Author Topic: EM Flipper problem  (Read 507 times)

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Offline spacejam0

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EM Flipper problem
« on: December 11, 2011, 03:03:41 PM »
Hi Guys

What would cause a flipper on a EM game to rapidly flick (like a machine gun) when the flipper button is pushed. There are 2 flippers controlled by each flipper button but on the lower flipper continously shots when the button is pushed.

Thanks

Tim

Offline 48

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2011, 03:28:47 PM »
Faulty EOS switch, perhaps dirty, clean contacts.
Or hold winding of coil not working check for wires off, then test coil.
Cheers,
Lets go Brandon!

Offline Pintoxicated

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2011, 04:26:06 PM »
Taken from the odl Pinrepair guides for WPC games but the theory will be pretty much the same I am pretty sure.

If the flipper works, but...
Non-Fliptronics Games:
Any one of the flippers flutters (goes up, comes down, goes up, comes down),
when the cabinet flipper button is held in (the flipper flutters slowly). On a
non-fliptronics games, this is a problem with the EOS switch. The EOS switch
for the offending flipper, which should be closed when the flipper is deenergized,
is not making good contact. Either the switch contacts are
misadjusted or burned, or an EOS switch wire is broken. Or it could mean the
hold winding on the coil itself is broken. The hold winding on the coil is the thin
wire. If it is broken, you can usually see the wire has broken away from one of
the solder lug. Test the coil (see above) with a DMM. Sometimes the break
can provide an intermittent connection too.
Flipper flutter could also be the EOS switch is not adjusted properly. If the
moving EOS switch blade does not have enough tension against the other
switch blade, flipper flutter can occur. Sometimes adjusting the EOS switch
with the game on and the flipper button held in is the best way (but be careful
not to short the high voltage EOS to another switch!), because wear in the
flipper linkages can give wrong EOS switch measurements when moving a
flipper bat by hand. Also check the cabinet switches for proper tension and
that they are clean. Lastly, try replacing the coil stop. A very worn coil stop
can cause flipper flutter
Addicted to pins.

Offline spacejam0

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2011, 07:53:58 PM »
Thanks for your help guys.
I inspected the coil that controlls the problem flipper. I'm going to try to explain in laymem's terms what I have found. Bare in mind I know very little about electronics and have only just started doing small repairs myself and trying to learn....so please go easy on me.
There is a small square plastic thing at one end of the coil where the 2 fine copper wires come out of the coil and soilder onto the ends of 2 small metal  tabs connected to the plastic square thing at the end of the coil. At the other ends of the metal tabs is where wire from the machince are soildered to the coil.
What I found was that one of the metal tabs had snapped and had come out of the plastic thing and had pulled the fine copper wire going into the coil with it. This gives me 2 problems.  A-the wire has snapped somewhere inside the coil so I cant find the other end. B-the metal tab is broken and no longer sits inside the plastic thing.
Is the plastic square with the metal tabs all part of the coil and if so do I just but a new coil, fit it and problem solved?
Hope this makes sense and there arnt too many spelling mistakes.
Thanks......Tim

Offline Retropin

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2011, 07:59:30 PM »
Sounds like the tab for the holding windings has come away... are you sure the wire is broken? Normally the wire manages to hold itself when this happens... if its not broken then you can simply glue it back into place as a short term fix... but at the end of day... you need a new coil my friend

Offline 48

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2011, 08:10:37 PM »
Sounds like the tab for the holding windings has come away... are you sure the wire is broken? Normally the wire manages to hold itself when this happens... if its not broken then you can simply glue it back into place as a short term fix... but at the end of day... you need a new coil my friend
Yep as Retropin says, its time for a new coil!!
Lets go Brandon!

Offline Boots

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2011, 08:49:34 PM »
Sounds like the tab for the holding windings has come away... are you sure the wire is broken? Normally the wire manages to hold itself when this happens... if its not broken then you can simply glue it back into place as a short term fix... but at the end of day... you need a new coil my friend
Yep as Retropin says, its time for a new coil!!

New coil is not always required.
If the wire has broken away and you are able to unwind it a bit you can just solder it back to the lug, then its good as new.
Losing 1 revolution on the coil winding won't make any difference.

Offline Pintoxicated

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2011, 09:30:49 PM »
Sounds like the tab for the holding windings has come away... are you sure the wire is broken? Normally the wire manages to hold itself when this happens... if its not broken then you can simply glue it back into place as a short term fix... but at the end of day... you need a new coil my friend
Yep as Retropin says, its time for a new coil!!

New coil is not always required.
If the wire has broken away and you are able to unwind it a bit you can just solder it back to the lug, then its good as new.
Losing 1 revolution on the coil winding won't make any difference.

I think the problem here is not just the wire but the metal tab where everything is soldered together has snapped off as well.  Do it right the first time and just replace the coil - problem solved and no more headaches down the track. 
Addicted to pins.

Offline Boots

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2011, 09:52:59 PM »
Sounds like the tab for the holding windings has come away... are you sure the wire is broken? Normally the wire manages to hold itself when this happens... if its not broken then you can simply glue it back into place as a short term fix... but at the end of day... you need a new coil my friend
Yep as Retropin says, its time for a new coil!!

New coil is not always required.
If the wire has broken away and you are able to unwind it a bit you can just solder it back to the lug, then its good as new.
Losing 1 revolution on the coil winding won't make any difference.

I think the problem here is not just the wire but the metal tab where everything is soldered together has snapped off as well.  Do it right the first time and just replace the coil - problem solved and no more headaches down the track. 

didn't see that bit, hehe

Offline spacejam0

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2011, 09:49:19 AM »
Thanks everyone. Just preformed my first coil change and problem solved.
I've done a few little repairs like this on my own lately and find I get as much satisfaction from a repair (provided it works) as I get from playing. Have decided to do some sort of a basic electronics course next year to get a better understanding of how it all works. AnY suggestions?
« Last Edit: December 15, 2011, 12:38:32 PM by spacejam0 »

Offline Homepin

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2011, 09:57:45 AM »
do a torrent search for a book called "make.electronics"
Replacement Pinball PCBs that remain faithful to the originals

Offline ajlaird

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Re: EM Flipper problem
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2011, 09:34:28 PM »
Plenty of online resources eg http://www.learningelectronics.net/