Congrats! looks like it's in fantastic condition.

Great find and addition. Fish Tales is a classic WPC and such an original theme and clever design. I play mine almost every day, and it’s bolted down! Catch that monster fish!

I have a question as I recently acquired a fish tales. I am trying to figure out why the lock ball drop target in front of the lock isn't popping up immediately for games. Is it a harder setting that utilizes it? I reset it to factory settings and still it doesn't pop up. But when I go into solenoid tests, it goes and goes down with zero issues. I had cleaned the mechanism originally as it seemed to be sticky on the slide. I thought something was wrong till I could test it working.

Thanks
Conrad

Yes, look in the settings and set it to hard.

Drop target is down at beginning of the game. It stays down until you collect a jackpot in mb. Then it pops up and requires a hit to activate locks.

Thank you for letting me know. I have to play it more instead of tinkering and cleaning I guess lol. But I like to go through everything with a fine comb before I start battling it out

Thanks
Conrad

Not on hard setting. It starts out in the up position. It feels like the hard setting is the right setting to us. You have to hit the sucker shot to enable a lock.

Quick question, while I was replacing my fish tales topper dome I notice more than half the screws where missing that hold down the dome to the head. The ones in there where self tapping screws from like home depot so there are 10 needed. Anybody know what originally was used to hold down the topper? Thanks

The same screws you have on the cable holders under the playfield, but the longer One, used for coils f.ex.
I suggest to add a washer, bigger than the screws, to avoid crash of the plastic.

They came with security torx type screws factory. Many have since been replaced so you don't need that security bit to access.

Honestly you don't need all the screws to hold the dome down especially in a home environment.

I need to dust

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Most average players likely never get to the Super Jackpot round with normal settings let alone hard. You haven't even played Fishtales until you've smacked 100mill Supers+ over and over

That's why we keep it set on hard. So it's a rare award to see that and it doesn't get boring.

Thanks for the picture, I like to use what originally came with the game

It uses a T25 security torx head so you will need the matching security type bit with the hole in the center. The sets are sold on amazon, etc.

This little $5 security torx bit set is really handy. I’ve had one in my pinball tool box for years and it’s very useful. Lots of older pins featured torx screws. And I agree, you only need a few to secure the dome topper in a home environment.

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Hello fishtales owners,
I will hopefully be rejoining the club soon. Looks like I’m in for a cabinet decal job. Figured I might as well do up the rails and legs in some sort of finish. Don’t know if I should go for a black, chrome, or original finish. If you have any opinions lmk what you have seen/done. Not a big fan of the oranges, greens, blue but maybe the right shade will do it for me( still haven’t seen it yet).

Mine gets plenty of hate for the blue, but I love it! If you're gonna powder coat, I recommend doing the wireforms too, they look great.

Some example images I have saved:

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I'd keep it original.

Hey guys and gals.

just joined the Casters Club!

Of course, during transport something had to glitch. I am having the 2 balls in the shooter lane problem. Once I hit Start, the game autoshoots 2 balls and continues to do this through all 3 credits, without me ever touching the shooting rod. I snapped some pictures, hoping that'd help identify the issue. The game works fine with just 2 balls.
Friends coming to my place tmrw and I didn't tell them I got a new game, so help super appreciated!

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Shooter lane switch might not register the first ball? Maybe see if the switch is engaged when 1 ball is in the shooter lane.

Correct number of balls in the game ?

Arm that kicks the balls to the shooter lane, if it's anywhere near close to the arm of the last switch in the ball trough, if it hits it you will get another ball with the first ball kicked out.

LTG : )

I bought a no fear years ago that must have had a ball locked when the seller removed them. I put the correct number in, not realizing it was actually now one too many and spent way too long trying to figure out what was wrong

I've considered the extra ball, but honestly no idea where it could be hidden. There are supposed to be 4 total, right? 1 in the boat and 3 loose? Or is the third one normally locked somewhere?
The game seems to want to pop 2 of the 3 balls when they are in the trough so thinking maybe a sensor on the right side.

I don't think it's the last switch near the loading arm cause I had moved the switch out of the way to test that, and it was doing it anyway.

Yes 3 balls. We don't count the captured ball (in the boat) when talking about total balls.

Checked the error test upon boot and it mentioned switch 18 in trough 3 so I am going to pop open the apron tomorrw and see.

Any guesses what it might be? Bent sensor strip, switch bumped out of place, etc?

Appreciate all the help

Two and a half weeks ago, one of my plastic flippers broke, so I decided to upgrade to Precision Pinball's CNC flippers. I purchased his kit that includes the bushings, which makes the flipper mechanism have zero slop by incorporating the close tolerance metal bushings with their Oilite® impregnated sleeves. Here is the link to the kit if you are interested after reading my review and experience. If you do order them, make sure you contact him first because the lightning flipper size isn't an option on the site.

https://precisionpinballproducts.com/shop/ols/products/precision-flip-two-flipper-kits-for-stern-games-prc-flp-two-flp1

I installed the new flippers and have been using them for one and a half weeks now. John's flippers were super easy to install and adjust. Currently, he only has silver ones available in the Lightning Flipper size, and I was worried that they might not look great on my Fish Tales machine. Surprisingly, the silver flippers turned out better than I expected.

The only issue I experienced initially was the ball bouncing from the guide to the flipper. I wasn't sure if the round/fat part of John's flippers was thicker than the original Lightnings. After adjusting the flipper angle several times, I posted about my bounce problem in the following Pinside post of reviews of the flippers:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/review-precision-pinball-products-cnc-flipper-system/page/46#post-7514688

John confirmed that his flippers were indeed a bit thicker, which could cause the bounce issue. At this point, both John and other Pinside community members suggested adjusting the ball guides to fix the issue. Initially, I didn't think you could adjust them, which is why I didn't try this (long time pinball fan but new to ownership and maintenance), but after giving it a try, I was able to make the necessary adjustments, which solved my problem.

I've included the actual URLs to the videos of the new flippers and the old flippers below. The new flipper video is before the adjustment and shows the bounce issue I experienced.

Original flippers video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/impgVXZgQq35E4JL7

New flipper video right after installation: https://photos.app.goo.gl/L3ZAvnayayS26T9K8

New flippers video (before adjustment): https://photos.app.goo.gl/roAKZDkx4bPyTdVF9

Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with this upgrade after making the necessary adjustments. If anyone has also done this upgrade, I'd love to hear your review and experience.

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This isn't related to the flippers, but would anyone be interested in ordering anything from the Pinball Center in the UK? I have a friend who will be in Germany from 4/25 to 5/14. I'm going to be purchasing some of the decal overlays and ship them to him, and then he's going to ship them to me or bring them back home here to Ohio.

They have a decal set that has the super jackpot insert, a big playfield one, and the nudity top cabinet art that you can't find anywhere else. I'm willing to purchase and get them shipped to you since Pinball Center doesn't ship to the US. If you are interested, just send me a PM.

Here is a link to a search for Fish Tales decals; they do have other Fish Tales items, so just let me know:

https://www.pinball.center/en/search?sSearch=Fish%2BTales%2BDecals&p=1

Check your trough switches and make sure they are responding. Micro switches can get sticky over the years and can stop activating. Make sure the tiny little button under the switch arm is clicking when you press the arm. If one of the trough switches won’t respond, I would simply order a few of them and replace it. Replacing switches on 30 year old pins isn’t uncommon! Good luck and share whatever the issue was.

Totally not a comment about the pro's and con's of the precision flippers. I've owned machines for over 12 years and NEVER had a flipper bust like that nor have i heard about one busting there either. I would suggest that was quite a random event to happen but i could be wrong.

I had the same thing happen on my Tron pin, but the flippers were an aftermarket, translucent flipper that felt pretty flimsy to me. That’s the only plastic flipper I’ve had break on any pin I’ve owned (around 100). It’s super uncommon but does happen. I’ve heard good things about the precision ones. I have no prob with standard flippers, but maybe someday…

I don't know if this flipper was a genunie Fish Tales orginal or one of the replicas they sell today. I seen some reviews of the replacements ones you can buy today don't hold up. But who knows. The ball came down from a cast, I wacked it, the flipper just stayed in the up position and I'm just like umm.. welp. lol

I think the Precision ones look great, and it allows my daughter to change flippers. The positives out weighed the only negative, cost. Which honestly isn't that bad to me.

Success! Was a wiring issue.

This is a great game!

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What's the credit dot ?

LTG : )

I just need to replace the fork switch at the caster's club.

Credit dot means a minor problem. A credit exclamation point means you have some serious shit wrong with it.

I'm in! One of my favorite games, I didn't think I would ever get one but a deal came along that I couldn't pass up.

The cabinet shows some wear, typical fading. The playfield, mechs, and boards are all in excellent condition. Already has LEDs. Even the topper is great, except the dome is cracked on the back. I don't think this was played much.

This has my favorite multiball of all the WPC games, so simple but so satisfying.

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Decided to have a quick game in the 2nd intermission of the Oilers game last night. I had 1.2 billion on my last ball (don't break a billion often) and just got to the Super Jack round for the 2nd time that game, when the ball got jammed at the reel entrance, which has been happening somewhat frequently lately. Time for a new belt, clean optos, check switch, shim up D shaped pulley. All back together, so far so good. Ruining my epic game forced me to finally tear it apart and fix it lol. Didn't take an after shot, but here's a peek at the assembly if you've never had yours out.

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Good move. My belt was brittle and gave out a couple years ago. It took me an hour or two to change the belt, it’s a tricky, but clever mech. One of my favorite physical ball locks. Mark Richie had a thing for locks. The idol on Indy Jones is pretty cool too.

I must have gotten lucky. I just changed mine in literally 10 minutes. Removed the mech and just stretched the belt over and on!

Nice job! Maybe I was overthinking it. I recall it was tricky to access the bolts or screws that attached the mech. It took me awhile to remove it and swap the belts. Hopefully the new one lasts years with light play.

This is the 2nd Fishtales I've changed out a belt on, it's not too bad I ordered another couple belts and a new pulley too just in case. #keeper

Hey Hey, I was wondering what the flipper alignment you guys are using (lightning flippers)? I read about the toothpick method .... I find it more easy to shoot the "Casters Club" .... any thoughts?

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I find that puts the flippers to far up but that's a personal choice and everyone has a different one when it comes to flipper alignment. I generally have the center of the flipper tip aligned with the hole itself. If you look at the angles when you do it that way you find that the flippers are virtually parallel with the angle of the lane guides. From what i've read over the years, this seems to be a favoured position by most.

I don't use those holes as a guide, but even most who do don't have rubbers on when doing so. I just like the flippers to be a straight parh for the ball from the lane guides.

Line up with the ball guide.

On Bally/Williams, the tooth pick should be between the bottom of the flipper and the rubber. Same for older pins. Setting the flipper straight with the lane guide is OK, but may be slightly high.

For modern sterns the flipper tip should point straight at the pin. Similarly the mounting screws for the lane guide should make a straight line down the center of the flipper to the tip.

Lowering the flipper angle slightly is called "flopped" and makes it harder to trap and is sometimes done in tournaments to make the pin play harder which may be necessary to keep game times shorter so the tourney does not run too long.

This!! Don't rest the rubber on the post - stick the post through the rubber and flipper.
However, having said that? Align it to how you like it the best.