The plunger drags, sticks or does not return smoothly.
Ball shooter sticks or feels rough
Cause: Dirt and old grease on the shooter rod and its housing, rust, or a worn spring.
Checks
- Pull and release the plunger to feel where it binds.
Fix
- Strip the shooter, sketching the order of clips, washers and springs.
- Clean the rod and housing with alcohol; remove rust with fine emery cloth, crocus cloth or steel wool.
- Prefer cleaning to lubricating, since lubricant attracts lint and dirt.
- Replace rusted or tired springs.
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
Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)