com/storefront/ - it gives the values and a lot of other information.

For F-14 the 2008 value was $1075.   That's USD - but gives a view of what a fully working, nice cosmetic condition, no broken plastics is worth.

Best bet is find someone who knows a bit about pinball machines to come with you when looking.

For sure buy one - the whole hobby is a lot of fun!

Lights out can be bulbs but it can also be ceramic resistors and possibly board work on an F-14 if your talking flashers.

As for GI out it can be more than bulbs as well, usually connectors on a Sys 11.

(Flasher are big bulbs that flash, GI are small bulbs that give background illumination)

Weak or dead flippers could be quite few things. It could be as simple as dirty contacts on the buttons and/or end of stroke switches or again getting as far as into needing coils and various parts to rebuild them.

Topper could be the belt, could be a burned out motor or a board issue and or any combination of those.

If your somewhat handy, willing to do some reading, are willing to accept putting in time and some $; for the right price F 14 could be a good place to start.

I recommend you get a playable machine first. That way you can start the hobby having fun. You'll then learn the basics like changing bulbs and switches. Then you can get a 2nd machine in rougher condition and tinker. F-14 is a cool game though. Wasn't there a working one for sale in montreal?

If that picture is of the machine you're buying, I should note there's some pretty heavy wear near the left sling.. and also, the sling plastics are missing... and the light domes on the right, and the lower right plastic.. and you're missing a sticker on the upper left ramp.

Quoted from machine.slave

If that picture is of the machine you're buying, I should note there's some pretty heavy wear near the left sling.. and also, the sling plastics are missing... and the light domes on the right, and the lower right plastic.. and you're missing a sticker on the upper left ramp.

If all of this is missing, you should avoid to buy this one !

This is a picture of how should look like the playfield :



More images on this link :

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=804

Thanks for the advice, I mentioned the problems pointed out to the owner. He doesn't know much about pins either and acknowledged the what could be required for repair. As he just does not have the room for the machine now, he said I can have it for $250.
So, for $250 is this a decent deal? Or should I continue to look for a machine that is fully working??

Here are a few more pics too.

For $250? GO FOR IT!! If you don't want it, I'll take it off your hands, fix it up, and sell it back to you for the cost of the parts.
(What can I say? I want a summer project)

*choke* *gasp!*

Umm.. yes, $250 is a good deal  

Quoted from Manu2

If all of this is missing, you should avoid to buy this one !

This is a picture of how should look like the playfield :



More images on this link :

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=804

I want the one in the picture for $250....

It's probably worth it as I said if your up to doing the work yourself. Regardless of it being $250 the bills can add up when doing a full restoration. It's easy to lose $500 into a machine and I have done restorations that have easily topped over a thousand in parts above the price of the machine. Chances are though if you get in over your head as you can see there are guys that will give you what you put in to initially to get you out. That should be an important consideration as it being your first game you probably won't have a chance to really understand what it needs until you have time to go over it first hand and learn more about what it will take to fix it.

Quoted from jonny_eh

I recommend you get a playable machine first. That way you can start the hobby having fun. You'll then learn the basics like changing bulbs and switches. Then you can get a 2nd machine in rougher condition and tinker.

I would have to 2nd this. I just bought my 1st pin about 2 weeks ago (High Speed) working well/looking decent but needs work. Heckuva lot of fun. Yesterday, I tried removing a chipped pop bumper wafer, ran into minor difficulties and struggled for a panicked 1/2 hour to put it back together, worried I wouldn't be able to play! I am happy that I bought something that works but needs work as there is a tremendous satisfaction in seeing the fruits of your labour ... plus family and friends can still play it and justifies its existence to significant others not as enthusiastic about pinball. I just got the 4 flashers to work in my backbox! VRROOOM, VRROOOM (with bright flashing lights) = wicked cool. Alluva sudden the game seems so much better. Now if I can just get the background music to work ...

Quoted from machine.slave

*choke* *gasp!*

Umm.. yes, $250 is a good deal  

+1