Star Tech Journal

STAR*TEcH
Journal
ST.I on
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Every tech tip, game mod, test
procedure, Mfg change, update,
upgrade, precaution, etc.
for virtually all coin-op games
produced from
1979 - 1995
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IN oF®Def®
To
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PF®ove You
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January 1996
COMMON FLIPPER TROUBLES,
SYMPTOMS, AND SOLUTIONS
Jonathan Deitch
Games Technician
Atlanta, Georgia
No FLIP. AT ALL.
Check the fuse. If it's good, make
sure your main 50V de power is
getting to the flipper ( check the
manual for the proper wires to
check).
SYMPTOM:
If it is, make sure your flipper
cabinet buttons are okay. High
voltage switches (non-Fliptronic
games) are notorious for oxida-
tion buildup on the switch con-
tacts. Drag a business card
through the contacts to clean
them.
Fliptronic systems on WPC
games have coil tests specifically
for flippers. This helps you iden-
tify what coil is the problem. The
Fliptronic system also continually
tests the EOS switches and cabi-
net switches. Problems will be
noted on the game's error report
upon entering test mode.
STILL NO GO?
Remove the coil, unsolder its di-
odes and check for continuity. An
open circuit, after the diodes are
removed, for either part of the
coil (the common terminal to
both the other terminals one at a
time) indicates a bad coil that
needs replacement. Usually the
holding side of the coil goes bad,
but the power side has also been
known to fail.
Still no go? Follow the circuit
from the transformer right on
through the power supply until
you find the point where it stops.
That'll be the problem.
SYMPTOM : WEAK FLIP.
Check the plunger shaft and coil
stop for mushrooming. A mush-
roomed plunger dragging against
the coil sleeve is a classic cause
of a weak flipper.
The plunger should slide
smoothly and cleanly back and
forth inside the coil. Any resis-
tance indicates a problem.
Also, check for a worn out EOS
switch, if this is a non-Fliptronic
system. An EOS switch with high
resistance will cause the high
power side of the coil to perma-
nently disengage from the circuit.
This leaves only the holding side
of the coil to provide power, not
near enough.
SYMPTOM : FLIPPER BOUNCE
(newer or new games)
This is what has been reported
as "new flipper" syndrome -
where a brand new game has bad
flippers ... usually flippers th
stay up a bit after the button b
released. This is due to the plas-
... continued on page 5