the bent wiper looks like it's in the circuit controlling the "add a ball light". If wiper not contacting rivet, it only makes that light not work.

when the yellow and green lights are on the same spot number, the add a ball light should be on. When the numbers are different, it's off.

oops ... since it's probably a continuous stepper, then

1/3 of the time it's controlling the add-a-ball light.

1/3 of the time it's controlling the 1-5 green lights

1/3 of the time you won't get an added ball when you hit the center target when the yellow/green numbers match.

so I guess you'll want to fix it

the steppers stay put.

sometimes a continuous stepper (one that doesn't have a reset coil and the wipers rotate forever in one direction) has a homing circuit to start the wipers at the same place when the game is reset.

flipper fair steps the yellow spot unit when the C or E relay powers, and steps the green when B or F powers.

BCEF relays only power when pop bumper switches close, and there's no homing circuit.

the only half-sensible reason for bending the snowshoe wipers is to try and fix ones that are flaky.

it's better to take off the wiper assembly, push the wiper up/down as far as it will go while using solvent, and if that doesn't work remove the wiper and clean it and the hole.

that's too much effort for the guy who is working on a route game 50ft from the bar, so bending the wiper is a quick hack that gets the wiper touching a working spot in the hole.

'course, bending it and not noticing the wiper is lifted off the rivets probably meant the guy started on the barstool and didn't get to the game until he'd had a few.