The Jersey Jack Harry Potter Wizard Edition is an absolute masterpiece of pinball design. It is packed with interactive toys, multiple ramps, and incredible detail. But that density also means that when something goes wrong, it’s rarely an easy fix for a home owner.

On Wednesday, I received an urgent call from a customer in Swansea. They were hosting a big Halloween party on Friday, but their nearly brand-new Harry Potter pinball machine was unplayable. The “Owl Rubber”—a specific silicone ring near the bumpers—had snapped, causing all the pinballs to get hopelessly stuck in that area.

The dealer had told the owner to just “do it yourself” and promised to send a replacement rubber in the post (which hadn’t even arrived yet). Without the right tools or experience, the customer was completely stuck. I happened to have the exact replacement rubber in stock, so after finishing my morning jobs in Bristol on Thursday, I drove straight to Swansea to save their Halloween party.

“Just a broken rubber” sounds like a five-minute job, but on this specific machine, it is anything but. The Owl Rubber is located in an incredibly tight, difficult-to-access area tucked right under the staircase toy, sandwiched between multiple ramps and wireform rails. It required a specialized extra-long nut driver to reach the hardware, and navigating the tiny space to properly seat the new rubber and reinstall the metal bracket took over 30 minutes of careful, precise work to ensure no plastics were cracked.

While the playfield glass was off, I noticed the game was already getting a bit dirty despite only being a few months old, so I gave the playfield a thorough clean and wax.

Before leaving, I always make sure the customer plays a few test games while I watch. Good thing I did! During the test game, a metal ball guide pin unexpectedly vibrated loose. I quickly secured it back into place, put the glass back on, and left the customers incredibly happy with a perfectly playing machine, just in time for their Halloween event.

If your modern pinball machine needs a repair and you don’t feel comfortable taking a screwdriver to a £10,000+ game, don’t risk it. Give me a call!