What's the best way to fix this cabinet?

[Fifty]

The wood has split under the backbox on both sides. The weight of the backbox is making it worse and pulling the back up on the same piece of wood. The wood cannot handle the weight and is going to cause the backbox to sink into the body of the cabinet. It's not going to be pretty when it happens.

My plan of attack;

1) remove the entire backbox to get a better idea of how extensive the damage is
2) minimal damage and I'll try to glue/clamp the wood back together.
3) max damage and I'll remove the wood entirely and replace the piece
4) glue, fasten, sand, smooth, prime, paint, sand, final coat.

Please see the pictures.

 

[DRANO]

Don't see that game every day!
If you do end up gluing, see if there's any place underneath to add some additional blocking. Like those triangular pieces of wood you always see inside pinball cabinet joints with extra glue/nails to give the cab extra stability.
If you can hide a couple of small wood blocks underneath it'll add some structure and increase support.
Those games had BIG heads.

 

[Fifty]

Hey Drano, yeah this is a pretty low production run. I'm currently trying to get a new crossover ramp for it through Pinside. It was dead thread for a while but now it looks like it's going to happen before year end.

I thought of putting wooden bracing on the sides under the areas that are cracked. I could paint them to match and it would add a lot of stability to the head. I'll take a look at adding the corner pieces like you suggested. Once I have the head off I'll post a few more photos and maybe that'll help with how I'm going to fix this and the ideas everyone throws at me.

 

[dnewman]

Alright... I'll bite.

What game is it?

 

[Fifty]

Why machine 2630 of course!
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2630

 

[Fifty]

Alright, I finally managed to free up some time between groceries and kids activities.

I removed the backbox and playfield to get a better look and so I had more room to work.

I decided to reinforce the backbox with two blocks of wood. Bally's design for this backbox was flawed. The weight of the backbox all rests on the small pedestal and the sides have no support. With later renditions the pedestal is removed and the backbox is allowed to rest on the sides of the machine distributing the weigh more evenly.

My wife suggested I notch the wooden support so that the front as well as the entire length of the top piece of wood is reinforced. I used Lepage Premium Construction Adhesive behind both pieces of wood and screwed them down using 3 deck screws. I used a 2x4 that I cut to length to hold them in the right spot and lift the sagging base the backbox rested on.



I can't get some of the images to attach for some reason. Here's a link to the pics;

One side done
https://www.dropbox.com/s/retr6j7g5zhrt3j/20170923_131749.jpg?dl=0

Both installed
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wz9q32wumyqumc5/20170923_131759.jpg?dl=0

First coat of paint.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gfvdefkcszd8l2y/20170923_135934.jpg?dl=0

 

[Fifty]

Sorry, I was on my phone. Spelling, grammar, and Dropbox links fixed.