flipper repair question - very weak flipper

pudluther

Active member
Joined
Aug 15, 2007
Messages
2,200
Reaction score
9
Location
South Carolina
ok...now that i've fixed my control room problem in my JP (FINALLY! ;) ), i need to get the flipper fixed.

the left flipper is horribly weak.....it HAS enough "kick" to get the ball to the top of the playfield, but it is slooooooooooooooow to get there and very, very weakly hit. about 10% of the time, the flipper is so weak that it barely gets the ball 1/3 of the way up the playfield. if a ball comes back and hits the left flipper with significant force, it will sometimes just slap the flipper back down and drain.


my question is: what kind of a problem am i having? and where do i need to start looking to diagnose the problem & repair it?

please understand that i am a total n00b at repairs.....so use small words. ;)
 
thanks, fellas.....cleaned the EOS with some alcohol and fired it up just to test it out. it really seems to have made a difference.

it's not hitting like a high powered, brand new flipper would be expected to, but it definitely appears to be more powerful than it was before i cleaned it. i'm gonna play a few games to test it out further.


any other suggestions? like, to maybe get it firing back to normal?
 
new coil sleeve's? Might as well get a flipper rebuild kit and be done with it! I did mine last September "09 and they are working strong as as the day I put them in. The Best $25 I spent from Terry.
 
Read section 4a of the Marvin guides. Sounds like an EOS issue to me. Also good idea to replace the coil sleeve, coil stop, pawl, etc. Might as rebuild them while your down there.


Part of 4a from Marvins
Step 15: Cleaning and Adjusting the EOS Switch.
Cleaning and adjusting the EOS (end of stroke) switch is the last step in rebuilding flippers. This is VERY important, especially on non-fliptronics games. On non-fliptronics games, the EOS switch is what diverts power away from the high-powered side of the flipper coil. If not adjusted correctly and the EOS switch stays closed, the flipper coil can burn. If the EOS switch is dirty and doesn't make good contact, the flipper will be extremely weak. Therefore it's critical that the EOS switch be adjusted and cleaned on non-fliptronics flippers. On fliptronics games the EOS switch is less critical, but should still be inspected.

On non-fliptronics games, clean the EOS switch contacts with a file. There should be no pitting in the contacts when done. The EOS switch is a normally closed switch. So adjust the non-fliptronics EOS switch so it opens about 1/8" at the end of the flipper's stroke.

On fliptronics games, clean the EOS switch contacts with a rag and some alcohol. Or clean the EOS switch by running a business card through the closed contacts once or twice. The EOS switch is a normally open switch. So adjust the fliptronics EOS switch so the contacts close when the flipper is at its end of stroke. Adjust the EOS switch to close at near the end of the flipper bat travel

Make sure the EOS switch doesn't hang on the flipper pawl when the flipper is fully extended.

Last, turn the game on and put it into diagnostic test mode. Close the coin door (to turn power on to the flippers). Now press the cabinet flipper buttons and AGAIN check the EOS switch spacing and adjusted as needed.
 
Read section 4a of the Marvin guides. Sounds like an EOS issue to me. Also good idea to replace the coil sleeve, coil stop, pawl, etc. Might as rebuild them while your down there.


Part of 4a from Marvins
Step 15: Cleaning and Adjusting the EOS Switch.
Cleaning and adjusting the EOS (end of stroke) switch is the last step in rebuilding flippers. This is VERY important, especially on non-fliptronics games. On non-fliptronics games, the EOS switch is what diverts power away from the high-powered side of the flipper coil. If not adjusted correctly and the EOS switch stays closed, the flipper coil can burn. If the EOS switch is dirty and doesn't make good contact, the flipper will be extremely weak. Therefore it's critical that the EOS switch be adjusted and cleaned on non-fliptronics flippers. On fliptronics games the EOS switch is less critical, but should still be inspected.

On non-fliptronics games, clean the EOS switch contacts with a file. There should be no pitting in the contacts when done. The EOS switch is a normally closed switch. So adjust the non-fliptronics EOS switch so it opens about 1/8" at the end of the flipper's stroke.

On fliptronics games, clean the EOS switch contacts with a rag and some alcohol. Or clean the EOS switch by running a business card through the closed contacts once or twice. The EOS switch is a normally open switch. So adjust the fliptronics EOS switch so the contacts close when the flipper is at its end of stroke. Adjust the EOS switch to close at near the end of the flipper bat travel

Make sure the EOS switch doesn't hang on the flipper pawl when the flipper is fully extended.

Last, turn the game on and put it into diagnostic test mode. Close the coin door (to turn power on to the flippers). Now press the cabinet flipper buttons and AGAIN check the EOS switch spacing and adjusted as needed.Finally,install a PINE tree freshener.

Fixed ;)
 
Check the EOS switch adjustment. They can be so picky. I've had one that looked like it had to be OK when working it by hand but the flipper was very weak. Adjusted it some and it corrected it completely. Went from only going 6 inches to the top of the playfield without an issue.
 
Back
Top Bottom