Weak auto-plunger

[Carl Spiby]

My friends Stern Spider-Man has issues auto-launching balls when you
enter multiball, the shooter lane gets gummed up with 3 balls and its
unable to clear it on its own, I've resorted to manually plunging them
up the lane.

I feel like this is a common problem on Stern's as its not the first
machine I've seen fail to auto-plunge balls.

Is there a rebuild kit available?

 

[JT.]

I had a similar problem, see here: http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/weak-spiderman-ball-kicker.2187/. You can sort it by replacing the plunger spring (the one on the outside of the case) and / or fiddling around with the bit of rubber on the end of the plunger.

 

[Carl Spiby]

The auto-plunger doesn't use the manual plunger though, its like a fork that flicks up?

 

[Pudsey pinball]

Check that as it fires to flick ball in to play that it's not catching on the rubber plunger tip as the metal prongs on auto plunger sometimes bend in a little,check coil plunger and sleeve

 

[JT.]

Yeah , the manual plunger is pushing the ball up the lane, so the auto plunger does not strike it as designed. When the fork comes up, it doesn't hit the ball properly cos the manual plunger is pushing the ball up the lane by a few mm. Get someone to hold the external plunger back whilst muilti-ball starts, then we'll know its the same root cause problem.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Ah now I understand, I'll take a look! Thanks!

 

[Spandangler]

I've known sterns auto plungers to struggle when the games set up to steep as well. Simple but could be worth a check !