TECH: Flipper Trouble w/ Fliptronics II

[g***@gmail.com]

I read dozens of old posts regarding flipper problems in an effort to
fix my problem but I'm still not sure what to do.

Problem: Both flippers start to fail on an intermittent and
unpredictable basis. I can play a few games w/o a problem and then
they will start failing and just as quickly start working again.

Occasionally they will double flip and sometimes just go dead or delay
by a few seconds. The flipper test passes for both high power and
hold.

I replaced both coils and EOS switches and it had no effect. I checked
the switches during one of the failures and the switch wasn't
triggering when I pushed the left flipper button while holding the
right flipper up. Then I would release the right flipper and both
would start working again. The problem shows up in the left flipper
first, but always affects both. I've tried reseating connectors,
fuses, and cleaned optics in addition to doing a complete rebuild of
both flippers. Coils don't get hot.

Anyone else have this problem and a solution? I'm not sure if I need
to start replacing boards or try resoldering everything.

Thanks in advance.

[Lloyd Olson]

Don't resolder anything, unless you are fixing something specific.

Be sure you have a tiny bit of up and down play on the flippers to prevent
binding ( probably not your problem, but worth a few seconds to save lots of
work. )

Both flipper button opto boards clean ? When the flippers start to fail,
measure power to the flipper button opto boards just to be sure that isn't
dropping off.

Next up, from the transformer, to the solenoid driver board, to the
fliptronics board, measure voltages. A good chance you have a poor connector
causing a drop of power. LTG :)

Post by g***@gmail.com
I read dozens of old posts regarding flipper problems in an effort to
fix my problem but I'm still not sure what to do.
Problem: Both flippers start to fail on an intermittent and
unpredictable basis. I can play a few games w/o a problem and then
they will start failing and just as quickly start working again.
Occasionally they will double flip and sometimes just go dead or delay
by a few seconds. The flipper test passes for both high power and
hold.
I replaced both coils and EOS switches and it had no effect. I checked
the switches during one of the failures and the switch wasn't
triggering when I pushed the left flipper button while holding the
right flipper up. Then I would release the right flipper and both
would start working again. The problem shows up in the left flipper
first, but always affects both. I've tried reseating connectors,
fuses, and cleaned optics in addition to doing a complete rebuild of
both flippers. Coils don't get hot.
Anyone else have this problem and a solution? I'm not sure if I need
to start replacing boards or try resoldering everything.
Thanks in advance.

[Beanut]

This might be too late, but I had a fish tales with a similar problem
that I fixed recently. The power and ground for the opto board comes
from the fliptronics board in the head through the left flipper. Pin 3
and 4 are shorted together on the flipper board and then go to the
right flipper. A similar thing is done for ground return.

This means a problem with power or ground could cause a problem on one
or both, depending on which pin of your connector has a bad connection.
Most people remember to check power, but forget about the ground
return. Without a return path, thinks won't work right.

Use a multimeter to check connectivity between the power/ground pin
coming from the fliptronic board in the head with the flipper opto
board. With any luck you just have a marginal connector and a little
fiddle will fix things up.

Hope that helps,
Beanut