Flipper sticking up on Indy 500

[Nickbs]

I've got a problem with the left-hand flipper on my Indy 500. It 'flips' ok to hit the ball, but then stays in the up position on most occasions until either the ball hits it or I operate the right hand flipper (!?).

I'm assuming this should be a reasonably straightforward fix (when you know what you've got to do!), but would appreciate any pointers as to where to start (e.g. An adjustment, replacement part, flipper rebuild or junk the whole machine and buy another one....)

 

[Spandangler]

The best thing you can do, as I've found is look at it like this. Some nugget in the Bally factory managed to assemble that lot.

It's just some screws. Undo everything and take it to bits. You'll learn quickly by disassembling it how the theory of it works and 9/10 you'll see the fault too.
Most flipper faults are mechanical and not electrical, so I'm sure it'll be a case of adjustment and cleaning.

And if you find you can't get it back together afterwards, at least it can't make you pregnant. Which is the worst thing that could happen. And I'm sure we could talk you through reassembly.

Go on, give it a go.

 

[Sgt GrizZ]

At minimum - disassemble, good clean, reassemble correctly. May need to replace/refresh some parts.

These should help

http://www.performancepinball.com/rebuilding-flippers.html

http://techniek.flipperwinkel.nl/wpc/index2.htm#flip0

 

[DRD]

5 litres of unleaded petrol is a possible solution here. Ensure no petrol on you. Retreat to safe distance, place firelighter on shovel, light it, propel onto pinball doused liberally in unleaded. Have a burning ceremony. Film it. Place on forum

Or to fix it

Photograph everything before you do it, then take to bits as advised above and give a good clean using isopropyl alcohol

Weak return spring ?
Dirt in coil sleeve ?
Dirt in flipper bearing ? (The white thing that goes through the playfield that the flipper shaft goes in)
No gap between bottom of flipper and top of flipper bearing ? (You can buy a gauge, but it is the thickness of a credit card)
Rusty solenoid plunger ? (Solvol autosol to clean it)
Knackered nylon flipper link (buy new one)

 

[Nedreud]

My initial reaction would be that it's a mechanical rather than electrical problem, but odd the pressing the other flipper then makes it drop. Could be a red herring. Maybe the knock from the other flipper is enough to shake it loose and make it drop. Have you had the glass off and just tried moving the flipper by hand to see if it's moving freely? There should be no stickiness whatsoever with a very slight amount of vertical play.

I know it's not exactly the same flipper but I did a full strip-down and restoration of the flipper on my PARAGON:

FLIPPER REBUILD
http://www.pinballinfo.com/communit...ion-1978-bally-paragon.6519/page-2#post-51840

FLIPPER REBUILD CONTINUED
http://www.pinballinfo.com/communit...on-1978-bally-paragon.6519/page-10#post-76940

As mentioned above you need to set the right gap to allow a very small amount of vertical movement. For this you need a "Flipper Shaft End Play Spacing Gauge". This is just a bit of plastic with a slot that fits around the shaft. You can buy a proper one for $$$ but I found an old store card that was exactly the right thickness and just cut a slot in it. Documented here on my Pinball Tools thread:

http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/pinball-tools.12379/#post-67367

 

[Nickbs]

Thanks for all the replies guys - most appreciated!

Was going to go the petrol route, but just checked and it turns out I've only got 4 litres of petrol in the 5 litre mower can, so concerned that won't be quite enough to do the job properly (+ the wife has suggested/insisted that if I need to set fire to it then I'm going to have to take it out in the garden and do it there - not ideal as it looks like RSI. Overnight and I'm sure that will really stuff up the electrics!)

Lot's of good tips/links there - I'll work through them - got to admit after an initial online look I couldn't quite reconcile the symptom of the operation of the right hand flipper releasing the left-hand, could be but doesn't seem to be vibration as this us minimal)

 

[Paul]

5 litres of unleaded petrol is a possible solution here. Ensure no petrol on you. Retreat to safe distance, place firelighter on shovel, light it, propel onto pinball doused liberally in unleaded. Have a burning ceremony. Film it. Place on forum

Why, It's not a TOM or TZ.....!!!

 

[Fintan Stack]

I think the best way to see if it is an electrical problem or mechanical is to switch off the machine when the flipper is stuck. If it immediately drops back down then it is probably electrical.
I had the same issue on my TFTC a few weeks back. That was electrical. I'm pretty sure the issue was with diode on the coil. I put a new coil in and everything was cool. Could have just replaced the diode I reckon.

 

[alchy]

Plunger not moving freely due to dirt or bad nylon link or flipper spacing on the bushes. Also check the coil sleave make sure it comes out and not stuck in due to contracted coil and check its not broken. Also check spring is attached and of correct size and tension.