Here we have a drop target switch plate used on many Williams Systems 3-6 drop target assemblies. The switch plate on the left wasn’t making connection when the playfield drop target was hit. Upon further inspection we found the culprit to be a heavily tarnished copper switch plate. Part of re-building these drop target banks is to remove and re-surface these copper switch plates to their original condition and re-solder any loose wiring
As pinball machines age one of the enemies we start to see creep into the metal parts is rust. Everything from pinball legs, to bolts and screws, to playfield locking mechanisms are affected. When the playfield locking mechanism (as the one on the far left) start to rust, it can make trying to lift the playfield up to access the mechanics below a time consuming and frustrating effort. It’s a good idea to spot and deal with rust as quickly as possible once you start to see it pop up.
The importance of staying on top of waxing your playfield and playfield parts goes beyond just the cosmetics. A properly waxed slide will speed up the ball and create a more exciting playfield. It also keeps rust off of metal parts and can help prevent cracking
One area that is often overlooked by most people when they take on the challenge of disassembling, cleaning, waxing, and replacing playfield rubbers is the bottom arch ball trough cover section. There are usually two screws that are on a bracket that secures the playfield to the cabinet. Once those are removed the cover comes off usually by pushing it forward towards the top of the playfield. When this area is accessible it’s a good idea to clean and replace the ball kicker solenoid sleeve and spring at the same time. If there’s any optical sensors on some of the more modern machines this is a good time to clean those as well.
Thanks for taking the time to read, tune in again next month to see what other repairs we have up our sleeve. Or in the case of the pinballs, in our basement!
