I have a few of my SAM system games with it.

If you like a real knocker, well worth the expense and trouble. Of which there is little trouble. A few screws, plug it in, change adjustment setting. BANG. You are go to go.

LTG : )

I'll say it....
What is a knocker?

How much is it to add those things anyways? Heard that it could be done, but never motivated enough to buy a kit. I should put one in Tron..I had to disable the software one.

I put one in my Black Spider-Man (and would put one in my X-Men if they were made available again). It was easy to instal and works nice. It's not as loud as a Williams knocker (because of where it is located), but it sounds just like any other Data East / Sega knocker did before Stern went to the fake knocker sound.

I hate that screech

_{Post edited by luch}

Since things were already rolling for TPF I thought I was out.

Please include me if you can arrange it.

And thank you !
LTG : )

When Marcus was at my business some time back. He asked if I had interest in doing a seminar at TPF. I would like to do other shows, buck lack the funds to do something.

So Marcus is trying to get me to TPF so I can meet all the nice Texas pinheads. ( just visit, no seminar ).

LTG : )

THAT'S WHAT THAT LOUD HORRID SOUND IS!!!!!!! Thank you!!!

Which one? The screech or the knocker?

They are awesome. Mount it to hit the side of the cabinet instead of the brace in the middle, then it is equivalent to the sound of a WMS/Bally knocker. In order to do this in the stock location you have to use a block of wood to raise it about 1/4" to clear the triangular brace along the cabinet bottom.

Is there any way to do this on my TSPP? Cannot stand the screech on this and my RFM, would much rather have a true knocker.

I read about mounting it to hit the side after I had mine installed. I wish I could find a side mount bracket like the one in the Addams Family cabinet. How did you mount your wood block? Screw it in or run a bolt all the way through the bottom of the cabinet?

I love me some real knockers

I actually mounted mine up front on the right next to the coin box. There isn't a brace piece up there so you can just mount the knocker bracket on the cabinet base. The wires are long enough if you are careful how you route them, but there isn't a lot of extra slack when you put down the backbox. That's why I mentioned using a block of wood, you won't have to worry about wire length if you do that. You'll have to look at your situation to see what will work best.

I just took a look at Pinball Life, but only saw a DE coil assembly. Is a kit for Stern available? Can someone point me in the right direction?

Email Terry to see if he might have more knocker kits available in the future.

LTG : )

So, I received my knocker today. A couple of questions....the knocker plate is supposed to go right where I have a grounding cord. I'm pretty sure I just need to move the grounding wire over. Is this right? Or, can I just screw the plate right over it? Anyone?

photo.JPG

Funky angle on the photo...sorry.. The speaker/woofer is in the upper right of the photo if that offers some perspective.

Quite a jump in price for these from the last one I bought. $79.95. I may try to mount this one to hit the side to get a better knock.

I would not put it there Billy. Won't be as loud.
I would move that bundle of wire just to the left and have the knocker hit the side of the cabinet.

I slid the plate under the grounding wire and installed everything. It's loud....but would probably have been louder if it struck the side SealClubber.....where were you 3 days ago?! Overall, I'm very pleased. Live and learn.

The knocker would be louder in the head or hitting the side of the cabinet, but I feel like if Stern still put real knockers in they would mount just where these kits describe (since that is where Data East and Sega knockers were mounted). It's not as loud there, but I can rationalize that it is in it's proper location, even thought Stern's don't have a proper location.

Quite a jump in price for these from the last one I bought. $79.95.

This just seems like about $65 too high. I have spare parts laying around, enough to piece together some kind of knocker. I'm thinking I can do this circuit and make my own. Does this look like it would work?

Knocker.jpg

The kit includes the coil, plunger, mounting bracket, strike plate, etc. so your $15 is quite a bit too low, but you could put it together for a good bit less than $80. Building the transistor circuit from scratch when a PCB is available for $14 seemed like CARGPB territory to me.

This thread describes how I installed it in the head, and it is LOUD up there. It's probably a bit higher in pitch than a Bally/Williams knocker, but none of my B/W games are as loud as this one.

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/are-there-any-stern-real-knocker-kits-available/page/2#post-598042

This page written by PT describes the installation.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinball_stuff/knocker.htm

But my way is more fun...

I like the way you hooked into the connector in the head.

If you find that fun, then sure, it would be even cheaper. At a quick glance, your circuit looks like it would work.

Does this look like it would work?

In case anyone is going to try this circuit, I think it is wrong. I looked at the schematics last night, and it looks like Stern switches the GND on to fire the coils (not the other way), so I'd need a PNP instead. So here is an updated circuit -- THIS IS UNTESTED!!!

Knocker.jpg

How about this:

DO-IT-YOURSELF KNOCKER FOR STERN SAM PINBALL MACHINES
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~pinball_stuff/knocker.htm

-Mike

DRIVER BOARD, STEP UP $12.95
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50 volt step up mini driver board.
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