Topic: Need help. Is this table worth it?

[ksucamera0]

Hello All,

I am needing a little advice. I am moving into my own apartment and looking to buy myself my first foosball table and I hear Tornado is the way to go.

I have been searching all throughout craigslist for a couple options. I stumbled across one that seems like a great deal but the table needs some work. He is asking $200 for the table which seems like a great deal but I am worried about making the repairs to the table.

I have included pictures of the table. Would pulling the trigger on this Tornado table for $200 be worth it with the repairs in mind?

Imgur album of the photos of the table:
http://imgur.com/a/WbeT4

Thanks for your help guys!

[kgstewar]

Looks like a Cyclone, which is a notch below a Tornado coin-op in weight, quality, etc. $200 is not a bad price but that depends on what kinds of "repairs" you are talking about. I see a rusty rod in one picture. You can get the rust off but it will probably still have pits in the metal which will make it less slippy-slidy. Replacement rods cost about $40 with shipping. What else does it need?

[annantrow]

If you have a low budget and want a Tornado, that is about all the better you can ask for. Expect to put about 150-200 into it, and you'll have a nice Cyclone for under $500.

[ksucamera0]

All he said was that the rod needs polishing. If replacement rods are about $40 that wouldnt be an issue.

The other issues he mentioned that you can see from the pictures are that there are broken and missing guys. I did a little research and those don't seem like too much for repairs.

In terms of rods and men, are those replacements difficult to do?

Thanks for your help!

[annantrow]

If you can use a hammer, a punch, and twist things, then no.

[bolt115]

Some Cyclones had problems with Chrome flaking off rods.....this looks like one of them.  I had a similar one and cleaned up rods as best I could and it played ok but i did have to clean table regularly since the Chrome flaking was  on going and would end up on table surface. Ultimately i did replace all but 5 rods which is expensive as the $40 mentioned above is for each rod.

[johnwallan]

to remove and replace figures, I would suggest

- make sure you consider the handle location for figure face forward orientation... it sucks to load a bar backward

- file / deburr the pin holes with a small file. Remaining burrs will often trash the figures and score the rod if you ignore them, they also impede loading/unloading the figures on the rod.

- use a rubber hammer mallet to protect the bars from sloppy hammering pitting the chrome, strike on the heads lightly while you push/pull/twist...

- use lots of silicone lube beside the figure both sides but mainly in the direction of travel, all around the rod. pre lube new figures thoroughly... they are snug and will seize easily.

-line up the figures using your eyeball and then confirm alignment by passing the pin punch through, then and only then, punch the roll pin with a block underneath the rod

- Personally I like standard or shelti style roll pins as seem tougher and enter / exit with less BS and damage

-Congratulations on a nice table!!!