I know this isnt new and probably known by many... but i'm sure a lot of people still thinks that rebuilding the flippers is pointless.

I was trying to figure out today why my new GnR had a weak right flipper compared to my other one. Everything looked perfect parts wise, everything was moving smoothly and all but it was just not strong enough to move the ball properly. So i decided to go ahead and rebuild the flipper anyway, just in case i missed something obvious.

Only had new plunger/link and coild sleeves in hands so i went ahead and replaced theses parts. Booted game up, tried G ramp shot and bingo ! GnR now has, EXTRA SHOT POWER ! (for the Gauntlet fans)

Bottom line, if your game plays like mess, rebuild the flippers or at least the parts i mentionned, they can make a whole difference between a crap playing game and a winner.

Have a nice day all.

I used to think that it was pointless to rebuild the flippers, but it is now the first thing I do.

I spent many hours trying to figure out why my old TZ had no strength in one flipper, if the ball came down quickly and the flipper was up, it would actually knock the flipper back and drain the ball. I thought it was electrical. I swapped the coils, checked the wiring and exchanged the fliptronic board from another pin, ran a temporary wire from the board to coil and many other tests. In the end once I replaced the plunger, sleeve and the end stop bracket, it solved the issue. What I discovered is that if the plunger and particularly end stop bracket is worn down, the metal plunger is not sitting at the proper spot in the coil sleeve, and the flipper has no holding strength. I am sure most of you guys know that, but from that waste of time, first thing I do know is rebuild the flippers.

Always change coil sleeves no matter what.
Also remove the plunger and coil stops and compare them to brand new ones (provide you have them lying around in stock).  If there is a lot of wear like say 2mm wear compared to the new, change them.

I also got into the habit of rebuilding flippers when I buy a machine.  It feels great to have perfect flippers.

Tight coil sleeves and worn, damaged plungers (as well as worn links) seem to be prevalent in any game older than 10 years, and automatically worth replacing.  I usually replace coil stops as well. Watch out for missing rubber stops for some plunger links as well (they stop the plunger going back out and reduce plunger "click" on some models).  New springs give a nice snappy return to a sluggish flipper, and replacement playfield bushing/bearing, particularly if worn.  

I have found worn coil brackets as well (if the plunger and sleeve is mounted improperly they can wear).

Sometime, a quick fix is making certain that there's a little give in the flipper shaft above the bushing, I have found these set tight which slows the flipper down and wears on the bearing.

Nothing like a (the proper) flipper rebuild kit to liven a flipper.  Replace the coil only after the mechanics are rebuilt, often it doesn't need it.  However, I have found, time and time again, operators rebuild flippers and replace flipper coils with the wrong strength non-stock parts, either jerry-rigged concoctions, parts from the wrong supplier, or complete replacements from a different machine.  Watch also that you're getting the right springs and coil stops, they differ for different kinds of coils with "keys" and some suppliers supplu generic parts that don't always fit (particularly older machines).  So be aware before ordering replacement parts.  Sometimes, other than a complete new assembly, I have to do some detective work rummaging at our local pinball distributor (Dallas at Toronto Pinball Exchange in Oakville) to replace with the non-stock parts with good used and NOS parts in order to save money doing a complete replacement.  

On one occasion I have tried Clay's "fewer coil winds" trick to gain power on an EM. And I have tried an over powered coil in a newer (80's) machine.  So far I'm not so impressed with the results.  A fast powerful flipper can be nice, but it can also break plastics, jump and hit the glass, and doesn't always seem to play the way the game was designed to play.  Often teh rebuild improves the flipper dramatically anyway.  My 2.5 cents.