Based on the history of this particular Gator, the 5-digit scoring was an "operator modification", common for the period, but was not the worst I have ever seen. Factory specifications were a four-digit game, at least at the beginning of production.
The direct differences of Gator and Alligator are the way some of the scoring relays are wired for "hard coding" the ruleset, but the gameplay is essentially the same. I would have to do a side by side comparison for the playfields and even the wiring to see what is different between Campus Queen and Sheba.

Your old Surfers sure was a purty one, I played it at PPM, but did not know it was yours.
Perhaps Michael will find another and decide to sell it like he did with his duplicate Rocket III.
I scoop these things up like ice cream sundaes.
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The reason the PPM put that Rocket III up for sale was in part due to the one i donated, so they had a duplicate. It appears Mike put his up for sale, as my former pin had black and red paint scheme and i do not remember mine having those special bumper caps . Also mine was set up as true AAB, so must have had the AAB module.

Love Ted Zale machines! My restored Mini Zag

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Your repaint job looks great.
Looking at the paint on the head surround prior to repaint,
it looks like so many Ballys of that era where you sneeze and the paint will flake off.
What process (or product) was the CAB paint shop using that caused the paint to get so flaky?

I also like how you have BeatTime next to your similar themed Mini Zag pin (with another Fab 4 band depicted on the BG)

My Gator has 4-digit scoring. I shudder when thinking about all the playfield markings that would need to be changed if a phony zero were added.
.................David Marston

I have the 3 coin chute on mine!

I have the old red flipper bats that I changed out to white. I like the white better besides the red ones being cracked they just didn’t seem to “fit” the game? Everything is green and beachy and then you have these out of place red flipper bats. It’s like they had extras and decided to put them in this game IDK

John

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New arrival
All hail Tyranozalus Rex

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1968 Bally MiniZag arrived today (purchased 2 months ago). This example's best element is its playfield. Also, the coin door is exceptionally nice.

I will touch up the cabinet's blue graphics and leave the white to preserve the game's patina. Spring projects are always fun and I'm looking forward to this groovy one.

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That's a nice machine, in good condition, should clean up excellent.

Here’s a Zipper Flipper game I picked up recently. I’ve been playing it a lot lately. You know the saying...,, newest game in gets played the most.

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Mad World is Stenholm's masterpiece.

1968 Bally MiniZag is up and running. Cosmetic and mechanical restoration is complete!

I repainted the cabinet's blues and left the original white areas. The original backglass has some flaking, mostly in the arm of the center female. . .overall an 8+. The playfield and plastics cleaned up well. The coin door, legs and aprons are all very nice.

I love the groovy Jerry Kelley art package, which I deem to represent the night-life counterpart to Bally Surfers. There was a beat up MiniZag at Pinfest a couple of years ago, which drew me in. I'm pleased to have acquired this example.

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That is a beautiful pin!

Great job !

was my capersville, sold it a few years back. enjoyed it more than fireball

The Bally corner of my gameroom is full. It is occupied by 6 Bally EMs, 4 of which are zipper flipper designs.

Tonight, I finished restoring Skyrocket, including upgrading the backglass with a better original backglass. The primary flaws are limited to a nonilluminated area in the lower right area. The playfield and cabinet are both in very good shape.

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Here is my MiniZag that was purchased at York two weeks ago. It had the typical flaking paint so I did a solid repaint on the cabinet front and front edge of the backbox. Nearly THOUSANDS of paint chips were filled in by hand. Repainted the coin door, buffed out chrome parts (regraining ones that were scratched), new playfield glass, sealed and touched up the backglass. Plays 100% but still needs a proper shop job on the playfield.
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What happens on yours more specifically ? they close but don't stay closed or when they're supposed to open they stay closed

above the latching armature there is a finger that can be tweeked a little to adjust the amount the armature can move.

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yeah it may be subjective as to what the correct angle may be. on games with 3"flippers and inlanes I was told the face of the flipper is to be parallel with the lane-guide

The experience I had in the past was, closing the flippers & then lightly tightening the flipper shafts. seems the divots in the shafts from previous tightenings might pull it out of where I want them I have switched left & right flipper shafts with good results.

I'll open and close them to what seems like "the right spot"

ideally fresh flipper shafts with fresh & sharp set screw points would be the way to go.

My #wiggler, I kind of went with the diamond when open & it looked ok when closed.

My #joust-bally, I went parallel with the angle of the slingshots when open & looked ok when closed.

The #fireball-bally I went what looked similar to the other two games when closed and wherever they wound up when open

I think it's funny that on #wiggler when open, some of the flipper is behind the slingshots

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I am looking to get a zipper flipper pin. Does anyone have a lead on one?

Shipping to Texas might be prohibitive though.

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Here is a list of all zipper flipper pinballs for reference:

https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?specialty=25&sortby=date&searchtype=advanced

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06370

Playfield is exceptional, cab very good for Bally of this vintage but has typical paint flake and the backglass is nice aside for some of the reds starting to go. Went through it, works perfect now and has new flippers and elastics from PBR. Has some LED's to preserve backglass and GI. Purchased from a home owner who was downsizing, in their house since the 70's.

Hey group. I recently bought a Bally Rockmakers and I need a manual, perhaps some pictures and questions about changing this to Add a Ball. The game kinda indicated it's an add on kit. much of my little paper cards have been gone for awhile so I'm also not sure what does what. Figured out 3-5 ball. If by any chance anyone has plastics, I need a few of those too. Can you help? My biggest desire is to know how to change it from free games when you gets ROCKS to extra balls. Todd

Looks like there might be adjustment plugs on the bottom panel. the placard can be found here : http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/

I would imagine Steve Young would have the manual @ http://www.pbresource.com/

Manual likely won't be more than a few pages, hoping someone can scan.

Finding out it's more than that, there's a "kit" available special order from Bally at the time. People have built them, appreciate the help.

bally games from that vintage didn't have a game manual.

only the parts catalogue and the schematic will be available.

Working on an Op-Pop-Pop now but just finished cleaning up my Gator. She is my first EM! Love the zipper flippers!

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Would not mind owning a Gator someday, on my short list of EM's still looking for.

Worth every second of the frustration to find the wire breaks and adding in the EOS switches. Just added the rubbers yesterday with the first real playthrough complete. Could not be happier.

Nice gator, SGT Trip and I'm just finishing up an Op Pop Pop as well.
To the OP, I've built an AAB kit for a Bally Minizag. Easy to build in terms of construction but the harder part will be figuring out the proper wiring. I was fortunate to have had that part done form me. Anyway, here's a thread with some info:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bally-minizag-aab

It will be even more fun if you install rubbers on the game

Good catch aahgo, I installed yesterday and played it finished for the first time since getting it. Great machine.

So this person on Facebook that is selling one claims to have a manual. Maybe they would be willing to make a scan or take a few pictures for you. I thought they didn’t make manuals this early on either but I could be mistaken.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/795186134310827/

EDIT: I contacted her for you and PM’d you with the pictures of the manual and schematic

Just finished tuning up last night, may touch up some of the reds in the backglass today...

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All tuned up and ready for play!

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Speaking of RockMakers, any ideas on what that chrome crossbar at the top is meant to do? I see in the German brochure and game pics on IPDB that it connects from bottom post of the lane area opening to just above the top flipper (and Clay has his set up that way at VFW). But why? On mine it's connected across that lane area opening to the post at the top of the opening. This kind of makes sense as it makes for a visual indicator separating that area from the rest of the playfield.

What would make even more sense would be if that was a wireform gate that let the ball pass through from the top flipper, but not pass back out that way. So when you get the ball up there from the right loop shot, it would be guaranteed to stay up there and not pass out again. But there doesn't appear to be any evidence this was ever intended.

Another question related to RockMakers, and other Zale games with additional scoring reels (Dogies, Wiggler): what would make the most sense for including those counters in competition scoring? By that I mean, when competing, shouldn't the Rock-A-Rock score provide an edge? I was thinking 500 points x RAR added to the total score. Testing that out seems to work ok. If you go for that strategy, you could do well, but it's also risky...

Staying on topic with the August 1968 RockMakers, here is the latest addition to my herd. Been looking for one since playing it at VFW 2 years ago. My collection is nearly exclusively Ted Zale and this zipper flipper PLUS upper flipper gem is in the vein of Surfers but with the added score reels like Dogies, Wiggler, Capersville and Cosmos.

This specific example came up 3 weeks ago and I quickly reached a deal. The seller had this for several years and was supposedly the second owner of the game. The story has merit as the cabinet is in AMAZING condition and almost looks like a repaint, but it 'aint. I will add chrome legs and meticulously polish all metal. Coin door is missing entry slots and will receive a repaint. BG is missing art and I will probably spring for a BGresto. Playfield has typical wear at pops and upper arch but very respectful.

Game is missing the chrome crossbar at the upper flipper and the upper flipper is white rather than matching the lower red/orange flippers.
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I prototyped that crossbar gate concept mentioned above, and describe it in this post:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/rockmakers-2-easy-mods-that-make-it-better#post-5575832

I think it helps a lot, almost feels like a new game!