This may be obvious, but only one side of that link is threaded. The bolt should slide through the other side. Are you sure the bolt is coming in from the correct side?

Wrong flipper bats.

Do the flipper bats have the Data East logo on them ?

If you have over tightened the paw bolt you may have stripped the threads causing the flipper bat to move out of position.

I have had some Stern rebuild kits that the paw hole is to tight and I have to pry it open a little to get the flipper shaft in them

You must turn the pawl over so the threaded side engages the bolt.

Good reference picture of the underside of a JP:

http://christopherhutchins.com/gallery/album409/28_G?full=1

It is possible that during assembly someone put the bolt through from the wrong side, and rather than closing the gap between the ends of the crank to hold the bat tight, it's just tightening againt the side of the crank.

I made that mistake myself when I had to re-assemble a DE flipper assy when it threw a roll pin, but I have never had one come in from PBL like that. Took me a while to figure out why it wouldn't tighten up no matter how hard I cranked it down.

Mistakes happen, so pull out one of the crank and plunger assemblies, pull off the red plastic doodad and take a real close look at what side of the crank the threading is on. Should be on that far side of the hex cap.

RM

Like said above, make sure the threaded side of the pawl is closest to the coil in your picture. As you turn the bolt, it should tighten (pull)the pawl against the flipper shaft.

This may illustrate the thought we are all trying to convey. There are threads on only one side of the crank. Make sure your bolt is inserted in to the OTHER side so that the threaded side is pulled toward the non-threaded side and squeezes that crank together.

As to your other questions, yes. I've had to really work (pounding, prying, cursing) to get some DE bats to slip in to position.

IMG_6468.JPG

Also pry it open with a screwdriver instead of pounding in the flipper bats.

Glad you got it figured out. Now you will know the next time you replace the flipper mechanisms on DE. (kinda burned into your memory). It is just another one of those quirky DE things..

Learn something new every day.

Yeah just wiggle and gently pry the crank open with a large flathead screwdriver before removing and replacing/repositioning the bat.

You could have put nylon nut on it if you were too lazy to flip the pawl.

Waiting for my full flipper rebuild kit for DESW and will keep this in mind.

I just did the same thing recently when rebuilding flips on a LW3. You can tighten the bolt all day long but you really aren't tightening anything. You just have to take it all back apart again and flip the pawl over and then you are good.