Improving first-generation System 3/4 flippers
Steps
- Rebuild with fresh parts: coil stop, plunger and link, sleeve, EOS switch, and the pawl where worn.
- Replace the cabinet flipper switches.
- To make the bat lighter, remove the plastic shoe (one screw underneath), screw the metal bat to scrap wood and drill seven holes, largest near the shaft and smaller toward the tip (two at 5/16", one each at 1/4" and 7/32", then 3/16", 5/32" and finally 1/8").
- This takes the bat from about 1.5 oz to about 1 oz and makes the flipper noticeably snappier, with less bounce at end of stroke.
Systems
Related tips
- How flipper power is routed by generation
- Three flipper mechanism generations
- System 3-7 flipper coils are series wound
- Converting System 3-7 flippers to WPC-style mechanisms: main parts
- Flipper fuse blows
- Where flipper power comes from
- Measure a flipper coil
- Most flipper faults are EOS switch faults
Source: Repairing Williams System 3 to System 7 Pinball 1977 to 1984, Part Three, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)