Targets

[Lindsey]

Yes and no.

Yeah... I was aware of that. Great post though!

This guy did a conversion on a late model firepower:

http://pinball.flippers.info/firepowerdroptargets/

I haven't actually checked mine. I think I'll probably try the conversion if it's an older model but there's no way I'm hacking up the playfield otherwise. I've heard the same thing about people preferring the stand up targets but I would like to try it anyway.

 

[Lindsey]

Probably the largest stumbling block beyond hacking on the playfield would be obtaining two 3-bank horseshoe style drop target mechanisms that still work!

They're unreliable at best. I've had decent luck fixing them in the past by cleaning the contact circuit boards with DeOxit, gapping and re-gapping the contacts on the target, and replacing sliders in the mechs because people have broken off the screw bosses from overtightening the circuit boards. BTW the sliders are the same as the ones used in later drop target mechs. The hardest replacement part to find for the horseshoe style target mech is the contact itself.

Richard

You're singing to the choir, brother

Another good post. I've restored a bunch of system 3-7 games and always end up spending way too much time on drop targets. I've got the parts to do the firepower conversion. Finding the TIME is another story...

I just checked and I have 14 system 3-7 games. That's actually a little scary!

 

[Lindsey]

That's awesome!

My parents actually have a Flash which was my first pin ever like 11 years ago. A lot of my sys3-7 stuff is pretty rough and needing full restoration but there's definitely some gems in the bunch. I love those games too. I don't do VAPs but here's my list of games from that series.

Pokerino
Flash
Stellar Wars
Time Warp
Gorgar
Firepower
Blackout
Scorpion
Alien Poker
Black Knight
Jungle Lord
Solar Fire
Hyperball
Laser Cue

I would LOVE a Pennant Fever. I'm a huge pitch and bat fan but I don't have too many of them.

 

[Schusler]

Not to be off topic but I played 3 awesome system 7 games....Cosmic Gunfight and Starlight and some Defender( not sure if that's system 7 though). love the System 7's!!!!!

 

[Steelhorse]

Generally on standup targets (what non-drops are usually called) there is a small strip of foam to cushion the blow to the target. Most pin parts suppliers sell pre-cut pieces of certain types of foam for this purpose. You can get pretty much the same effect by getting some dense weatherstrip foam from the hardware store and cutting your own.

(Apologies for the glare/reflection; took the pic with the playfield glass on.)

Foam also tends to decrease the number of airballs you'll get off standup targets. This is good, because those airballs end up dimpling your playfield pretty badly over time.

Richard

Thanks Richard, I have some weatherstrip foam seems real soft it's white in color like what your picture shows.. I take this on when I replace my rubber rings and clean the PF, If I can figure out taking off the ramp, as I'am run into some difficulty. Thanks for taking the picture. Jeff