Gottlieb System 80 Plunger Weak

[johno]

Hey Guys,

I have a Gottlieb System 80 James Bond.

Lately I have noticed that when you pull he plunger it often doesnt have enough power/strength to push the binball into the play area.

Now I have never had a pinball before with the plunger so what parts do i need to replace to fix this?

I dont think it's just a level/angle problem.



Cheers
Johno

[Homepin]

I would dismantle it and give everything a thorough clean first - easy to do - pull off the plunger rubber and remove the circlip.

Clean all the bits with windex and reassemble when dry.

You could replace the two springs as well if inclined RTBB has them and they are pretty cheap.

[johno]

thanks mike. just contacted rod to see if i can add to an order i still have pending from him.

the weak plunger is killing the enjoyment of the pin for my kids!

[Homepin]

You might want to buy in a couple of plunger rubber tips next order as well - they don't last long

[Strangeways]

Whatever you do - don't lubricate the plunger. Replacing the spring and giving it a clean should do the trick.

[pinnies4me]

Whatever you do - don't lubricate the plunger. Replacing the spring and giving it a clean should do the trick.

+1 - Just took the plunger apart the other day on a game that was not shooting well - full of grease. Good clean and works beautifully. If it has a sleeve (can't recall on Gottlieb) that is the easiest way to fix - clean the rod and replace the sleeve and springs if necessary.

[MartyJ]

Whatever you do - don't lubricate the plunger. Replacing the spring and giving it a clean should do the trick.

+1 - Just took the plunger apart the other day on a game that was not shooting well - full of grease. Good clean and works beautifully. If it has a sleeve (can't recall on Gottlieb) that is the easiest way to fix - clean the rod and replace the sleeve and springs if necessary.

From memory I think the Sys80's do have a sleeve.  I actually think they are very very close to a WMS sleeve so a new one should not be a problem.  I generally kit a full spring kit from RTBB and it makes it like new.

[Strangeways]

SYS80s have a plastic housing. When you remove the plunger, you will see it. I would run a rag dipped with a bit of metho and feed it through the housing and then clean the housing from grease and any other lubricant. Also clean the plunger itself. Then refit with the RTBB springs and you should be ok.

 

[MartyJ]

Ahh yep you are right.  Had been a while since my Black Hole

[Strangeways]

Ahh yep you are right.  Had been a while since my Black Hole

I had to check with the manual, because I could not remember either !

Part number B-8834.

[johno]

Just trying to dismantle the plunger so I can put the 2 new springs on. Any idea how to get the cold washer at the end off as it can't go over the end of the shooter rod (it moves freely but is smaller than the tip of shooter rod so won't pull off)?



If I can't get off ill only be able to replace the inner bigger spring and won't be able to clean the shooter rod fully!!

[Strangeways]

You will need to file that "burr" off. The ball has "mushroomed" the tip !

[johno]

You will need to file that "burr" off. The ball has "mushroomed" the tip !

I was afraid of that! Nothing's easy is it!

I just changed the internal spring as that was easy to do with no filing  and to see if it made any difference but still only 1 ball out of about 10 makes it to the playfield, so do you think changing external (small spring) will make any difference or should I be looking at something else?

I don't think it's the level of the playfield (but I could be wrong). I just dont kow.

[johno]

Could it be a coil problem or dead coil?

[MartyJ]

Make sure the centre of the plunger lines up with centre of ball. Only has to be out a mm to cause this