(Topic ID: 108852)

Flipper buzzing

By n1teowl

9 years ago


Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

  • 13 posts
  • 8 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 9 years ago by wayner
  • Topic is favorited by 3 Pinsiders

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#1 9 years ago

Hi all, this is my first post and I am hoping someone can help. I bought a Williams Aztec a few months ago - it's in good shape and did not need much work other than a cleaning. One thing I did need to do was rebuild the right flipper. It was kind of weak and would start to fall back down after holding the flipper. It would kind of shudder a bit and was not strong enough to hold a ball falling back down the playfield. I rebuilt it and it is much better, although a ball really moving fast down the playfield will still knock it part way down. I've heard other Aztecs do this as well. Not really a problem, but my rebuild did not fix the buzzing that happens when that flipper is held down. Should I replace the coil, or is this likely something else? I rebuilt the entire flipper including the coil stop. Any ideas would be appreciated.

#2 9 years ago

Buzzing flippers, in the held up position, is usually due to the stop not being square to the end of the plunger. Try rotating the stop bracket a little bit to square up to the plunger.

As for your weak flipper syndrome, be sure to file the end of stroke (EOS) switch for the flipper and make sure that it has good wipe.

#3 9 years ago

The coil is not tight, so it is vibrating. I try to squeeze the coil stop against the coil then tighten the screws very tight.

#4 9 years ago

Either your EOS is off, or you have a bad winding on the coil. I highly doubt it has anything to do with a coil not being tight.

#5 9 years ago

I will try to tighten down the coil and get the coil stop lined up better. I replaced the EOS with a new one so I don't think that's the problem.

#6 9 years ago

Well, I took a look and did notice quite a bit of slop in the coil due to the coil stop not being snug up against the coil. I took the coil stop off and bent it a bit to apply more downward pressure. The coil is now in there nice and solid. Unfortunately, the flipper still buzzes just like it did before. It seems to be coming mostly from the washer on the joint in between the melamine piece and the metal piece. But even if I hold down the washer, there still is quite a bit of vibration and buzzing. Any ideas?

#7 9 years ago

worn coil stop, is usually my first suspect.

Quoted from EMsInKC:Either your EOS is off, or you have a bad winding on the coil. I highly doubt it has anything to do with a coil not being tight.

worn coil stop, is usually my first suspect.

#8 9 years ago

A brand new coil stop is in place so I don't think that's it.

#9 9 years ago

1. Is the plunger new also?

2. Try stroking the plunger and then adjust the stop to align square to the plunger.

It's really that simple.

#10 9 years ago

Thanks for the advice, but not helping so far. The plunger is new and it seems to be making good contact flush with the coil stop. The buzzing seems to be coming from the washer connecting the plunger link and pawl. It seems to be vibrating so much that the washer spins around when the flipper is held in the up position. Not sure why there is so much vibration...

#11 9 years ago

Check to see if that particular game is running AC or DC voltage to the flipper coil. If it is AC (like modern Sterns) or the one EM I own you can get chattering/buzzing as the electricity cycles/alternates.

I read years ago about rectifying the incoming voltage for EM's to eliminate this chatter... and wonder if the same could be done for problematic Stern coils/flippers when all other steps have been taken?

#12 9 years ago

Be sure to see if the coil stop is the correct one. Sometimes any coil stop available is used as a replacement. Stern,Williams Etc

#13 9 years ago

I recently had a similar issue after completing a full flipper rebuild on my Abra Ca Dabra. It was a particularly audible buzz on the left flipper when held. Ultimately, as indicated in this thread, it turned out to be the alignment between the plunger within the sleeve to the coil stop but it took a long long time to optimise the alignment. Perseverance was the winner but the time it took was very frustrating.

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