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Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: 1UP on June 21, 2003, 03:04:48 am

Title: Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: 1UP on June 21, 2003, 03:04:48 am

I've been looking at Happ's pinball parts, as possible q*bert knockers and whatnot.  They sell the coils as well as "sleeves".  What does the sleeve do?  Is this the shaft that gets moved back and forth by the force of the coil, or just a sleeve that some other shaft slides in and out of?

Thanks

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: Xiaou2 on June 21, 2003, 05:52:00 am

 The Sleeve is just a thin plastic tube that protects the inside of the coil.   After a while.. they get dirty and worn... so need to be replaced.  The high power of the coil actully seems to draw dust and dirt to it very quickly.

 The shaft usually linked to part of an assembly... its just a metal pole.

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: Brax on June 21, 2003, 11:46:52 am

I have a silly question......

I don't think I ever played Q-Bert in the arcades (the C-64 version was probably the first time I saw it)

Whats a Q-Bert knocker and what does it do?

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: paigeoliver on June 21, 2003, 01:24:13 pm

A Q*Bert knocker is a pinball coil in the bottom of the Q*Bert cabinet, when he falls off the pyramid, the knocker knocks to make it seem like he fell down into the bottom of the cabinet (I think that is how it worked, it has been a while).

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: 1UP on June 21, 2003, 02:25:12 pm

Any way to buy the shaft itself? I guess they have flipper rebuild kits and stuff, but seems like a waste...

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: Xiaou2 on June 21, 2003, 04:04:28 pm

http://www.happcontrols.com/index.html?http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/pinball/reparts2.htm!

part # 15847 - or 48  as I dont see 47 on the sales listing.

  Though... Even if you got the rebuild kit.. you might end up using most of the parts.  Theres a coils holder mounting that you might need.  

  Those coils need heavy duty mounting.. as thier shock-waves will quickly rattle them loose.. thus causeing some major damage.    

  I had to tighten the bolts/screws on pinball machines every month (in the acade) less a lose coil damage several assemblys.   Locktight may help... but do be aware to open it up every so often to clean the sleeve, and tighten the bolts.

 

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: OSCAR on June 21, 2003, 07:20:45 pm

Or you can just buy a real Gottlieb knocker assembly right from Wico, too.  That's what I bought, $8 IIRC.  Keep in mind that most pinball coils (and this Gottlieb one) are around 25V~35V to actuate.  Here's a pic of mine:

(http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tmp/gottlieb.jpg)

Title: Re:Know anything about pinball coils?
Post by: shmokes on June 21, 2003, 07:29:05 pm

So if I get that knocker from Wico and hook it to the bottom of my cab I'll get a cool knocking sound when q-bert dies?  How does it interface with the computer?  Does it require any special hacks or Mame compile?  I'm not a Q-bert maniac or anything, but for $8 I would be in.