** Standup Target Splints ** by MEZELmods

http://mezelmods.com/products/stern-target-splints

85vette (Brad) send me a really cool idea. At least on my new Sterns, the stand up targets tend to move side to side and become misaligned. I took his idea and made what I call a 'splint'. After a very quick disassembly of the target, the 3 parts slide very tightly into the splint. The splint minimizes the movement of the target. It takes less than 10 minutes per target to install.

The problem to be solved here is that the holes in the switch is a plastic tube so not to short out the switch. The tube is bigger than the screw so it moves within the tube. The splint uses the playfield bracket to not allow the switch to move side to side. It is a box design so not to allow flexing.

He is doing testing and I have them installed on Metallica and ACDC. If it works I will compile a list of all the games this goes on.

image.jpg

#2 9 years ago

DAN

dgposter

Pinside+ Frequent

Socal, CA

13y 94,050 348 14

Nice! Hopefully this will work on the Palantir target on LOTR.

#3 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Quoted from dgposter:
Nice! Hopefully this will work on the Palantir target on LOTR.

I will post pictures of the drop target mechanism today so we can figure out what games we can use this.

#4 9 years ago

TRN

fattrain

Pinside member

15y 118K 5,140

Quoted from dgposter:
Nice! Hopefully this will work on the Palantir target on LOTR.

+1
This was my first thought....

#5 9 years ago

JEF

TheBaron

Pinside member

Gilbert, AZ

15y 54,150 251 3 34

The left target under whiplash on IM could really use this too.

#6 9 years ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 121K 13,928

oh nice!

#7 9 years ago

NTR

TheFamilyArcade

Pinside+ Frequent

New City, NY

11y 104K 9,957 5 37

Quoted from TheBaron:
The left target under whiplash on IM could really use this too.

#8 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member

U in ZUSE in Tron, the Cyclops entrance in XMen, and POTC has a few troublesome ones as well.

I will comment more after I see 85vett's, hoping this can be installed without unsoldering the switch.

#9 9 years ago

RYE

Pimp77

Pinside member

20y 92,650 6,275 78

Quoted from TheBaron:
The left target under whiplash on IM could really use this too.

Just straighten it out and tighten it down...did this once years ago on my IM and it's still straight as a bullet.

#10 9 years ago

BRO

pinball_customs

Pinball Customs

12y 69,550 3,450

This would be great on the Whiplash targets on IM

#11 9 years ago

ART

OLDPINGUY

Arts Arcade

12y 171K 12,507 7

Another Brilliant Mod from MezelMods!

#12 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Quoted from btw75:
U in ZUSE in Tron, the Cyclops entrance in XMen, and POTC has a few troublesome ones as well.
I will comment more after I see 85vett's, hoping this can be installed without unsoldering the switch.

No unsoldering required for the small targets. I will have a look at TRON.

#13 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Here are the pics of the drop target it fits. These are from ACDC, the extra bracket on the top is for the lightning bolts, pay no attention to that.

image-27.jpgimage.jpg

#14 9 years ago

AEM

ulmpharmd

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 97,550 1,736 21

Yep, that should fit the palantir target on lotr...

#15 9 years ago

JEF

TheBaron

Pinside member

Gilbert, AZ

15y 54,150 251 3 34

Quoted from Pimp77:
Just straighten it out and tighten it down...did this once years ago on my IM and it's still straight as a bullet.

Doesn't work on mine. I've straightened and tightened it numerous times and it only takes a few games before it's knocked to the right again.

#16 9 years ago

BEN

TZBen

Pinside member

14y 62,050 1,543 13

my mini play field targets on ac/dc could use this.

#17 9 years ago

JDS

judremy

Pinside member

Farmington Hills, MI

13y 67,800 2,213 5 8

This is great! Hope it isn't too expensive. Need one for my LOTR.

#18 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Quoted from TZBen:
my mini play field targets on ac/dc could use this.

Mine too, will take it apart today and see what I can do.

#19 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

For the bigger targets, I will make a two piece splint. It will have to be glued so you don't have to do any soldering. That solder job on those is a mess.

#20 9 years ago

MAT

mummite

Pinside+ Frequent

Redwood City, CA

12y 91,650 2,244 20 28

Whiplash targets on IM need something like this, very cool mod

#21 9 years ago

ZUC

zucot

Pinside member

12y 83,050 3,279

Who's taking my money?

#22 9 years ago

TRG

TomGWI

Pinside member

12y 143K 10,945 156

I have to say this is an excellent idea. Many games have this problem.
If you need a tester I would be more than willing to help. I noticed my whitewater green translucent lock targets are starting to do this as well.

#23 9 years ago

AJP

Jabbles180

Pinside member

Lodi, CA

10y 54,450 629 28

I need this badly for tron.

#24 9 years ago

ZOE

85vett

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 110K 6,380 3

This is so awesome seeing an idea come to light. I took it straight to Tim as I knew he could do it well and in a way to be affordable. Sure hope it works as well as planned. If so, we may be able to say goodbye to crooked targets forever

Big thanks to mezel mods for listening and helping make this come to light.

#25 9 years ago

DLS

leaffan67

Pinside member

Toronto, ON

12y 65,900 621 46 37

Clever, youse guys down thar....

#26 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member

Quoted from 85vett:
This is so awesome seeing an idea come to light. I took it straight to Tim as I knew he could do it well and in a way to be affordable. Sure hope it works as well as planned. If so, we may be able to say goodbye to crooked targets forever
Big thanks to mezel mods for listening and helping make this come to light.

I'm wide open to test tomorrow if they arrive!

#27 9 years ago

YBX

yancy

Pinside member

West Dundee, IL

11y 122K 7,201 25

Quoted from Jabbles180:
I need this badly for tron.

Agreed. There's no amount of tightening that will prevent my U target from mucking up the Quorra shot after just a game or two.

#28 9 years ago

PCO

Nexyss

Inactive member

12y 55,400 1,431

Nice, maybe I can finally keep the target next to the snake on Metallica from deflecting the ball to the left outlane! Now I will just need to find a way to keep every other shot in the game from going there. lol

#29 9 years ago

DEL

SealClubber

Pinside Moderator

14y 127K 11,060 246

What are we looking at for cost? I need 5, maybe more. My lightning bolt targets don't seem to move for me but the lower playfield sure do.

#30 9 years ago

BOB

beatmaster

Mods for your pinballs

Beauharnois

12y 102K 7,387 7 17

nice job tim, excellent idea.

#31 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Here's another picture of the backplate that this works with.

image.jpgimage-35.jpg

#32 9 years ago

JDS

judremy

Pinside member

Farmington Hills, MI

13y 67,800 2,213 5 8

As TMezel said, it does not work with this one:
image.jpg

If you plan to use this with LOTR, you may have to switch the back plate.

#33 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member

85vett was nice enough to bring his first engineering sample over today. After installation, which requires no soldering, just 2-3 minutes of switch assembly, he, labnip, and I proceeded to play the snot out of the game. I don't know how many plays we put on, but it had to be more than 30, and inspection afterwards shows no wear of the splint, and definitely no shifting of the target.

85vett's going to install in a couple other games soon, but as of right now I'm going to order one for each similar stand up target I have.

before.jpg

after.jpg

#34 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member

note that on this game there is zero space between the switch and the ball lock bracket assembly, but it worked. To the extent that excess plastic could be removed without sacrificing strength it'd be valuable.

#35 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

Quoted from btw75:
note that on this game there is zero space between the switch and the ball lock bracket assembly, but it worked. To the extent that excess plastic could be removed without sacrificing strength it'd be valuable.

Yep, I could knock a couple of millimeters off of it.

#36 9 years ago

TRN

fattrain

Pinside member

15y 118K 5,140

Fantastic work dude. This is gonna be one of those "game changers" like the metal leg spacers that started coming on the newer Stern decal'd games....

#37 9 years ago

NTR

TheFamilyArcade

Pinside+ Frequent

New City, NY

11y 104K 9,957 5 37

Quoted from TZBen:
my mini play field targets on ac/dc could use this.

#38 9 years ago

ZOE

85vett

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 110K 6,380 3

Thanks for sharing btw. Just so everyone knows, that was a before pic

Very pleased with how well it held the switch. We nailed it a handful of times with that upper right flipper and it stayed put. Real tight fit like it should be.

#39 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

I am sending more units out for testing, gotta be sure these work.

#40 9 years ago

MEZ

Tmezel

I got them going on X-men and LOTR, any other small targets that are prone to move?

#41 9 years ago

epthegeek

Pinside member

Muskego, WI

11y 141K 7,531 11

Iron man Drones, Iron Man Whiplash (if it's the same base), Metallica Pick targets

#42 9 years ago

DUG

DugFreez

Speaker Light Kits

12y 94,550 4,453

Quoted from btw75:
85vett was nice enough to bring his first engineering sample over today. After installation, which requires no soldering, just 2-3 minutes of switch assembly, he, labnip, and I proceeded to play the snot out of the game. I don't know how many plays we put on, but it had to be more than 30, and inspection afterwards shows no wear of the splint, and definitely no shifting of the target.
85vett's going to install in a couple other games soon, but as of right now I'm going to order one for each similar stand up target I have.

after.jpg 97 KB

before.jpg 212 KB

No after pic above the playfield?

#43 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member

Sorry - here is an after pic of the playfield. The left target (by Xavier) is the one that's fixed. This is taken after banging on it during those games. This target is very susceptible given that it is hit in a cross shot from the upper as well as the lower flipper. Note the closer target is off center - it needs one too.

I really can't wait until these get into production - That other Xmen target and all my iron man drones will get the lockdown.

after2.jpg

#44 9 years ago

TRG

TomGWI

Pinside member

12y 143K 10,945 156

OP
Quoted from Tmezel:
I got them going on X-men and LOTR, any other small targets that are prone to move?

Pretty much all of them.

Check out my Whiplash target.

image-355.jpg

#45 9 years ago

TRG

TomGWI

Pinside member

12y 143K 10,945 156

The U on Tron can block the Quorra and Gem shot

image-512.jpg

#46 9 years ago

BTW

btw75

Inactive member