Theatre of Magic right flipper sticking in the up position
The right flipper on my Theatre of Magic is sticking in the up position. When I press the flipper button, it fires up with full strength but doesn't drop back down when I release the button. I have to physically push it down or sometimes if I tap the button rapidly it will release.
This just started happening two days ago. Before that, the flipper was working perfectly. I haven't done any work on the game recently. The left flipper works fine — snappy up and down with no issues.
I'm worried about keeping the game powered on when this happens because the flipper coil seems to stay energized even after I release the button. I can hear/feel the coil buzzing when the flipper is stuck up. Is this a fire risk?
yemons·3/21/2026★ 1 Answer
You're right to be concerned — a flipper coil stuck in the energized position is absolutely a fire risk. Stop playing the game immediately until this is fixed. When a flipper stays up, the high-power winding of the coil remains engaged continuously, which can overheat the coil and surrounding components, potentially causing a fire. Do not leave the game powered on unattended until this is resolved.
The most common cause of a sticking flipper on a WPC game like Theatre of Magic is a stuck or welded TIP36C power transistor on the Fliptronics II board. When this transistor fails in a shorted state, it continuously supplies power to the flipper coil regardless of the button input. Locate the Fliptronics board in the backbox — the right flipper transistor is clearly labeled. Check if it reads as shorted between the collector and emitter pins with a multimeter. Replace it with a new TIP36C transistor — available at Marco Specialties or Pinball Life. Always install the replacement with thermal compound and ensure the heatsink is making good contact.
While you're in there, check the flipper EOS switch — if it's been stuck closed, the coil would run on its high-power winding indefinitely, which can then fry the transistor. Also inspect the flipper coil itself for any discoloration or burn marks. If the coil has been running continuously for extended periods, it may be damaged and should be replaced as a precaution. After the repair, test thoroughly and monitor the coil temperature for the first several games to make sure everything is working correctly.
yemons·3/21/2026