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TNA - Pop Bumper issue and also left flipper

C

C&C

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5Years
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Feb 9, 2020
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London
I have 2 issues with my TNA - currently at just over 4000 games played.

Firstly, and I suspect less serious, is that when holding the left flipper it emits a buzzing sound. The right does not. Is this an indication of a pending flipper rebuild being needed, or some easily solved problem (both flippers set to same strength in the config menu)?

Secondly, and more serious (as it prevents any play on the game) is that the Pop Bumper has suddenly stopped working at all. On further investigation, it looks like the threaded section on the end of one of the two "mounting rods" has snapped off. I found a piece of brown plastic, 6 washers and a nut in the bottom of the cabinet along with the other nut still attached to the snapped off thread (see pics below).

My questions are whether the threaded rod is potentially repairable, do I need a whole new Pop Bumper assembly, or is there a solution somewhere in between? If a new Pop Bumper assembly, can anyone throw any light on exactly which variant from Pinball Life (see link), or any other (UK?) supplier?

Any thoughts and advice very much welcomed!


50882669346_cf5962c069_o.jpg
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You only need a replacement ring/rod assembly, not the whole thing. @PinballDaze will probably sort you out with one, I had one off him before for my RFM. He'll probably want the rod length to confirm the correct one.
 
It’s a easy repair job. Pretty common issues with pop bumpers. The good news is that it is one of the cheaper items to repair.
 
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buzz on flippers - check switch gaps, check the coil stops and check the sleeve. I'd put money on the sleeve. Mine buzz also but it gets worse over time.
 
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Thanks for all the responses.

@PinballDaze I'll message you with dimensions when I have taken the whole pop bumper off so am able to measure the rods.

Re. the buzzing, good to know that it's not unusual, but seeing as the right flipper is silent, and the left has only recently started buzzing, I'll follow Neil's advice and carry out those checks as I'd like to get it back to operating silently, especially as catching and holding the ball on both flippers is an integral part of the game (or at least it is the way I play it)!
 
The Stern NIBs I’ve had maybe started to get flipper buzz after 100 games or so. It’s a bit of slop in the mechanism as it wears.

Saying that, rebuilding flippers with known good parts is never a bad thing and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of preventative maintenance!
 
TNA doesn't use a EOS switch.
It works by changing the duty cycle or frequency going to the coil.
So it will buzz a little more that the usual.
Most parts on TNA are from pinball life as that's where Scott works.
 
Thanks for the help on here.

TNA pop bumper now back in action, and as it was about ready for a clean, given it a very thorough clean and polish, new rubbers on the main flippers and a set of new Premium Ultra-Gloss balls.

It's a fast game anyway, but now the ball just flies around, although the new rubbers on the flippers actually make it a little easier to catch the ball. Managed 3.5million on standard settings, so not a bad start.
 
Check your EOS switch gaps (if TNA have them).
If TNA does not have EOS switches then buy a flipper rebuild kit. I would do this anyway. Change the coil stops, coil sleeves, plungers etc.
Some Stern and data east games emit this buzz a lot. Not noticed it that bad on newer sterns.
 
Pick Holder said:
Check your EOS switch gaps (if TNA have them).
If TNA does not have EOS switches then buy a flipper rebuild kit. I would do this anyway. Change the coil stops, coil sleeves, plungers etc.
Some Stern and data east games emit this buzz a lot. Not noticed it that bad on newer sterns.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Apparently TNA does not have EOS switches - not that I knew what EOS switches actually were before this issue came up, so every day is a school day!

Still not sure I completely understand it all, but the flipper strength is adjustable in the menu, and there's also a "flipper hold boost" setting which apparently will use PWM on the main coils in addition to the secondary hold coils (if this makes sense)?

Regardless, it seems that the issue is likely to be wear on some of the flipper assembly, so I think that the flipper rebuild kit is the way to go. As has been mentioned, it's good maintenance practise in any case.

The kits are available from Pinball Life in the USA for $25 (+$30 shipping + any import duty etc) enabling a full rebuild of both main flippers. I'm happy to order from there but wondered if anyone in the UK supplies these? @PinballDaze for example?

TNA_rebuild_kit.jpg
 
Well, the flipper rebuild kit has arrived from the USA.

Interestingly, I wasn't asked to pay any import duty, so total cost was $55 including shipping (via UPS). Is this normal/expected?

Also, it appears that they have included replacement switches (see below) which weren't shown on their catalogue photo above.

50952909108_20f159cdc1_o.jpg
 
www.pinball.co.uk

Flipper rebuild kit (1991-1999) A-13524-8 - Pinball Heaven

Flipper rebuild kit for WPC Fliptronic games (Addams Family to Cactus Canyon), suitable to replace all mechanical parts on a left hand and a right hand flipper. For 4 flipper games, 2 kits required! USA made, superior quality You can now add half a kit if you have a single upper left or right...
www.pinball.co.uk www.pinball.co.uk

Or £28 from the UK mate.

It is a standard flipper rebuild. The spooky games use a lot of parts originally used on Bally/Williams games in the 80s/90s
 
Pick Holder said:
Or £28 from the UK mate.

It is a standard flipper rebuild. The spooky games use a lot of parts originally used on Bally/Williams games in the 80s/90s
Click to expand...

Thanks - that's useful to know.

I did ask in a post above whether these were available from the UK:

C&C said:
The kits are available from Pinball Life in the USA for $25 (+$30 shipping + any import duty etc) enabling a full rebuild of both main flippers. I'm happy to order from there but wondered if anyone in the UK supplies these? @PinballDaze for example?
Click to expand...

.. but as no-one replied, went ahead and ordered from Pinball Life in the USA.

I'll obviously be ordering from the UK (Pinball Heaven) for future kits now that I know these are the same! :thumbs:
 
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