Bumpers are both a common element on a pinball machine as well as a part that can take a lot of abuse.
The parts are rather common and interchangeable between pinball companies and new parts are available from companies like Pinballlife.com and The Pinball Resource.
Originally the pre-curser to pinball machines, bingo machines used passive bumpers. The ball would touch the bumper and an electrical contact would be made and points scored. Later, active bumpers were invented in which the bumper pushed the ball away.
Active Bumpers – What you call them?
- Williams called them thumper bumpers on their 1948 game Saratoga but eventually decided to use the shorter term jet bumpers.
- Gottlieb first used the term percussion bumpers on their 1949 “Bowling Champ” game but eventually changed to the term pop bumpers.
- Genco called them power bumpers.
- Bally called them thumper bumpers.
Parts that make up the classic bumper assembly
Note that some games use standard parts, others had custom elements such as special bumper caps. Here is the basic list of parts needed.
- Bumper Cap (all kinds of variety and colors) – https://www.pinballlife.com/data-eastsegastern-pop-bumper-caps.html
- Bumper Cap Screw – https://www.pinballlife.com/bumper-cap-screws.html
- Bumper Skirt – https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-skirt-red-or-white.html
- Bumper Body (various colors and older vs. newer styles) – https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-body-older-style.html
- Bumper Body Screw – https://www.pinballlife.com/bumper-body-screws.html
- Bumper Base – https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsballysterngottlieb-pop-bumper-base.html
- Bumper Spoon – https://www.pinballlife.com/plastic-pop-bumper-spoon.html
- Bumper Lamp Socket – https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-lamp-socket-4447-bulb.html
- Bumper Coil Sleeve – https://www.pinballlife.com/1-34-coil-sleeve.html
- Bumper Plunger – https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-plunger.html
- Springs – small https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-spring-small.html and large https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-spring-large.html
- Bumper Fiber Yoke – https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-pop-bumper-fiber-yoke.html
- Bumper Metal Yoke – https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-pop-bumper-metal-yoke.html
- Pop Bumper Bracket – https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-pop-bumper-bracket.html
- Pop Bumper Ring and Rod Assembly Washers https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-ring-and-rod-assembly-washers.html
- Protective Bumper Mylar – https://www.pinballlife.com/pop-bumper-protective-playfield-mylar.html
Whew! That is a lot of parts but the good news is you can usually reuse a lot the metal parts like the bracket and screws. I’d replace any damaged or worn-out plastic parts and any parts that have a lot of wear like the coil sleeves and plungers. Once into this project, you might as well do it right.
How Remove and Replace Bumper Parts
I asked my friend John who has restored a bunch of pinball machines if changing out a bumper is easy or not.
He said “They are pretty easy. You have to first disassemble the solenoid bracket (and I’ll suggest getting new coil sleeves, coil plungers and fiber plate) and remove the bracket from the PF (playfield).
Then you unsolder the wires for the GI (general illuminations) bulb. Then you can flip the PF over and unscrew the body from the PF and the skirt will be part of that.
