Frequently asked questions for folks who just inherited/found/ended up with an old Dynamo Pool table

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019 
VALLEY-DYNAMO FAQ GUIDE TO OLDER DYNAMO POOL TABLES 
JULY 2019 UPDATE 
•  ABOUT VALLEY AND DYNAMO AND VALLEY-DYNAMO 
•  HOW OLD IS MY DYNAMO TABLE? 
•  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DYNAMO MODEL #7 AND A MODEL #8? 
•  HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS PARTS AVAILABILITY WITH OLDER DYNAMO TABLES?   
•  COULD YOU CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T HAVE A _____ STILL AVAILABLE? 
•  WHAT SIZE IS MY TABLE?   
•  HOW DOES SIZE MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO PARTS? 
•  ARE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR NON-COIN BILLIARD-STYLE TABLES? 
•  ARE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR NON-BAR-BOX-SILHOUETTE COIN -OPERATED TABLES? 
•  HOW MUCH IS MY TABLE WORTH?  
•  COULD MY TABLE BE RARE AND VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RESTORE TO NEW 
CONDITION?   
•  I HAVE AN OLD TABLE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, WOULD YOU WANT TO BUY IT BACK 
FROM ME FOR DISPLAY IN YOUR SHOWROOM?   
•  DO YOU SELL A KIT TO ADD A DBA TO MY PUSH-CHUTE ONLY DYNAMO TABLE? 
•  CAN I ADAPT PARTS FROM THE CURRENT VALLEY-DYNAMO DBA TABLES TO WORK 
ON MY EARLY DYNAMO DBA TABLE? 
•  CAN I USE THE ZD-X UPGRADE KIT ON MY DYNAMO PRO PLUS? 
•  I HAVE A DYNAMO BUMPER POOL TABLE, CAN I GET PARTS?  
•  I WANT TO MOVE MY TABLE, HOW DO I TAKE IT APART?   
•  WHAT CUE BALL DO I NEED? 
•  HOW DO I TELL A WEIGHTED SEPARATOR FROM A MAGNETIC SEPARATOR?   
•  IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE FROM A WEIGHTED TO MAGNETIC SEPARATOR 
•  COULD YOU SEND A PARTS BREAKDOWN SPECIFICLLY FOR MY TABLE?   
•  WHAT LAMINATE COLORS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? 
•  HOW DO I REPLACE THE WOOD LAMINATES?   
•  COULD I GET A KEY FOR MY OLD COIN DOOR?   
•  CAN I STILL GET A COIN MECHANISM THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS PHOTO? 
•  HOW CAN I CHANGE MY COIN-OP TABLE TO FREE PLAY?  
•  COULD I GET A KEY FOR MY BALL VIEW DOOR OR CLEAN OUT DOOR?   
•  ABOUT THAT PART THAT HOLDS DOWN THE TRIPPER ARM 
•  CAN I BUY A NEW SLATE? 
•  SHOULD I REPLACE MY CUSHION RAILS?  
•  WILL NEW RAILS REALLY FIT MY OLD TABLE?  
•  WHAT IS THE TORQUE SPEC FOR RAILS?   
•  I’VE ONLY GOT ONE DEAD RAIL; WHY CAN’T I JUST BUY ONE REPLACEMENT?  
•  WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN ORDERING CUSHION RAILS?  
•  WHAT CUSHION RAILS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE 
•  ABOUT BRUNSWICK POOL TABLES 
•  DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION OR PARTS FOR A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER’S OLDER 
MODEL POOL TABLE?  
•  CAN I BUY PARTS FROM YOU? 
 

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

A NOTE TO THE USER – thank you for taking the time to review this page (here’s the 29

revision). We have gone to great lengths and gathered the experience and wisdom of many

longtime Valley-Dynamo employees through the years to provide this resource. Some folks

have a tendency to call or write immediately, without looking, without checking. You are truly

a concerned individual who is eager to learn, and we hope the past seven years of refining this

document in response to additional customer questions will result in time well spent for you.

THANKS.

BEFORE CONTACTING VALLEY-DYNAMO we have a serious Spam/E-mail filter. If you send an

e-mail without a title or an unsolicited e-mail with an attachment, or copy a lot of people on

your note, it may not get through. Always title your e-mail, e-mail only the most appropriate

party, and contact us first prior to sending large attachments such as photos. If you looked here

and still could not find the answer you seek, click on this link to contact us .

“I HAVE AN OLD VALLEY-DYNAMO POOL TABLE…” – no, you don’t. Stop. there is no

such thing. Valley and Dynamo tables are separate products. Since Valley and

Dynamo merged we’ve shared some components, but these

tables were designed separately by competitors. Before

you contact our Technical Support department, our Parts

Sales department, your distributor, or any local pool table

service professional; know for sure whether your table is a

Valley or Dynamo.

IMPORTANT: Does the corner casting say Dynamo?

HOW OLD IS MY DYNAMO TABLE? Dynamo Serial numbers were not as well-

documented as Valley. (at one time they were documented pretty well – but in

computerized records we long ago lost the ability to access). As a result, we cannot

pinpoint the exact age of almost any older Dynamo table. The good news is that

Dynamo Pool tables have changed less over the years, and parts availability will not be

a big issue.

MODEL #7 VS. MODEL #8 – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Notice how Dynamo tables

are “model 37 and 38” or “model 47 and 48” – the models ending with a “7” signify

Weighted Separator production and are 1993 or older. The models ending with an “8”

are Magnetic Separator production and are 1995 or newer. IN MOST CASES.

JUST HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS PARTS AVAILABILITY? For older Dynamo tables, the

problem areas will be the Weighted Cue Ball Separator and parts for the metal coin

door. Otherwise, most current parts should still fit a Dynamo pool table, but they may

not be in the same colors.

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

If your coin door looks like

the photo to the left with

the rounded surround and

no plastic frame,

replacement parts are no

longer available.

Coin doors like that to the

right are the current style,

and parts are available.

The current parts will cost several hundred dollars and will just not be a cost-effective solution

on a 30 (or more) year old table. You will notice from the photo the door on the left is not as tall,

but wider. You CAN NOT adapt the current parts to fit in an older table because the original

hole will be too tall, and you’ll have to widen it. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND you do not

attempt this “upgrade.”

BUT COULDN’T YOU CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T

HAVE A _____ STILL AVAILABLE? We’re sure. In the many

years since some of these model and color changes, if we

haven’t completely combed our stock and plundered every

sample table we had, we have also moved—discarding a

lot of long-discontinued pieces-- several times through the

years (three times since 2005). We don’t mean to be brutal

about it, but some folks get pretty ticked off that we no longer stock laminate colors or

parts for coin doors not used in production for more than 30 years. They will argue that

you can still buy parts for a Ford Truck from the 1960s, but the total number of Dynamo

pool tables built over the past 30 years is probably close to the total number of trucks

Ford builds every month.

Considering just how many of our current parts still fit a table 35 or more years old,

that’s still pretty good.

WHAT SIZE IS MY TABLE? This chart will be very helpful.

What we call it

47 or 48 37 or 38 27 or 28 17 or 18

From outside end to outside-end it measures about

101" 93" 88" 85"

we also call it 8-foot 7-foot 6½ foot

"the little one we

used to build"

playing surface 44" x 88" 40" x 80" 37" x 74½" 36" x 72"

slate size

47½" x 91½" 43" x 83"

40¼" x 77½"

39"x 75"

slate thickness ⅞" ¾" ¾" ¾"

Approximate Cushion Rail Width (at widest point)

40" 36" 33½" 32"

Approximate length of side trim

81 15/16" 73 7/16" 67 15/16" 65 5/8"

Approximate length of end trim

37 13/16" 33 5/16" 30 9/16" 29 1/8"

Currently produced Yes Yes Rarely No

(hint, the Valley trim is the same extrusion, just a little longer, and Mr. Hacksaw fixes that problem really easily)

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019 
The model number (“What we call it”) will frequently be found stamped in the ball 
view door area of the table, or as part of that Serial Number we cannot use to determine 
the age. 
 
IMPORTANT: avoid inconvenience, returns, restock fees and additional shipments; 
know your table’s size before looking for parts.  Never say “it’s a bar table.” Not all 
bars are the same size, bar tables are different sizes too. Ask if you are not sure.  
 
HOW DOES SIZE MATTER WITH REGARD TO PARTS? : These items will all be the same 
size regardless of your table’s size: 
  Coin Box Enclosure 
  Ball Flap 
  Magnetic Separator 
  Corner Castings 
  Down Corners (those plastic exterior corner pieces below the castings) 
  Legs and levelers 
  Coin Door, Ball View Door, Clean Out Door 
These items will differ according to table size: 
  Cushion Rails 
  Slate and Center Ramps 
  Top Rails 
  Side and End Trim 
 
 
 
I HAVE A DYNAMO NON-COIN TABLE EITHER LIKE, OR IN 
THE STYLE OF, THE TABLES SHOWN IN THESE PHOTOS, DO 
YOU HAVE PARTS FOR THEM? 
 
No, not for close to 25 years.  Very few were built 
 
 
I HAVE A DYNAMO COIN TABLE EITHER LIKE, OR IN THE 
STYLE OF, THE TABLE SHOWN ON THIS BROCHURE, DO 
YOU HAVE PARTS FOR THEM? 
 
Some parts yes, some no.  Again, very few were built.  
Before placing ANY orders for parts, contact Tech Support. 
 
HOW MUCH IS MY TABLE WORTH? Requires its own page 
to explain why we can’t answer. See THIS LINK 
 

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

COULD MY TABLE BE RARE AND VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RESTORE TO NEW

CONDITION? We have sold many thousands of tables over the years. From a

collectable standpoint, a 100% restored vintage Dynamo pool table is not a “winning

lottery ticket.” If you have a table you want to restore, don’t worry about getting it to

accurate factory-new condition (and keep in mind, parts availability for older tables

can be a problem). Have fun with your project and get it into a condition to where you

enjoy looking at it, playing on it, and bragging to your friends how hard you worked on

it.

I HAVE AN OLD DYNAMO TABLE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, WOULD YOU WANT TO

BUY IT BACK FROM ME FOR DISPLAY IN YOUR SHOWROOM? No thanks, we simply

don’t have the space. Nor do we even really have a showroom.

DO YOU SELL A KIT TO ADD A DBA TO MY PUSH

CHUTE DYNAMO POOL TABLE (like the one in the

photo)? No, the Sedona DBA table

• Has an LCD display in the top rail making it far easier to

read

• Retains full push chute function in case of battery

failure/discharge so the table can still be used.

We do not supply, endorse or support any 3

party

DBA kit.

CAN I ADAPT PARTS FROM THE CURRENT DYNAMO SEDONA DBA TO USE THE BILL-

ACCEPTOR TO WORK ON MY DYNAMO DBA TABLE FROM THE EARLY 1990’S? No,

only parts shared with current production, non-DBA tables will still be available.

CAN I USE THE ZD-X UPGRADE KIT OFFERED ON YOUR WEBSITE ON MY DYNAMO

PRO PLUS? Yes, this kit will replace the PCB, harnessing, battery and charger and allow

you to have all the additional options, program copying, league dues, reset button and

battery protection advantages of the Panther ZD-X software (also found on our

DYNAMO SEDONA DBA table).

WILL PARTS FOR CURRENT VALLEY BUMPER POOL TABLES FIT MY DYNAMO BUMPER

POOL TABLE? It actually came as a surprise to some longtime pre-merger employees

that Dynamo made a Bumper Pool table at all—until we found some old photos. Aside

from the legs, we’re pretty such no currently-available parts will work. Valley Bumper

Pool cushions will definitely not fit; but with all tables, Bumper Pool cushion rails can be

removed, freshened with new rubber and recovered by nearly any pool table service

professional.

I WANT TO MOVE MY TABLE, HOW DO I TAKE IT APART? Be careful: POOL TABLES

ARE VERY HEAVY. Always overestimate how many people you will need to move

your table. Many of our distributors can offer assistance in moving tables. They may

provide the service, or be able to refer you to an experienced and capable mover.

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

The legs on our tables are removable, and should be removed during the process.

Also, the one-piece slate alone is close to half your table’s weight and very likely to be

damaged if it comes loose during the move. You should remove it and move it

separately. (first remove the metal trim around the sides of the table, then the bolts

holding the cushion rails and the slate should lift out relatively easily, more detailed

instructions are posted on this site). Disassembling a coin operated table any further is

very risky, and your table is unlikely to ever be the same—if you can reassemble it

afterwards at all.

WHAT CUE BALL DO I NEED? Dynamo tables built prior to 1993 will use a weighted

cue ball. Look

directly to the left

inside the Ball View

Door opening and

the separator (which

has moving parts)

will closely

resemble the photo

to the left.

Dynamo tables built

since 1995 will use a

magnetic cue ball. If

you look to the left

at a slight angle and

see something like this shot of the separator to the RIGHT (with no moving parts),

you’ve likely got magnetic separation.

Dynamo tables built between 1993 and 1995 could use either separator, depending on

the customer placing the order.

Some cue balls will have marker dots on them to help with shot practice but may not be

weighted. A common Postal scale should be sensitive enough to detect the weight

difference between a weighted cue ball and the object balls. We stocked a weighted

cue ball in our WebStore but finally depleted our inventory in August 2011 – 16 years

since Dynamo last made a table using that ball. It weighed 6.6oz, a standard object ball

weighs 5.7 to 5.8oz.

We use the Valley® Cougar® Cue Ball by Aramith in new tables. It is a 2¼-inch

perfectly balanced magnetic cue ball and weighs 5.7 to 5.8oz.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE MY POOL TABLE FROM A WEIGHTED TO MAGNETIC CUE

BALL SEPARATOR? While some creative individuals have ordered the COMPLETE

DYNAMO SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY and adapted it for use in an older table, there is no

official procedure for this, no refunds are offered if you give up mid-process, and we

have no instructions available. Remember, a table with a weighted separator is now

close to 25 years old. Perhaps it’s time for a new table?

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

COULD YOU SEND A PARTS BREAKDOWN SPECIFICALLY FOR MY TABLE? The best

Dynamo Pool Parts Breakdown we have is posted. Available parts are hyperlinked,

click on the part and you can see its pricing and purchase it.

This breakdown will not cover 30+ year old metal coin door models, or the billiard-

style non-coin models, but practically everything shown is available.

HOW CAN I GET THE PERSONALIZED ATTENTION

NEEDED TO DO A COMPLETE RESTORATION OF A

TABLE? Although our Parts and Tech departments

are knowledgeable and can answer a few questions,

we are also very busy with the construction and

support of new tables and simply lack the staff to

provide step-by-step guidance. Sometimes you

need someone local or close by who can look at

things first hand, or that you may need to buy a lot of

parts from piecemeal. While you can USE OUR DEALER LOCATOR to possibly find

someone in your area, realize most Dealers are much more interested in selling new

equipment than helping restore a decades-old, parts-might-be-available relic. Your

best bet is often to find others who have restored or are restoring old pool tables. The

Internet is your friend.

WHAT LAMINATE COLORS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? Our tables have come in a

very wide variety of wood shades over the years but we only currently stock parts in

the laminate colors shown on the Dynamo Pool Parts Breakdown and Dynamo Pool

Parts Photos guides.

If you want to restore a table in a different color, or get a laminate made to match what

is currently on your table, we suggest contacting a cabinet refinisher. They normally

have a vast selection of possible laminates to choose from.

We do not stock sheets of laminate for Dynamo tables. Not even for current production

models. Dynamo tables use a thin laminate that is not easily shipped.

HOW DO I REPLACE THE WOOD LAMINATES? What we do at the factory for a new

table is quite different from the steps needed to remove and replace the laminate on a

fully-assembled table. We’ve posted a few tips AT THIS LINK, but best to check with

someone who can teach you in person, hands-on.

COULD I GET A KEY FOR MY OLD COIN DOOR? Not from Valley-Dynamo. For the

owners’ security, coin doors are randomly keyed and there is no “universal” key. To

replace the lock, almost any ⅞” barrel lock ought to work on your coin door, almost all

parts suppliers in the vending/game industry have them readily available for sale, and

we sell replacement locks in our Webstore.

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

SOME REALLY OLD COIN MECHANISMS LOOK LIKE THIS

PHOTO, CAN I STILL GET SOMETHING LIKE IT?

Monarch Coin produces an “old look” coin chute, called the

Model 444. You don’t have the price flexibility of a modern

push chute, but you get the old-style look.

HOW CAN I CHANGE MY COIN-OP TABLE TO FREE PLAY? On more recent tables with

vertical coin slots, there is a fairly simple process to change out the coin slots with

“blanks” so you simply use the existing coin chute. Click for An illustrated guide on

how to do this .

Another option on any table may be to disable the Ball Flap by removing it entirely, or

rigging it to stay in the up position. This way, the balls will simply roll through the trap

without stopping and into the collection box. It might be more difficult than putting

blanks into the push chute, but E-mail Valley Dynamo Tech Support for the procedure,

to make sure it is done correctly.

It is tempting to jerry-rig the table so you can simply reach in and trip the trap to

release the ball without using the push chute. If you remove any pieces, try to save

them. There should be plenty of storage space available in the cavity of the table.

COULD I GET A KEY FOR MY BALL VIEW DOOR OR CLEAN OUT DOOR? These keys

are more readily available—SO LONG AS NO PRIOR OPERATOR CHANGED THE

LOCKS (Operators frequently change the locks to prevent someone with factory-issue

keys for the factory-issue locks from playing unlimited free games on their tables). We

have no control over what lock an owner, operator, or location chooses to install in

their table at some point between when it left our facility and when you got it.

Dynamo tables MAY use a #106, 2255 or 1155 lock – only the #106 key and locks are

still available. Locks and keys can be purchased from many parts distributors and on

the store, and none are that expensive. Unless you are a locksmith or one owes you a

favor, either will cost less than calling a Locksmith to make a key for your table.

There are absolutely no refunds if you order a key and it does

not fit, so proceed with caution.

I NEED THAT PART IN THE LOWER PART

OF THE PHOTO THAT HOLDS THE

TRIPPER ARM IN PLACE. THAT PLASTIC

RECTANGLE. We literally use the scrap

plastic left when punching chalk-relief

holes in the ball return ramps. Any

piece of scrap plastic you can find

locally will do the job just fine. It would

literally cost more to ship the part than

the price of the part.

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

As with a lot of hardware bits on a Dynamo table, we’re not bolting wings on an

airplane here. While there are plenty of special Dynamo-only parts you’ll need to

keep things working, this is very much a case of “anything that looks like it’ll work,

probably will. If it doesn’t, just find something else that looks like it’ll work.”

CAN I PURCHASE A NEW SLATE FOR MY TABLE? Slates are not cheap and, because

they’re real heavy, are not cheap to ship. You are likely looking at around $1000 for a

slate delivered to a local truck terminal. Dynamo slate dimensions have remained

unchanged for decades, are also the same as Valley slate dimensions, and likely other

manufacturers have used slates of the same dimensions as well. Also, the only way a

slate truly ever goes bad is to break. Your quickest and cheapest solution is often to

contact a Vending Operator in your area. They usually have a warehouse stacked to

the ceiling with dusty, cobwebbed, very old tables with slates the size you’re looking

for and will be thrilled to have you buy one and take it off their hands. Take the slate,

take the parts you need, and have a bonfire with the rest or part it out on ebay.

SHOULD I REPLACE MY CUSHION RAILS? For commercial locations we recommend

replacing rails every other year. Rails used on a home table see less usage—unless

you keep that table seriously busy-- but the rubber will begin to dry out and crack after

10 years. Unless the previous owner knows for sure, assume the rails on a newly-

acquired old table probably need replacement, and then you will know exactly how

old they are.

WILL NEW RAILS REALLY FIT MY OLD TABLE? Dynamo rails should fit older tables, no

problem. Even though your table is a Dynamo, it’s a good idea to review our Valley

Cushion Rail Service Guide as it contains specific mounting specifications. Improper

cushion rail height can have a huge effect on your table’s playability.

THERE’S ONE EXCEPTION to this rule and on SOME 1990’s Dynamo model 38 tables,

the current cushion rail design will require a slight modification to your 20+ year old

table for proper fit. Use this link to Contact Tech Support for assistance.

WHAT IS THE TORQUE SPEC FOR RAILS? We tighten rails to 65 inch-pounds, but for

consistent quality play it is far more important that rails are properly aligned.

I’VE ONLY GOT ONE DEAD RAIL; WHY CAN’T I JUST BUY ONE REPLACEMENT? For

several reasons, all good:

• Mixing old and new rails on a table is almost certain to result in inconsistent

play. Now your one dead rail is one rail years newer than the others.

• Rails come in different profiles and rubber configurations which will have

different play characteristics even if they are the same age.

• Replace just one, and you are likely to have a different dead rail a few months

later and have to go through the whole process again.

• The dye lot of a single rail may be just enough from the others to be obvious.

• Left side, right side, and end rails are all different. Practically every time

someone tries to get “just one”, it ends up being wrong.

FAQ-D_mk29.doc– July2019

This is not a conspiracy to force you to buy rails by the set, not more than why shoe

stores only sell shoes in pairs. They will match, they’ll look like they match, and you’ll

know the age of all six rails on your table.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN ORDERING CUSHION RAILS? Be sure you know for

certain…

• The size of the table

• If your table is a Valley or Dynamo (the rails are not interchangeable)

• If you want them uncovered, or pre-covered in Tournament Green

Mercury Ultra felt.

The parts breakdowns located under Dynamo Pool and the Quick Guide to Rail sets on

site will list part numbers for all available rail sets. Uncovered rail sets with K-66 profile

rubber are available for all Dynamo table sizes except 9-foot, but covered Dynamo

rails are only available for 6½-foot, 7-foot and 8-foot tables.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT CUSHION RAILS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE?

⧫ Rails for any 9-foot tables, Valley or Dynamo

⧫ Covered rails for Dynamo Model 17/18 tables

YOU CAN ORDER DYNAMO CUSHION RAILS FROM THE VALLEY-DYNAMO WEBSTORE

AT THIS LINK

ABOUT BRUNSWICK POOL TABLES: Valley Dynamo was very briefly a division of

Brunswick and once marketed a Bill Acceptor-operated pool table called the Brunswick

Metro Coin. We’ve not been affiliated with Brunswick for 10 years now. Brunswick

commercial tables (other than the Metro Coin) and home model tables are engineered,

designed and built separately from Valley-Dynamo products and the parts were never

designed to be interchangeable. For service on your Brunswick Pool table, contact

800-336-8764 to find a Brunswick dealer.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION OR PARTS FOR AN OLD POOL TABLE MADE BY ------- ?

We receive a lot of questions from customers who have located an old coin-operated

table by a manufacturer they cannot locate or has been out of business for some time.

Sometimes full-line parts dealers refer those customers to us.

As the manufacturer of Valley and Dynamo tables we only stock parts known to work in

Valley or Dynamo products. Though someone may cleverly be able to adapt our parts

for use elsewhere, we make no guarantees. We have no service information,

documentation or parts for competing products. We have not studied other

manufacturer’s tables to determine if our parts fit.

CAN I BUY PARTS FROM YOU? Anyone with a major credit card or PayPal account may

purchase from the Valley-Dynamo Webstore. You don’t have to be a Dealer.