Hi Herman
please first read all - then do testing Your Flipper-Bat. Yes, the Flipper-Bat works the same as the Gate-Solenoid and by looking at the Flipper-Bat You see what the Gate-Solenoid (also) should do. Toggle-off the pin and unplug the main power-cord (Safety Reasons). Lift the playfield and manually actuate a Flipper-Bat by moving its plunger. See how at the end of movement the End-Of-Stroke-Switch opens ? Sneak-in a stripe of paper into this switch - in-between the contact-points of the two blades. Secure the stripe of paper so it does not fall out when the switch opens.

Plug-in, toggle-on, start a game --- playfield is lifted and the stripe of paper keeps the End-of-Stroke-Switch open. Press the flipper-button and watch the plunger --- does it move a bit ? (keep on pressing the flipper-button) - but the Flipper-Bat does not fully actuate --- (keep on pressing the flipper-button) - help manually - manually move the plunger (keep on pressing the flipper-button) question: Does the Flipper-Bat stays in up-position (after You have manually helped) ?

Toggle off the pin, unplug the main power-cord. Look at my JPG --- the coil has "wire-green-black" and the coil has "wire-black" and the coil has a short wire running to the bottom-most-switch. Important question: Does the other blade of the bottom-most-switch ALSO have "Wire-Black" soldered-on ? If "No": Stop testing and write about.

I assume "Yes, has wire-black soldered-on" --- when You manually move the plunger: Does the bottom-most-switch OPEN ? If "No": Stop testing and write about.

I assume "Yes, switch opens when the plunger is manually moved" - so sneak-in a stripe of paper into this switch (as You have done on the switch on the Flipper-Bat) --- and do exactly the testing as You have done on the Flipper-Bat. Write about the result.

Theory - the schematics in my JPG: The "Lower Gate RELAY" is made pulling - the Lower Gate RELAY closes the switch --- POWER - many Amperes run through the Power-Winding (few Ohms Resistance) - and take the freeway around the "High-Ohm-Hold-Wiring" - through the closed End-Of-Stroke-Switch". Plunger is moved and so the Gate opens. The Gate shall be kept open --- just a bit of amperes are sufficient to do this - so the moved plunger opens the End-Of-Stroke-Switch - no more "Freeway around" --- all electrons must flow through the High-Ohmed Hold-Coil. This is a limiter - as all electrons must flow through the Hold-Coil --- also "as many / only few" electrons can flow through the Low-Ohmed-Power-Coil.

I believe You have a problem with the "Spring pushing the plunger backwards" / End-Of-Stroke-Switch / Hold-Coil of the Gate-Unit. Greetings Rolf

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