Why is there a resistor/cap on my flipper buttons on Shuttle?

Frax

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Why is there a resistor/cap on my flipper buttons on Shuttle?

I don't know what's going on with this. I either couldn't find any info or couldn't read the shit-scanned manual I have well enough to see what's going on here...

But on my shuttle flipper buttons, one has what looks like a 200v disc resistor wired across the terminals, the other has what looks like a green resistor pack that I have no idea what the rating on it is.

Why are these there? What is SUPPOSED to be there, if anything? I want to replace these flipper switches, like everything else in the machine, the contact pads are worn to almost nothing from sparking and just 30 years of wear, I figured I'd just replace these as well until I found out there were two different parts on there and I can't read an electrical schematic to save my life.
 
May be a capacitor intended to reduce sparking across the gap as the leaf switch contacts touch. Similar capacitors are also usually across the EOS switches on the flippers to prolong switch life. Less damage to the high-voltage leaf switch contact buttons that way.

RussMyers

I don't know what's going on with this. I either couldn't find any info or couldn't read the shit-scanned manual I have well enough to see what's going on here...

But on my shuttle flipper buttons, one has what looks like a 200v disc resistor wired across the terminals, the other has what looks like a green resistor pack that I have no idea what the rating on it is.

Why are these there? What is SUPPOSED to be there, if anything? I want to replace these flipper switches, like everything else in the machine, the contact pads are worn to almost nothing from sparking and just 30 years of wear, I figured I'd just replace these as well until I found out there were two different parts on there and I can't read an electrical schematic to save my life.
 
Well, I've got the original manual here in front of me. The wiring diagram (page 17) shows the flipper buttons wired directly to the connect (7J1) which connects to 7P1, which is wired to the CPU board (so that the CPU can disable the flippers), and to the right and left flippers, respectively. Each flipper should have an end of stroke switch, a coil, and a diode (at least according to this).

This shows NOTING on the flipper buttons themselves.

My guess is that it's someone's hack to make up for something else not being right. The first thing that springs to my mind is the diodes on the flipper coils.

I'd take the excess junk off, and I'd replace (or at least test) the diodes on the flipper solenoids, I'd check the solenoids for shorts, and I'd have a good look at relay K1 on the CPU board (sheet 1 of the CPU schematic, grid reference B1, which is lower right), as that's the relay used to lock-out the flippers. I'd do all that before I tested the flippers again.

You'll probably find one or more things wrong in the flipper setup, and that the extra components are being used to make up for something else being wrong.
 
Awesome info. :)

I was wondering if they were trying to cut out the sparking, I've definitely seen it on the right side for sure...but only when I outright slap the button. Doesn't seem to happen very much, if at all, during normal play.

But the good new is I'm not totally crazy! I read the schematic right. Woot?

The diodes are actually the only part of the right flipper assembly that HAS NOT been replaced, and thank god, I can source them locally. I should just go pick up some new ones and slap em on there. The right solenoid is completely new, the left one is the one that was in there when I got it...but I do have a spare if I end up wanting to replace it too...almost might as well since I'm going to have to be in there doing the diodes anyways.

Wonder why the CPU would be locking out the flippers? Just so you can't use them when it's not in play I guess? There's no part of the game features that should be doing that. You can still use them when the coin door's open.
 
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