Star Tech Journal

STAR*TECH Journal
April 1987 [B)
New Generation Flippers
by WIiiiams
using Williams pins. In the next year or
two everyone will adapt this system.
By Todd Erickson
Summit Amusements
St. Paul, Minnesota
These features help make F-14 '101CAT the
hottest game ever produced by Williams ..
The lower maintenance should help make 1t
the most maintenance free pin game also.
This means more profit, not just cash
flow.
'Ihe flipper assembly is the heart of the
pinball. If it gets weak, the cash box
gets lighter. It is also the highest
maintenance item on the game.
All flipper assemblies were wired the
same, until F-14 '101CAT by Williams. Prior
to this, the flipper coil was a primary
and secondary coil in series, with an ms
End-of-Stroke) switch across the secondary
winding.
The new coil uses a power and hold winding
wired in parallel. The advantage of this
wiring arrangement is that not all the
current goes through the ms. The coil is
also wound more efficiently. There is also
a cap across the EDS to extend the life of
the contacts.
LIFESPAN
The wear of the EDS is a factor of heat.
Heat is proportional to the square of the
current (40% reduction of current means
2/3 reduction of heat). 'Ihe improverrent
should mean an increase in life of the EDS
somewhere in the 5 to 10 tines range. This
is a MAJOR improvenent for the most
troublesome part of a pinball.
A game like F-14 'IOMCAT doing $500/week
should theoretically have more trouble
than an older game doing $50/week for 10
weeks. When a flipper is played that much,
the coil generates heat. As the coil heats
up, the resistance of the wire goes up,
current goes down and power drops.
'!he new coil runs much cooler. This means
that it retains its power much better than
the older designs. This also means more
incorre over the life of the game and less
service calls.
The ironic part of this is that Williams
will sell less replacerrent part s , but the
operator will be much more profitable
RE'l10"1'1'
Williams also did something else for the
operator. This coil can be installed in
all older Williams games using 50 volt.
The capacitor on the EOS should also be
installed. Older games that don't have the
plastic link should also have the
plunger/link replaced with the new
asserrbly. Garres not having the conical
spring should have the spring and front
bracket replaced. All garnes should have
the rubber return stop on the front
bracket.
MINlDi\NCE SOlmJLES
Conventional plastic coil sleeves should
be replaced every 10,000 plays. The new
plastic link/plunger should have a life of
20 to 40 thousand plays. The old coil EDS
has a useful life around 10,000 plays. 'Ihe
Williams plunger is ground and polished
steel. It would be wise to buy it from a
Williams distributor so you are sure you
get Williams quality. I can remember
filing~ finger nails with a non-Williams
plunger. 'Ihat will cut the life of a coil
sleeve in less than half.
'Ihe game F-14 '101CAT speaks for itself.
The reduced operating cost is just as
important. I feel that this is another
user-friendly pinball feature from
Williams. 'lhese features along with
industry standardization should reduce our
service at least 1/3.
Murphy's Law #902
When t he need ar i ses , any t ool or object
closest to you becorres a hammer.