View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
jadziedzic
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: Lower left ball lock popping balls over the wire form |
|
|
I didn't see this mentioned in any of the other topics ...
The lower left ball lock on my game has an annoying habbit of popping balls over the purple wire form. I noticed the lower mounting bracket of the assembly was loose, thought tightening that might help, but no go. We watched carefully and it really seems like the dwell time on the solenoid is just a bit too short. Or perhaps the spring is too strong?
Any ideas on this?
Thanks,
Tony _________________ Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic
BBB #39 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
zaphod
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 30 Location: Boalsburg PA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Switch |
|
|
The bottom switch of three on my ball lock sticks up higher than the other switches. The ball must roll a little farther before the switch is disengaged. Is your bottom switch bent to be a little "taller" than the others? If not, maybe that would fix your problem.
_________________ Former BBB #115 owner. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sellenoff
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 101
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Lower left ball lock popping balls over the wire form |
|
|
jadziedzic wrote: | I didn't see this mentioned in any of the other topics ...
The lower left ball lock on my game has an annoying habbit of popping balls over the purple wire form. I noticed the lower mounting bracket of the assembly was loose, thought tightening that might help, but no go. We watched carefully and it really seems like the dwell time on the solenoid is just a bit too short. Or perhaps the spring is too strong?
Any ideas on this?
Thanks,
Tony |
I don't have a solution, but I was at my friend Jon's house, and his has the same problem. I'm not sure we played it enough the day we set it up to know if was always a problem, or if it developed this problem. I'm curious what people come up with for a fix. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
BBB94
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 407 Location: WI, USA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I agree that this is likely a switch adjustment issue. Likely it is taking the switch too little or too much time to open and the timing in the software is having the ball stop shoot up while a ball is overhead. Speculating - if it does it with only one ball there, then the switch may be opening too quickly causing the software to think the ball should be past. If it does it when multiple balls are there and it is popping the trailing ball over, then it may be opening the switch too late causing the stop to stay down to long and smack the trailing ball. Actually if it only does it with multiple balls locked, then it could also be related to the function/timing of the 2nd or 3rd switch.
I have NOT had this problem. Pitch: 6.5.
Last edited by BBB94 on Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:08 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
metallik
Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 99
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Making the game steeper would also likely fix the problem. I set mine a little steep (didn't measure but I gues 7-7.5deg based on play) and never had a ball kicked off the lock. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
marspinball
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 49 Location: San Diego, CA
|
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just set mine up today and also have this issue. I can't tell if the plunger is causing it or not. It sometimes seems the ball on it's own if going fast enough will jump out. If that is the case then setting the incline greater would probably to make it worse. Mine is set to 6.5.
If adjusting the first switch doesn't work I might try putting a thick washer where the purple ramp is in contact with the sling plastic. Raising it a bit may catch the balls. _________________ BBB #131 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
BBB93
Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 142
|
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
I think it may have to do with the pitch of the game.... I put some clear fender washers on my sling plastics yesterday. By doing so, I effectively raised the wireform by about 1/16 ", thus reducing the pitch of the wireform. The first game after I put on the sling protectors, I had a ball jump off the end of the wire form and into the outlane. It had never done that until after I installed the plastic washers.
Maybe installing the plastic washer decreased the pitch of the wireform just enough that the ball now rolls slightly slower, thus the timing of the ball stop (popper) is hitting the ball before it gets out of the way??? I'll take a closer look later.
Bob S _________________ Belly-Up To The Big Bang Bar © |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sellenoff
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 101
|
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
BBB93 wrote: | I think it may have to do with the pitch of the game.... I put some clear fender washers on my sling plastics yesterday. By doing so, I effectively raised the wireform by about 1/16 ", thus reducing the pitch of the wireform. The first game after I put on the sling protectors, I had a ball jump off the end of the wire form and into the outlane. It had never done that until after I installed the plastic washers.
Maybe installing the plastic washer decreased the pitch of the wireform just enough that the ball now rolls slightly slower, thus the timing of the ball stop (popper) is hitting the ball before it gets out of the way??? I'll take a closer look later.
Bob S |
That also correlates to my friend Jon's machine. He noticed the problem only after installing the plastic protectos under the slings. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
greg_888
Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 44 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
thats funny l put the plastic washers on both ends of the slings and it fixed the problem but l did not tighten the purple ramp at the bottom of the sling ... l left a little play in it _________________ Greg
#82 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jadziedzic
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I spent quite a bit of time this evening working on this issue. I tried different inclinations of the playfield, tweaking the microswitches, etc., and nothing really made a difference.
I finally noticed that it took a LOT of pressure to push down on the lock post; the solenoid return spring used in the unit on my game was VERY stiff. I removed the multi-brawl lock unit and substituted a Williams 10-376 conical flipper return spring for the original spring. That finally resolved the issue. Not one failure since replacing the original spring.
I suspect Williams solenoid return springs such as a 10-135 (standard sling shot kicker return spring) would work fine too, but I don't have any in the parts bin to test that theory.
Maybe the wrong spring was used during the unit assembly?
Anyway, hope this helps. The game is a LOT more fun with a working multi-brawl lock unit!
Tony _________________ Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic
BBB #39 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
awarner
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 558 Location: Atlanta, GA
|
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I fixed mine a different way. The problem on my game was that the cross support on the purple ramp hits the post. All I had to do was loosen the bolts/nuts holding down the purple ramp and give it just the slightest bit of upward pressure and the post popped up. Then I kept the pressure and re-tightened. Worked fine every time.
-Al- _________________ Pins and Vids #4 - A New Hoax DVD, Available NOW at www.pinsandvids.com for only $12.00 plus shipping. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|