How to Increase the Flipper Strength of a Pinball Machine

Unplug the pinball machine to prevent electrical shock during maintenance.

Use the coin door key to open the coin door at the front of the pinball machine. Release the lock down bar with the lever usually located just inside the coin door. Carefully slide the playfield glass out of the pinball machine.

Place your hand in the center of the apron at the front of the machine and pull upwards to lift the playfield. Rest the playfield on the underneath brackets, or tip the playfield all the way up and rest it against the backbox.

Insert a 1/16 inch cotter pin onto the end of the tension spring of the flipper mechanism on the underside of the playfield. Pull the ends of the pin with pliers to adjust the tension on the spring. Test the flipper action for desired strength.

Unscrew the old flipper coil from the flipper mechanism with an allen wrench. Screw the new, stronger flipper coil from the rebuild kit in the place of the old coil. Test the flipper action for desired strength.

Disassemble the entire flipper mechanism only after previous modifications have been made and you are still not satisfied with the flipper strength. Remove all the flipper hardware with either an allen wrench or screwdriver. Replace any worn parts with those provided in the rebuild kit. Check the playfield for "flipper drag" which are scratch or wear marks where the flippers have rubbed. Replace the nylon bushing if your machine has "flipper drag." The nylon bushing part may not be included in the rebuild kit, and may need to be ordered separately.

Check the playfield for "flipper drag" which are scratch or wear marks where the flippers have rubbed. Replace the nylon bushing if your machine has "flipper drag." The nylon bushing part may not be included in the rebuild kit, and may need to be ordered separately.

Rebuild the flipper mechanism in the reverse order in which you took it apart. Tighten all screws with an allen wrench and a screwdriver and test the flippers again.