Leaf switch gap and damping blade

As a rule of thumb, leave a 1/16 to 1/8 in gap between open leaf switch contacts, and set the moving blade so it meets the fixed blade and nudges it slightly on closing. A gap that is too wide may fail to make; one that is too narrow lets vibration chatter the switch. Some switches carry a heavier unwired stiffener (damping) blade; bent out of place, it can bridge the two wired blades and short them.

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

• Cleaning leaf switch contacts
• Test a leaf switch diode in place
• Switch gap and adjustment targets
• Adjust a leaf switch at the stack
• Testing a leaf switch diode in place
• Cleaning gold leaf switches
• Testing a leaf switch diode in place
• Game will not start: shorted switch or energised coil

Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)