A flipper is sluggish although the coil and switches check out.
Flipper weak because the return spring is too strong
Cause: Excess return spring tension working against the coil.
Checks
- See whether the spring is wound around the flipper shaft (common on Gottlieb) or hooked to the plunger or link.
Fix
- For a shaft spring, unwind it part of a turn (as little as a third of a turn can help), making sure it still returns the flipper fully.
- For a plunger or link spring, try a different, weaker spring; do not cut or stretch the original, and keep it in case.
Systems
- Williams System 3
- Williams System 4
- Williams System 6 / 6A
- Williams System 7
- Williams System 9
- Williams System 11
- Williams System 11A
- Williams System 11B
- Williams System 11C
- WPC Alpha-Numeric
- WPC Dot Matrix
- WPC Fliptronics
- WPC DCS
- WPC-Security (WPC-S)
- WPC-95
- Bally MPU AS-2518-17
- Bally MPU AS-2518-35
- Stern MPU-100
- Stern MPU-200
- Bally 6803
- Gottlieb System 1
- Gottlieb System 80
- Gottlieb System 80A
- Gottlieb System 80B
- Gottlieb System 3
- Data East CPU Version 1/2
- Data East CPU Version 3
- Data East/Sega CPU Version 3b
- Capcom
- Electro-mechanical
Related tips
- Weak flipper from an over-tight return spring
- Weak, chattering or buzzing flipper: end-of-stroke switch
- Replacing a flipper coil
- Flipper coil numbers carry two windings
- Cleaning and adjusting the cabinet flipper switch
- Right flipper too weak for the top lock after a rebuild: lighter return spring
- Flipper dead: burned coil
- Flipper button sticks
Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)