Anyone needing Jokerz ramps hop on to Jodi's Ramp-O-Matic thread and get on the list! I'm hoping these ramps get made would be nice to have the option to replace mine.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ramp-o-matic-ramp-thread/page/5#post-5929885

just got done shopping my game, now putting it back together, didn't pay attention to how the wires run from upper playfield to bottom of playfield. do they run through one of the holes on the playfield or just hang them out the top of the playfield and back under?

Indeed, I sacrificed my ramps so that others might live.

Your ramps will help give life to a bunch of new machines! I am excited to see these budget friendly machines get the love they deserve. Looks like PPS has the upper playfield as well as new plastics sets available.

I just updated my thread with pricing for the new ramps...I tried to keep them as affordable as possible for you guys! Tentative plans are to have these running and shipping the week of the 16th.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ramp-o-matic-ramp-thread/page/5#post-5942514

While waiting on ramps, I am cleaning it up. Got a blue display that I think looks really good. I love the sounds.

Anyone have a Jokerz playfield for sale?

Ramp update: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ramp-o-matic-ramp-thread/page/5#post-5950378

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My inserts are shot. You can see from the pics that many are unreadable. So, I picked up some decals from ebay. I was planning on installing them and slapping a playfield protector over it and call it a day. It works except for the skin tones. I feel like it will draw attention. The only options I see are install it and don't worry, or cut out every insert part and leave the table dingy. Thoughts?

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Or cut out the skin tones

And slap Mylar over it

usually if you line them up (with the leftover insert) perfectly they look pretty good. not a big deal i like some of my games with “patina” they dont have to look new. doesnt hurt to put them on since you purchased them already. post some pics when your done.

In my hunt, for parts i found this guy off Daina's Classifieds.

Daniel Tiemeyer <[email protected]>.

He may still have it, but was unable to share pictures.

Has any one replaced the flashers under the ramp with LED’s? I tried and they started to give off puffs of white smoke. I metered at the sockets and it about 40volts when active. Also curious if the flashers behind the upper playfield are the same, I can’t get to them to meter.

Added the Jokerz ramp sets to my Pinside Store. Also available individually!
https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1188-ramp-o-matic/04570-williams-jokerz-ramp-set

Thank you

With the help of JodyG ramps, I'm almost finished reassembling. Have a couple of bugs to work out, but this went from a possible parts machine to a decent looking players machine. My wife cut out the table decals and placed them, then I covered the whole thing in a protector.
I thought that blue pops looked better than red, so made that change. Also changed to a blue display. Have to finish the ramp decals, re-rivet the tray and reconnect everything on the tray. Then, I'll do some paint matching and touch up on the cabinet and call it a day.

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Hi All! I just bought this machine fully restored and am beyond excited. Played it a ton as a kid and am happy to have it as my first pinball purchase ever. Wondering if anyone has any tips on owning the machine, or owning a pinball machine in general?

Devour the pinside threads on maintenance. Especially Vid's guides.
Keep a set of consumable items around. Balls, fuses, lamps.
I like the 5v displays for these Sys11 machines. I used a blue one on mine, and a red one on Black Knight 2000.
Think about converting to LEDs to put less of a strain on the power system and reduce heat.
Keep the playfield cleaned and waxed.
Get a copy of the manual.
Start thinking of where you fit #2.

Thank you! I’ve attached a photo of the restoration process for the one I bought. Hopefully should be good for a while on things. Definitely read up on the maintenance. Do you mind explaining 5v display? This is all new to me! Is that the lighting for the black glass? Love the orange color but I believe this one is white.

Idk about #2 yet. We’ll see how the first one goes! Lol. Recommendations on how often to clean and wax?

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Dude! That looks sweet!
Nice work and congrats!

I just replaced my lock ramp as well from JodyG.
Was this to keep for a while or for resale?

With any pin, the best thing you can do is;
- keep the PF clean and clear of debris
- Change the batteries annually
- Change the balls when they need it. Pitted balls are killer to any PF

Otherwise as noted before, don't be afraid to learn how to work on it. A pin is a mechanical device that interfaces with a human so it is destined to have failures. Just the nature of things.

Enjoy!

Thanks! I haven't decided yet, since I haven't got to play it as a fully functional machine yet.
Here's some pics of the pf with the ramp decals on.

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Hey all!

As mentioned I just got my machine and am beyond happy. Although I have one issue I’m wondering if anyone could offer some advice on. Whenever I launch the ball, it hits this piece of plastic at the top of the ramp (I’m guessing to not hit the glass?), gets stuck, goes down the ramp, and 9/10 times right down the middle. Any thoughts or advice as to how to fix?

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If you squint hard on my pic above, you can see that there is supposed to be a little black spacer in the front left hole(from the camera's POV) of that piece. This lifts mine up fairly high, and I never see a ball hit it.

I THINK that it might be this one(but I'll need to go measure it tomorrow to make sure): https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/03-8022-1

I do see that! I'm certain raising that up would probably fix this issue... giving the ball a little more room to clear that space. If you'd be willing to measure that would be amazing!!

Ok, had a moment to go measure. It looks somewhere in the neighborhood of .7 inches, so maybe this is actually the spacer: https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/03-8022-6

I would probably get a few of each size that Marco has(since they are cheap and you can get a few for the same shipping) and test out which ones work best in your machine. When I measured mine, it was actually floating a little, so it's not even holding the plastic up(the plastic is stick up on its own). So, it is a little higher even than the spacer. So, get some of the two above and maybe one of these as well, just in case it needs more space: https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/03-8022-2

Anyway, good luck!

Thank you so much @ThatOneDude! I appreciate it. I do have one more question if anyone else has a thought. The center ramp seems to stop just a bit low (and maybe a bit uneven) from the rest of the game. When the ball rolls up, it hops the gap, hits the top of the ramp, and then rolls back out. Sometimes if you manage to hit the ball up slowly it will make it up. But rarely. Photo attached. Is there a way to extend the ramp ever so slightly so it comes out even?

Edit: Is my best option to remove a set of the spacers and then only let the ramp extend to a lower level? If so, though, same question on how do I change the lower and raising height?

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Actually, once I got to thinking about, you have two options.
1) Adjust the height of the ramp via the spacers on the posts.
2) Adjust the height of the ramp.

When you PM'd me, I didn't think that there was a way to raise the ramp. However, I realized that the ramp just sits on the black plastic bar. If you use some double sided tape to attach a piece of plastic there, like a square of PETG, it could raise it just enough, hopefully without raising the ramp above the playfield in the down position.

If you're referring to the flat lexan piece with the "double your score" decal, it is missing on my machine, and I don't have the issue you do. Hint hint.

Should mention, after several hundred games, the ball has never hit the glass going up that ramp (or anywhere else).

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That's another option. I am still adjusting mine, so I haven't tried it with no plastic.

Yep. Took it off, problem solved haha! Thank you!!

On the middle ramp, though... I just don't get how to adjust the height of the ramp I guess. I don't want to break it so I'm nervous to put any pressure on moving that piece of plastic that pushes it up from under the game. So even if I take the spacer out, it would then need to be lower. Which I still don't get how to do, I guess...

Be careful with the drawbridge -- it is probably the most challenging and common mechanical problem with this pin because it takes such a beating. But it is fixable, depending on how handy you are. I spent several days re-engineering the whole assembly to rise and seat to the exact levels. It's complicated because the mechanisms and hardware are all upside down and tough to access. Lots of trial and error. I'm gone til Feb 2 but will take a refresher look at exactly what I did when I get back. It's been awhile, and memory cells need refreshment.

Yeah. I got to tinkering last night and ended up at a point where -- sometimes the bridge would stay up, sometimes it would go back down, sometimes it would go up and down, sometimes it would stop in the middle. Lol. I turned it off and had to walk away. I'll try to adjust it some more tonight. Sigh haha

Hmm, not sure what would cause the ramp to do that. It's a pretty simple mechanism. Are you bending the position switches to change it?

On mine, I have a repo center ramp from Jody. It's a bit thicker than the originals, so I ended up putting a couple of rubber rings(5/32 I believe) under the screw to raise it slightly. I can hit the ramp all the time. About the only problem is that I occasionally get an airball off the turn when the ball is launched perfectly. I'll likely make a small lexan protector to keep that from happening.

yes should be fine you used flasher 13v bulbs correct?

probably wont even need mylar over the top of them. ive never needed it.

Ok, so I took some pics last night when I was adjusting things. I haven't done anything with the ramp mech itself. There's not a lot mechanically going on there. It's just sitting on the black plastic piece which pushes it up and down. I'm going to add a small piece of plastic underneath to raise it very slightly, since I added a playfield protector and it has a slight lip.
The other pic is of the center ramp when I started playing with the height. I ended up using the rubber rings on the top, which allow me to compress it a bit and get the fit perfect.

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I used a playfield protector. Looks pretty nice, without repainting anything.

I bought mine from cointakers. They had the better deal, and I like working with them in general.

No overlay. I just cleaned up the playfield some, cut out and applied insert decals and then laid the protector over it.

Sorry for the delay in responding - crazy few days at work. Anywho, I think I corrected the issue some. I was able to find out I had the play field at 11 degrees, which, the manual recommends 6. I got it lowered and ensured it was level horizontally and I think that helped enough. Enough for me to not go crazy anyway.

New problem though if anyone has an idea... the ball is getting stuck in the “Spotted a 10/jack/whatever” area. It won’t kick back out.

Looking under the game, the switch appears to be stuck “in” or “closed.” Photo attached. Anyway to unfreeze this sucker?

Edit: it appears to be broken? :/

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You need a new plunger. Page 51 of the manual.

https://www.pinballlife.com/slingshotballshooter-plunger-and-link-2-plunger.html

(In theory, you could just replace the link, but the amount of labor knocking the roll-pin out and getting it back in place isn't worth it IMO, unless you're rebuilding a bunch of plungers.)

Anyone know where I can get Jokerz sling plastics? Looks like someone used steel wool (sheeez) to clean the right sling image under the plastic. (It's pt No. 567-9). I'll probably need a pair of left and right pieces so they will match. (Saw the left 567-8 for sale on eBay, but it's yellowed.) I tried using water slide decals, but it just doesn't work, and I'd need a clean image to scan anyway. Does anyone make them by the piece/set? Thanks

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Yes I know, but wasteful. I only need 2 pieces: the rest are in good shape.

I would get the rebuild kit for both flippers which includes all the parts, including the plungers and links (from pinballlife.) If one failed, the other is likely to follow suit. For $27, it's kind of a no-brainer, and it's a great entry-level project for you.
https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-flipper-rebuild-kit-021988-to-081991.html