PinTech LIVE: Ep161 - Preparing Dolly for Pinball Expo 2026
A well-loved pinball machine carries its history in every worn insert, tired post, and repair made along the way. At Pinball Expo 2026, we’re giving one of those machines a new chapter with a live playfield swap on Matthew Talley’s Dolly Parton- a pinball machine that is a beloved staple at Lynn’s Arcade in Seaside, CA.
In this episode of PinTech LIVE, Imoto sits down with Matthew and veteran pinball technician Butch Peel to inspect the game, build the restoration plan, and talk through the tools, parts, and decisions behind the project.
A Dolly That Earned Its Wear
Matthew reflects on how excited he was to purchase this game sevral years ago from Nic Schell, Executive Director of Roanoke Pinball Museum and one of the greatest Eletromechanical pinball technicians in the country.
The original playfield showed a bit of wear when the game arrived, and regular arcade use added plenty more. Matthew eventually found a new-old-stock replacement playfield in Southern California. That discovery opened the door to a complete swap—but not a complete reinvention.
The goal is to make Dolly look and play great while preserving the character of a late-1970s game.
“I want it to be as original as possible.” — Matthew Talley
Restoration, Not Erasure
A restoration always comes with choices. Do you replace everything? Upgrade every component? Clear-coat the playfield? Add modern rings and brighter lighting?
For this Dolly, the answer is restraint.
The team plans to preserve as much of the machine’s original feel as possible:
Install the new-old-stock playfield without a full clear coat
Reuse the original plastics where their condition allows
Keep the classic red ribbed posts and replace worn examples with matching new posts
Use traditional-style PRW rubber rings to maintain the original play and feel
Retain original coils and assemblies when they remain serviceable
Reuse the original general-illumination wire where practical
Upgrade to Comet LEDs
Rebuild the retro pop-bumper bodies and matching socket style color schema with new parts
Protect only the highest-wear areas with targeted Mylar
The game already uses Comet warm-white LEDs, which reduce heat while keeping a softer appearance. The team will evaluate the lighting during the swap and keep the final result consistent with the game’s era.
What the Team Will Inspect and Rebuild
A playfield swap exposes nearly every major component under the game. That makes it the right time to inspect, clean, test, or replace parts that would otherwise require significant disassembly later.
The working restoration checklist includes:
Replace the playfield posts and rubber rings
Install fresh flipper bats while retaining the recently rebuilt flipper mechanisms
Inspect and replace worn cabinet flipper switches
Rebuild the pop bumpers, slingshots, and kickers as needed
Install new coil sleeves
Inspect pop-bumper bodies, skirts, sockets, and caps
Clean and test the drop-target bank
Check metal posts, T-nuts, screws, and other playfield hardware for corrosion or damage
Diagnose inconsistent insert lighting and the lamp that remains continuously lit
Inspect connectors, solder joints, sockets, and wiring for continuity problems or shorts
Butch’s advice is simple: if a component is already coming off the old playfield, inspect it before moving it to the new one. Replacing a questionable part now is easier than tearing the finished game apart again later.
The Tools Behind the Swap
A successful playfield swap takes more than screwdrivers and a soldering iron. The preparation matters as much as the repair work.
The team’s Expo setup will include:
A soldering station and replacement tips
A multimeter and basic troubleshooting tools
A pneumatic or battery-powered stapler for securing under-playfield wiring
Proper staples, wire, sockets, and soldering supplies
Magnetic trays and clearly labeled containers for hardware
Cleaning materials and a parts-washing setup
Spare posts, screws, T-nuts, switches, sleeves, and other small components
Reference photos of the top and underside of the original playfield
Documentation is critical. Before removing assemblies, the team will photograph wire paths, socket positions, hardware locations, and component orientation. Each group of screws and parts will be separated and labeled so nothing becomes a mystery during reassembly.
The simplest rule may be the most important: work on one assembly at a time.
Hard-Earned Lessons from Butch's Bench
Pinball restoration teaches patience, sometimes the hard way.
During the conversation, Butch shared a few repairs that did not go as planned—from damaging artwork with a heat gun to washing the finish off an old shooter gauge. Those mistakes became permanent reminders of what not to do next time.
His father’s advice still holds up:
“Show me a man who’s never made a mistake, and I’ll show you a man who’s never done anything.”
That is part of learning pinball repair. Take your time. Test before committing. Keep your work organized. Expect surprises. When a mistake happens, learn from it and keep going.
After all, it is only pinball—but keeping these machines alive depends on people being willing to open them up and learn.
Watch the Dolly Parton Playfield Swap Live
This restoration will happen live at Pinball Expo 2026 in the PinTech area inside the Marco Homebrew Village.
It will not be a passive demonstration. Attendees are encouraged to stop by, ask questions, watch specific stages of the swap, and talk shop with the technicians. The team plans to schedule key restoration moments—such as rebuilding the pop bumpers—so visitors can gather around and learn from the process.
Bring your questions. Pull up a chair. Watch a worn game come back to life one assembly at a time!
See it at Pinball Expo 2026
Visit the PinTech area in the Marco Homebrew Village to follow the live Dolly Parton playfield swap, meet the technicians, and learn more about restoring classic pinball machines.