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Flipper is extremely weak

Dinsdale

Registered
Joined
Oct 19, 2022
Messages
391
Location
UK
Hi all

Installed some new flipper assemblies recently with 11629 coils. All has been working ok, but the left flipper bat would never return.

I adjusted this by tightening the pawl. After some trial and error, this seemed to work, but in doing so I overtightened and snapped the screw that goes in. Not to worry, I used the old one and again after some trial and error, it seemed fine.

Then, yesterday I installed an electronic mod, nothing to do with the flippers. The instructions are HERE. I note this because it says

"- Solder red lead to red colored (flasher side) lead.
- Solder brown wire to blue/ brown colored (flipper side) wire."

It could be a red herring, or bad translation, but I wondered if this blue/brown wire is related to the flippers, so I've resoldered twice now and it's still the same.

So, is it coincidence or is there something on this mod that's stealing too much power from my left flipper?

Attached videos comparing the two. I did tighten the coil stop slightly but this made no difference. While writing this thread, I also removed that 13v flasher (which I only had there as a test anyway) and wondered if that was drawing more power but it has made no difference.
 

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Does the flipper move freely if you move it by hand? compare it to how the other one moves
Yup, no problems at all. I am not shocked as that considering they're only 2 weeks old.
 
Is the end of stroke switch closed properly when flipper is down
No! Now I look at it. The right flipper is closed nice and right when the flipper is at rest.

The left isn't. I've pressed it in and it's now powerful again. Great. I do see a small blue spark when it makes contact. I assume that's normal! It's not happening on the right one, for what it's worth.
 

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Thanks! That said, my ball popper has now stopped working 😂 I swear this pinball machine is self aware and is trolling me. Onto the next problem.
 
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