Knowledge
Pinball Knowledge: Maintenance, Repair, and Technology
In our knowledge section, you’ll find detailed guides, instructions, and technical background information on pinball machines. We explain how key components work, how to identify signs of wear and tear, and what to keep in mind when performing maintenance, repairs, and replacing pinball parts. From flipper fingers and rubber pads to playfield mechanics, electronics, and lighting, all the way to cleaning and maintenance, we address common questions and practical problems. It’s not just about which replacement part is needed, but also why a component serves a specific function and how its condition affects the pinball machine.
Our knowledge base is continuously expanded with new topics and is designed to help you better understand technical concepts, troubleshoot issues, and properly maintain your pinball machine. Whether it’s a classic Williams or Bally, a modern Stern Pinball, or a machine from another manufacturer—here you’ll find practical knowledge for the care, repair, and restoration of pinball machines.
Pinball rubbers are among the classic wear parts of a pinball machine. They are located in numerous places on the playfield, where they perform various functions. They provide grip and rebound for the ball, protect components from direct impacts, and, in some cases, have a significant influence on how fast and dynamic a pinball game plays.
The flipper bat is one of the most recognizable components of a pinball machine. For the player, it is the most important tool for shooting the ball precisely across the playfield, hitting ramps, and keeping the ball in play as long as possible. What looks like a relatively simple plastic part when viewed from above is, however, only the visible part of a much more complex mechanism located beneath the playfield.
The pinball coil—commonly referred to as a “coil” in English-speaking countries—is one of the most important electromechanical components of a pinball machine. Virtually every movement within a pinball machine is generated directly or indirectly by a coil. Whether it’s moving the flippers, triggering a pop bumper, ejecting a ball, or resetting a drop target—in most cases, a pinball coil is responsible for that movement.
Lighting is one of the most defining elements of a pinball machine. Not only does it ensure that the playfield is optimally lit, but it also influences the overall atmosphere, the feel of the game, and the impact of the colors. Many owners therefore find themselves wondering, sooner or later, whether classic incandescent bulbs are still the best choice or whether it’s worth upgrading to modern LED lighting.
When pinball owners talk about maintenance, the conversation often centers on rubbers, flipper fingers, coils, or cleaning the playfield. However, one component is surprisingly often overlooked—even though it comes into contact with nearly every part of the pinball machine thousands of times during every single game.The pinball.
There’s hardly a more frustrating moment for a pinball machine owner than when you flip the main switch and… nothing happens. No familiar click of a relay, no display lighting up, no general illumination, and not even the sound of a fan coming from the backbox. The pinball machine seems completely lifeless.