(Topic ID: 241659)

Small issue with my Firepower

By ClarkWGriswold

4 years ago



Topic Stats

You

Linked Games

#1 4 years ago

I am a fairly new pinball owner and just started having one small issue with my Firepower that I would like to address. One of the drop-in lanes has stopped registering when the ball rolls over it. There is no obvious mechanical issue, it’s a leaf spring contact issue I suppose. The leaf spring does not appear to be particularly misshapen but it’s either that or the contact pad has become dirty or corroded a bit.

I am a bit leery of getting in there with some needle-nosed pliers and trying to bend the leaf spring for fear of snapping the leg off completely due to age.....is there a better technique? Also, what is the best way to clean off the contact points on a leaf spring?

Thanks!

#2 4 years ago

First, do all of this with the power off. You don’t want to accidentally short some sort of coil voltage into the switch matrix. That’ll give you way more problems.
To clean the contact, take a business card, dip the corner in some rubbing alcohol, then slide that part between the contacts. Use a finger to gently hold those contacts together, then slide the business card out. Repeat a few times.
Then test the switch. You may not need to adjust anything.
Still not working?
Inspect how the contacts act as a ball rolls over the switch. If they’re obviously making contact, don’t mess with it. If not, needle nose pliers are OK if you don’t have one of these
https://www.pinballlife.com/ultimate-leaf-adjuster-tool.html
Gently bend the switch so that they’re normally open, but making good contact when the ball rolls over the switch.
Also, inspect the wiring to the switch. Give each wire a gentle tug to make sure it’s still connected well.
That’s how I’d start.

Remember, power off.

Jeff

#3 4 years ago
Quoted from Grangeomatic:

First, do all of this with the power off. You don’t want to accidentally short some sort of coil voltage into the switch matrix. That’ll give you way more problems.
To clean the contact, take a business card, dip the corner in some rubbing alcohol, then slide that part between the contacts. Use a finger to gently hold those contacts together, then slide the business card out. Repeat a few times.
Then test the switch. You may not need to adjust anything.
Still not working?
Inspect how the contacts act as a ball rolls over the switch. If they’re obviously making contact, don’t mess with it. If not, needle nose pliers are OK if you don’t have one of these
https://www.pinballlife.com/ultimate-leaf-adjuster-tool.html
Gently bend the switch so that they’re normally open, but making good contact when the ball rolls over the switch.
Also, inspect the wiring to the switch. Give each wire a gentle tug to make sure it’s still connected well.
That’s how I’d start.
Remember, power off.
Jeff

Great advice here!

Only thing I would add is that regular copier paper will work to pull through the contacts. I've never used alcohol either so that would be optional IMO. Gently press the contacts together as you pull the paper through. Your goal is to wipe off the area of the contact that touch as the switch is closed by the ball. If you mash them together too hard, you might turn the contacts to an area that never touches. Pull the paper through 3-4 times using various levels of pressure. You will see black streaks on the paper that get lighter with each pass.

NEVER use abrasives (file, sandpaper, etc) on these low power contacts on solid state games. They are plated and sanding them will wear through the plating resulting in a contact that never work for long.

The adjusting tool that Jeff linked above is a godsend for adjusting these types of contacts. Highly recommend picking one up when you next order parts.

2 months later
#4 4 years ago

Took me a while to order it but ai got one of those handy leaf switch adjustment tools and it did the trick. Fully back in business. Cleaned the contacts with paper as well. Thanks for the guidance!

Promoted items from Pinside Marketplace and Pinside Shops!
1,400 (Firm)
Machine - For Sale
Benton, PA
From: $ 1.00
Playfield - Other
Rocket City Pinball
 
$ 170.00
Displays
Digipinball Shop
 
$ 11.00
Electronics
Yorktown Arcade Supply
 
From: $ 399.95
Lighting - Led
Pin Stadium Pinball Mods
 
2,900 (OBO)
Machine - For Sale
Hawesville, KY
From: $ 11.00
$ 27.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
$ 65.00
Boards
Pinball Haus
 
From: $ 90.00
Tools
Pincoder Store
 
From: $ 9.00
$ 42.95
Eproms
Pinballrom
 
$ 12.00
Tools
Nezzy's Pinball Prints
 
$ 129.00
Cabinet Parts
Bob's Pinball Stuff
 
2,200 (OBO)
Machine - For Sale
Branford, CT
Trade
Machine - For Trade
Washington Court House, OH
From: $ 5.00
Cabinet - Other
UpKick Pinball
 
$ 15.00
Playfield - Protection
UpKick Pinball
 
Hey modders!
Your shop name here

Reply

Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!


This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/small-issue-with-my-firepower and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.

Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.