I have a Williams Gulfstream pinball machine that I brought back to life in June 2020. It's been a fun project and the machine has been played a lot since I got it working again.

I am considering rebuilding the flippers but noticed today that both are marked Gottlieb on the plastic behind the coils. Also the paper on the coils is marked A-5141. When I look up that number, Gottlieb comes up, not Williams.

Did Williams ever use Gottlieb parts in their machines or do you think (as I am already assuming) the flippers in this game were changed out during its long life?

I would like to know which flipper rebuild kit to purchase - one for Gottlieb or one for Williams.

Thanks in advance.

Here are some photos ...

Thanks, again.

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Thank you to all.

I will not only rebuild the flipper mechanisms but I will now replace the coils.

I just set up an account and placed an order with The Pinball Resource. I hadn't done business with them before. It was a pleasant experience and will work with them again.

I have used Marco Specialties before. That, too, was a good experience so I will also use them in the future.

It's probably best to spread business over as many of these parts suppliers as possible in order to keep them around.

I can't wait to get the coils and flipper rebuild kits. I am anticipating this will be an entirely different game once those repairs are made.

Thanks again.

I can see the money pit forming now.

After rebuilding the flippers I will probably talk myself into rebuilding the pop bumper mechanisms and the kick-out hole mechanisms.

My wife will be extremely happy about this.

“Enhanced coil stops” are included in the Williams flipper rebuild kit KT-WFLIP-04 that I ordered from The Pinball Resource.

I will start looking at parts for the pop bumpers. I replaced two cracked skirts when I first got the machine. The metal cages were a little pitted so I tried to polish them but now I wish I would have done a better job (or just replaced them).

I want to look at the coil sleeves on the pop bumpers and kick outs. The new coils for the flippers come with sleeves.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever get the machine running when I first got it so I tried doing just enough to get it going. Now that it’s been running, I’m trying to make things the way they should be. Hopefully I don’t mess something up in my efforts to make things better.

I quickly read through the link. I will go back and take a closer look again while I am waiting for my flipper parts. Nice work and machines in that link.

Are the pop bumpers (jet bumpers) the "AC keyhole style" or "AC/DC standard style"? I see rebuild kits for both styles listed on PBR for Williams.

Here's the question that will start up a new debate (I've seen lengthy discussions on the internet) - should the flipper positions be set using the alignment holes in the playfield or should the flippers be aligned so that the rubber cover is in line with the return lane rods? If the holes are to be used, should the flippers be set so the back of the flipper arms (rubber covers removed) are lined up with the holes?

Thanks.

Installed the flipper rebuild kit and the correct flipper solenoids yesterday. I also aligned the flippers. What a difference. I didn't know what I was missing.

In comparing the old flipper parts to the new ones, I probably could have kept using the old parts. I am wondering if they had been replaced before. Maybe that's when someone installed the wrong Gottlieb solenoids. I guess now I have a decent set of spare parts for the flippers.

Thanks to everyone who has provided input to this little project. I appreciate everyone's time and expertise.