Repairing The Williams "Zipper Flippers" On This Student Prince Pinball Machine... Schematics WRONG

[@macdaddyns]

Ron, Sorry the haters are making you jaded. This series proves your skill and that you do great work. Don't let them get you down, your videos will live on for ever (like your dads watches) and provide people a living record of old cool tech. This (to me) looks like one of the best art jobs you have pulled off. Thanks for all you and Joey do!

[@OhRonaldo]

I showed my wife the play field re-paint and she was flabbergasted. Gobsmacked. She and I both think Ronnie did an absolutely amazing job.

[@poormanselectronicsbench2021]

Personally, I like the EM video's better than the electronic ones, mostly because I am fascinated by the level's of logic created by all of the contacts, relays and switches. I have been involved in electronics as a trade and also a hobby since I was a teenager, but I will say I can't make it through a EM game schematic and figure out the "if this closes, it turns on X, Y or Z" anywhere near the speed or talent level that you do it with. I do have an EM, and a cocktail digital pinball game in need of repair, I am considering dragging them down to your shop and maybe give you some subjects for content.

[@WreckDiver99]

I like the first and 2nd gen electronic, after that they decided to put as much stuff as possible on the playfield. Adding in the LCD Displays that give all kinds of information is just horrid in my opinion...I can't watch the ball and watch the display at the same time. EM's are awesome, and I learned on them in a bar back 45 odd years ago.

[@JamesUK-je4ew]

Seconded. Do like the E/M videos… and I do follow them all from beginning to end. Thanks again! Regards

[@PlumGurly]

@@WreckDiver99 -- Well, the DMD displays are the ones with all the extra info. "Only losers use drugs!" Etc.

[@davidfountain6607]

Another fabulous video of a really fun pinball machine! My favorite part of any of your repair series, is when you play the restored machine in all it's glory! (And sometimes the score isn't what you'd like, but that's up to the pinball gods.) It's all fun, and that's what the games are all about! Thank you Ron and Joe, for all you do!

[@John-qf8ud]

The paint looks better but most importantly you are stopping the damage and preventing it from getting worse. So maybe the game can be enjoyed for many more years❤

[@jumpingjack2605]

Keep the EM videos coming Ron, I've learned so much from you especially the interpretation of the schematics... great trouble-shooting once again !

[@samuelcolvin4994]

Im sorry there aren't more of us EM fans out there, nothing beats the furious clacking of relays and the chiming of real bells!

[@js4653]

Frankly Ron, I enjoy the EM videos more than the electronic ones. I tend to not watch the electronic videos because there is really nothing interesting there. It's just circuit boards with hidden firmware doing the work. Ina n EM you can see the logic in action. So stop worrying about the stats! Keep up the EM videos! And THANKS!

[@joelcabrera5257]

"Just to make the video longer " ! You speak very down to earth, to your audience. Thank you Ron and Joe 🤠

[@lothianmcadam1]

well... maybe not so much joe.

[@Its-Broke]

@@lothianmcadam1hey now, it’s broke is pretty down to earth :)

[@Oddzball3]

I learned how to fix EMs watching you and recently fixed my first pinball machine, a 1976 Gottlieb Surfer. Couldn't have done that without you. Keep it up. Love your EM videos.

[@meimnot1]

And he makes it entertaining! I have also learned about 80% of what I know from Ronnie. I used to be afraid just to remove the playfield glass, and now I am confident I can fix most EMs. Such magical fascinating machines. I hope they never die out or lose followers. The other 20% of knowledge is just common sense. And eyes on the mechs. Just LOOK at the machine. It is so logical. I have a very good understanding of schematics too thanks to Ronnie. Don't ever stop.

[@TomMannCenturia]

Mind boggling how many calculations these old machines can do mechanically. Some very clever people back in the day.

[@LyonsArcade]

Yeah it's pretty amazing how they designed them. What takes it to another level is when you start thinking about how Electricity hadn't been harnessed for too long back then :) Think about that. Most stores didn't have power in 1910, by the 1960's everything we love about technology had largely been invented, these guys were just playing with electricity and making things happen :)

[@GMC6969]

Who doesn't love Knockers? Knocker envy possible!!

[@Jesselovespinball]

Thanks for saving another one Ron ! Although I don’t personally like playing the old EM’s . I thoroughly enjoy watching you work on them . Seeing the way they made them work is just fascinating. And the way you read through the schematics is always a valuable lesson . Keep doing you man , maybe not as popular but still pretty dam cool !

[@malcellery1538]

EM's make for great watching. Whoever dreamed up those circuits certainly did a job,. Great to see you repairing them.

[@johnmichael1979]

The sound of an EM is hard to top. Great work as always Ron!

[@markjackson1444]

Another great EM repair video. The stuff about the wiring of the flippers was very interesting. One thing I’ve learned from watching Ronnie in action is the fact that many many times, …the schematic is wrong. Yes, dead wrong on occasions. You have to really understand what you’re doing to point to someplace on the schematics and say “we’ll, that ain’t right”, …and be confident that you are the one who’s got it right. I personally love the gameplay videos. We are never going to be able to play them all, so watching you give it a workout after you’ve brought it back from the dead is always a real joy. Then you feel like you ‘know’ the game a little bit. ….I was looking forward to a video a day in December, but I understand just how much work that means for you. One every second day will just have to do. Great work as usual Ronnie.

[@jtd8719]

My family owned a Bally 'Old Chicago' when I was a kid in the 80s. I found another Old Chicago at the Pinball Museum in Vegas ~8 years ago. My parents would give my siblings and I (I'm eldest of 3) our allowance in quarters. Worked out for my parents until we found where they kept the keys :).

[@LyonsArcade]

I have a real basket case of an old Chicago. I’m going to restore this coming year. I have a brand new back glass for it. I just need to bring it in and get it going.

[@FishDS9]

Ron, thanks so much for filming this repair. I love seeing the EM and the modern pinball repairs.

[@Zepphd2]

You always do a great job patchin up the paint! Thanks for the video Ronnie! You didn’t have to do that!

[@fernandezvonschwephausen1979]

I had no idea I would be as completely interested in pinball restoration(ish) as I am now. Enjoy seeing how to actually test and fix things. Watching all the repair videos make me think I could do something similar, as long as I shoot for 8/10. Found this channel and @DDSpeedShop about the same time, and he takes old Chevy's and makes the functional and "good enough", both channels are a pleasant departure from the perfectionist sites. Not that there is anything wrong with 10/10 restorations of anything, it just isn't within most peoples ability and/or budget. Plus, keeping old stuff alive and kicking is awesome in just about everything. Keep up the great work.

[@timbober1]

I guess I’m old school, I really like the EM videos. I like the sound of the score reels resetting as much as the “knocker”. The bells and chimes are cool too.

[@raymondharp3454]

I found your videos while looking for ways to fix a Gottlieb Jungle Queen that is in the basement of a house I rent. It's the landlord's machine. I didn't even know how to get the playfield open. Was able to watch you work and quickly figured it out. The machine would only light up, nothing else. Decided to try giving the score motor a push. Woke it right up. It immediately started "Christining" itself as you say. Spent many more nights working tons of little bugs out of it. Only managed to blow it up once...don't hose the switches down with contact cleaner people! Not even once! Playfield lifted at least a foot up as a ball of fire erupted out of the machine. Thankfully I didn't have the glass on. It was very clean inside afterwards. Didn't even burn any of the paper labels, just the dust... My point is, don't get discouraged. You are encouraging people to fix these great machines, especially EMs which need it more than any of them, and that is a wonderful thing. I love watching your EM & old Jukebox videos more than anything else. If you can keep encouraging people to fix more of them (and not blow them up) that is a magical thang.

[@LyonsArcade]

I'm going to keep making videos, I was just saying that I can't make tons of videos on the same game. So I would like to make another 1 or 2 on the Student Prince but once you make three or four on an EM people get tired of it. If you have a Solid State you can make 10 videos on the same machine... LIke you said there's tons of little gremlins you can work through on a machine but I can't really make a video of every one of them or we'd end up having 6 videos on the same game an hour long each :)

[@meimnot1]

YES! Do THAT. 6 videos on the same game an hour long each. I will watch every minute and every video. Heck, I once watched you do a 'game play' video that was 2 hours long. LOL. Fire Power I think? Very entertaining. @@LyonsArcade

[@rhinsen]

Love your channel. We had a Williams Valiant pinball machine when I was a youngster in the 70's. The bells and the ticking relays of the EM's are the best. Thanks for the content...

[@skillaxxx]

Don't forget the smell 😇

[@LyonsArcade]

Yup, burning dust and oil!

[@craigcampbell8560]

I've had some luck touching up backglasses by matching the color then mixing in some clear to help the light pass through a little better. Either way it's nearly impossible to match backglasses anywhere close to perfect. You have that glass looking about as good as you can realistically get it. The game looks great!

[@boblow2186]

Great job you guys did. Thank for sharing. 👍

[@dudenoway1267]

While I do have to say I like all pinball machines, personally II find EMs more enjoyable. Guess I'm just a dying breed. Just know I will be one of the views for your EM videos when ever you post them!

[@George-z4x4s]

I rarely comment but I enjoy watching you play the EM’s and I try to be supportive of your work I love you and would love to be able to visit your store but it is a long walk from Va. Keep up the good work

[@davidbowers521]

We just had our local pinball expo here in Cincinnati. They had everything from a couple 1930s countertop flipperless machines all the way up to the newest machines exhibited by the local pinball dealers. Crowded hall, with people waiting to play most of them. I noticed the EMs were getting little love. The boomers and some gen x playing them, and interestingly enough the children parents brought in don’t care. They would walk up to an em, start it, and have just as much fun on it as the solid state sitting next to it. (All games were on free play, but you had to buy a ticket to the expo), Me, I’m 51 and as I play more games at these kind of events, I find myself gravitating toward the EMs, and oddly enough the late 80s/ early 90s games I grew up with, I now like the least as they weren’t very forgiving in that era, the modern games seem to remember that these are entertainment devices after all. 130 machines at this years expo. Great job on this one, the playfield rehab was fantastic. That playfield score reel looks like it might have been Williams answer to gotliebs roto-target

[@mikezenda3740]

I've been watching for awhile and you do a fantastic job. I've learned a lot from your videos. I own two machines, a new Rush,and a 1988 Cyclone. We love playing pinball. Keep those videos coming and I'll keep watching!

[@bperkins]

Thanks for the videos Ron. I do a lot of arcade repair work with you in the AM with my coffee. :)

[@kevwolf69]

I love the EM and system games equally. But there's one thing I would truly love to see. I'm a total nut for the Sega And Midway EM non pin games like Haunted House or Sea Devil. The level if ingenuity that goes into creating the effects for these games is stunning. Especially when a projected road surface, cloud base or ocean floor is being created. That just makes me go crazy. I rebuilt and restored a Midway Haunted House rifle game a few year back as a grail project for myself and it was just the best few months ever, working on components that are identical to what you find in EM pins. I beg of you to do some stuff like that. Awesome content as usual !!!

[@ISLEOVUE]

Thanks Joe & Ron Pinball machines around are far and few Nice to see the game play

[@John-qf8ud]

I always sprayed the wrag instead of the glass. Had a wet corner and a dry corner.

[@Cool_Retro]

Nice machine. I remember playing Daffie and Doozie back in the day. My favorite video series are early 1960's to late 1970's EM's and early Solid State Bally machines. Thanks for the video.

[@Erwinhooi]

Common now, EM pinballs are my favorite!!! Awesome 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@irieman442]

Student Prince done and dusted! I think the playfield looks even better after the repaint. It adds to the goofyness of the pointy people. Drinking beer and being pointy is a great life. I bet they have a dog named Oblio.

[@FrostBite3232]

I love both em and ss repair/play videos!... The knocker is indeed the best part though :p I remember the first time getting a match at my friend's house and the knock freaked me out, not knowing what was going on. Though once I did, it was awesome!

[@paulclarke7571]

4:45 CLASSIC! Oh man you show us some unique stuff Ron. Just love your channel! Cheers from Canada (the closest place to Santa).

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks for watching, Paul! Merry Christmas.

[@T-RavisComics]

Man that game loves that right side out lane

[@ChristopherBushman]

The EM videos are some of my favorites, but I understand what the numbers tell ya. Grats on cleaning up this bad boy

[@craigcampbell8560]

The reason knockers are usually removed is to steal the coil to replace a burned coil elsewhere on the machine. The Space Mission I'm currently working on was missing the knocker coil and Jones plug. The bracket and plunger were laying loose in the bottom of the cabinet. It's not the first time I've seen something like that.

[@mrbussey]

This is a great game! If I were local, I'd have bought it!

[@meltysquirrel2919]

Getting a match and hearing that CRACK! is part of the fun! 😄 People need to know about the knocker! There's still lotsa knockers even ones that you fixed the paint on 😅 But it still needs the loud knocker under the playfield! 😃 And start the game with your plumb bob level 😅

[@OhRonaldo]

In Boston, those are "Zippah Flippahs" 😂

[@cruggiere]

From the Woo, I say it the same way.

[@hopje01]

i saw that when 1 popbumper was activated by the ball, another popbumper is activated also. Are those ‘diode hacks’ not installed to suppress the unneeded second popbumper activation?

[@LyonsArcade]

I think the diodes were just to make everything fire harder. It's designed to have two pop bumpers pull in at a time.

[@rickpatton8281]

I enjoy watching you work on the EM machines the most. I'm always amazed how the "mad scientists" that designed the games made everything work in conjunction without the aid of a computer. And please don't stop with the "Playing of the game" when your done....that's the big payoff!

[@darrenxw3495]

This one was well worth the effort. Must have been very satisfying for you to get this one playable after such a long time. I almost hate to say it but I've never seen these movable flippers before, when you mentioned these I thought what is he on about lol. I think here in Australia we missed out on lot of these games, I might be wrong to. I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat!!

[@GHILLIESARCADEANDMORE]

Yeah, it is a bummer. These kind of videos aren't more popular Then they are

[@rrowan327]

I think my life is compete. I got to see a wager move and hit a bell. LOL Great job on the color matching to the back glass. I guess generally speaking the older viewers like the EMs and the younger ones don't (not trying to upset anyone). Ron and Joe, great work on bring her back to factory made (ie: removing the diodes, etc).

[@cliffordmaxwell9802]

There is one light in the upper left gate that pulses with everything that is activated on the play field is that normal? It is hard to believe you are actually able to play this machine now compared to the sad state of wear, use and neglect it was in when you first gave us a glimpse of this sweet old machine. very cool. The truth is that many people obviously loved and enjoyed playing it or it would not have been so worn out like it was.

[@Teshyone]

Love all your videos and that is a very cool lil game. I love watching all the repair vids you make.

[@chrisSP0234]

Great work boys. I'm only 1 second into the video and already making a comment. But I already know it's gonna be a good video.

[@00Mandy00]

“LEDs would really make it pop”! 😂

[@xdibblerx]

I have a Night Rider EM in the basement I just walked away from in frustration because it randomly locks up a score reel and chime while playing. I guess I need to spend a few days readjusting all those switches again. I've never cleaned a score reel yet. Maybe I should start there.

[@staceycollier6174]

Just curious. Have you ever tried Testers see through paints for the backglass?

[@LyonsArcade]

I don’t believe that would help the problem

[@barriepewter]

Noisy transformer? Give it a Fonzie.

[@barryodog]

The used the knocker coil somewhere else?

[@brand-x7049]

The other thing hitting it with a hammer will do is demagnetize it - if the laminations have been magnetized by long exposure to the field in the transformer, the shock of a hammer-smack can knock the atomic structure back out of alignment.

[@walkingdude7286]

What I don't comprehend is why are (some) people being oblivious towards the "old school" E. M. pinball machines; there are still many E. M. patent devices that are implemented into todays' "new school" modern pinball machines. Like, come on people! Without the Old School, we wouldn't have the New School.

[@simondempsey1]

Great video!

[@toolate1776]

👉I guess "College Queens" (1969)👸🏻 was Gottlieb's little nod to Williams' "Student Prince" (1968)🤴🏻 😆.

[@LyonsArcade]

Yeah it may have been them 'taking the piss'

[@westcoastronnieOC714]

On these E.M pinball machines can you put different coils to make the flippers stronger?

[@LyonsArcade]

Yes, you can

[@westcoastronnieOC714]

​@@LyonsArcadewasn't sure thanks for letting me know. I remember playing this game and a lot of other E.M games back in the day. I always loved E.M games with a lot of drop targets. My favorite off hand that I can remember was Jack in the box there was a ton of drop targets. Another E.M game that a lot of people played which I also played was Bow N Arrow. Not sure if that game drop targets off hand since it's been so long but that game was also fun to play.

[@ray73864]

I'm guessing the word 'Bosom' isn't an all that often used word in the US? It is British English, but gets used here in Australia, and basically refers to the lady parts you were trying to not saying on video :)

[@LyonsArcade]

We usually call them boobs

[@jameskenney5623]

I love knockers!

[@robertsaltzman2481]

I think the white looked great for the back glass on the night rider. You've already made your decisions long before the videos go out cuz you don't upload them till they are complete. I like that. I really think i could repair an em pinball after watching your vids Do you know any repair ppl in Phoenix az that might like a free worker couple hours a week

[@atmazee]

Pretty good job, but those pointy hands would look even sharper with some led's behind them

[@mfranzusan3014]

Painting glass really needs a special glass paint that is translucent... and probably expensive, but yeah. It looks good. "It's what we call a five footer. From 5 feet away it looks great!" Lol

[@LyonsArcade]

Everybody keeps saying that, and none of them have ever actually attempted that. The problem has nothing to do with translucent paint

[@mfranzusan3014]

@@LyonsArcade you're probably right.

[@DavidSmith-rc7hs]

You do fine job

[@00Mandy00]

I know on the iPad, videos in a sequence aren’t so easy to find unless you know to go to the playlists. I can’t find older ones in series without it. I think that’s a KZbin thing, not necessarily an interest thing. KZbin is perfectly capable of influencing view numbers with their algorithms and you wouldn’t necessarily know. Also, people looking for videos to fix something, are probably working on newer old things because more are around and they feel less intimidated.

[@AllanSitte]

Ummm... I think Joe needs to take Ron to see a therapist. He's having some... stressful moments....😵‍💫 I kid... the work you do Ron seems to always clean up after the foolishness other people decided to do in the past. And we all appreciate what you do and love you for all the effort you put into it.

[@robertsaltzman2481]

Get it right they are psycho-the-rapist

[@waynegram8907]

Why do Zipper Flippers use a certain coil 21-375-28-400? it must be different than a normal stock flipper coil

[@ZEEOH6]

Ron - I LOVE your EM videos. Keep 'em coming. I restored my very first EM earlier this year (Night Rider) and I would not have been able to do it without watching your EM repairs videos. I probably fixed at least 7 or 8 EM related issues just by watching your videos. Your content is truly an extremely valuable contribution to the pinball community. My Night Rider final walkthru - thank you for your EM help on this!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3aWqXuijpdsg8U

[@Backcountry_Bodger]

I think they might have used the missing knocker for their morning alarm 😂

[@ThePlainswalker13]

I hate that these em videos don't seem to be doing well for you. While, I admit that the newer, flashier machines are more interesting to watch, I like these too. I just like watching the diagnostic/ problem solving process. You could be fixing a toaster and I'd probably watch.

[@meimnot1]

LOL. Exactly. Well put.

[@rf159a]

I think that's a very hard game to play!!

[@finey00]

Leds would really make it pop ugh 😂 16:55

[@kingofl337]

Ron, have you ever tried translucent paint to repair the backglass?

[@LyonsArcade]

I think that would look much worse

[@justinthomas2458]

I've read the paint used for widow art works well it'd be interesting to see

[@kingofl337]

@@justinthomas2458 That's what thought as well, my wife used it with a stained glass project.

[@MUSEDR00L]

whiner is as whiner does... I don't know how you keep track of all the wires. When you replace coils, do you have to get the exact coil or are there coil "types" that are common on all pinball machines? Knocker is missing because the previous owner had a dog that barked every time the knocker knocked.

[@barryodog]

HA "SOME CHEEZE WITH THAY WINE"😂

[@sethsikes97]

i've got a '69 miss o from williams, with the pointy people! over the years the back glass has gotten eaten up from the lights behind, so the pool table the group stands around is just an open window to the lights and score reels. i've seen you guys come up with a kangaroo bezel for overtime. holler at a kid if you can work a miracle on an old back glass?

[@LyonsArcade]

Www.bgresto.com

[@angrydove4067]

I got my Apollo backglass from there, excellent!

[@DiggingNorway]

Please make a playlist 😊😊

[@LyonsArcade]

I don't understand why you need a playlist for the last 3 videos, do you not have a way of seeing my previous videos? I uploaded the first two last week, if you click my name they're right there.

[@TomMannCenturia]

​@@LyonsArcadefar from a big deal, but if you watch KZbin on a smart TV the app is horrible for finding videos from a series of episodes from a couple of years ago or whatever. Playlists do make it easier in that use case, but I'm mostly caught up for the last few years so it's not a problem for me any more. Have a good day!

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks Tom@@TomMannCenturia

[@xdibblerx]

They removed the knocker so they could put it in their favorite pinball machine and double the pleasure.

[@LyonsArcade]

That may be!

[@SheriffJackCarter]

Sure! Blame Gravity for the back glass!

[@edptrs9040]

Some cheapskate used the knocker coil for one burned out. I have seen this before. Now you need the whole assembly since they didn't put it back without the coil. Dang! lol

[@NotsureOk]

Groovy🎉

[@maxmaier5243]

I'm sure, hittin' the lock relais with a hammer will also quiet it down 😂😂😂

[@OhRonaldo]

So heres a random thought that popped into my head: if you strike a transformer with a hammer while it is energized (plugged in) would that cause the iron housing to become permanant magnets (to a small extent) and would that alter the output of the tranformer? Now I want to go read up on transformer windings. 🤣🤣🤣 I think I have too much time on my hands

[@mfranzusan3014]

The knocker was removed because they stole the coil to repair another one. That's my answer. Disconnecting it should be enough to stop the noise.

[@scottgm321]

You can say knockers but you can't say buh buh buh. Sounds like Mr Bassman from Johnny Cymbal🤪.

[@piratestation69]

Businesses as usual. Hi ron...

[@tangothecat237]

The value of these pinball machines will only go up.

[@cruggiere]

Without reading other comments, it looks like they needed the knocker coil to fix something else.

[@John-qf8ud]

I love knockers😂😂

[@SniperTrader7733]

New T-Shirt, #GotKnockers?

[@coldinspringfield7571]

in the previous videos you had not repainted the closes and opens on each side , you must have snuck that in between videos

[@williamjensen8641]

Rob peters knocker to pay pauls knocker

[@lileveretteyoakumiii]

Yodelayheehoo

[@jeremyavery703]

The knocker suck yes I said that.😂

[@neiltheplayer]

[@2011MoJo]

First!

[@flymario8046]

You know bro... LED's would really make this game pop!