Have any of you guys with ST have the ball getting stuck on the right side of the lower bumper and exit lane?
Occasionally, but light shaking gets it to move. Haven't looked to see why it's hanging up, but it's not a big deal.
Quoted from birsch:but it's not a big deal.
yes it is. Happens more times than not. Definition of clunky is the ball going dead. Takes some good shaking.
I would either increase or decrease the PF angle a bit if you don't feel like playing with the rubbers or posts.
The one I played a couple weeks ago at Flippers in Grandy NC did it to me 3 time but never twice in the same game. I figured it could have had some trash on the playfield causing it to hang. It would not take much. I guess I will find out if they ever ship my LE.
Quoted from Crashnburn:I am going to take a closer look at the area and see if there is anything that can be done.
Pics are always a bonus
Well, I have pic's but my camera has a special usb cable I cannot find. As soon as I do, I will post the pictures.
Just an FYI, my game had a few annoyances I tweaked out (http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/star-trek-gameplay-tweaks), but my game has never done this. It must vary game by game.
whats the screw there for anyway . it kinda reminds me of when avengers balls got stuck on the loki lock before they invented a decal to cover the screws. is it the screw thats holding the ball up?
Ball gets stuck all the time in the same place on a location game near me. Couldn't hurt to try adding a fat white post rubber below the black rubber on the post where the ball gets stuck. Should stick out more than the black rubber and hopefully keep that area bouncier.
Ripleys has a similar setup (double rubbers) exiting the pops. Different deal, but it might work.
What is the screw for anyways. Is it holding a mechanism from under the playfield? I don't want to say remove the screw, but......???
Quoted from TomGWI:What is the screw for anyways. Is it holding a mechanism from under the playfield? I don't want to say remove the screw, but......???
thats what i was thinking. at least a flat screw maybe .
I do not know what the screw is for but It came that way. I will try either a sleeve and/or a bigger rubber. I will also check under the PF to see if that screw is doing anything.
Quoted from TomGWI:What is the screw for anyways. Is it holding a mechanism from under the playfield? I don't want to say remove the screw, but......???
The screw is there to prevent the ball hang ups that are happening. Try backing out the screw a couple of turns and see if that fixes it.
Quoted from Chrizg:The screw is there to prevent the ball hang ups that are happening. Try backing out the screw a couple of turns and see if that fixes it.
If that is the case, would putting a small post with a small rubber ring do the trick (similar to a post between inlane/Outlane).
image-452.jpgQuoted from Chrizg:That would create another ball stop. The screw should just be high enough to keep the ball rolling.
It may be worth a try-I was thinking of same thing with two little fat white rubbers at top. Looks like far enough out that it would roll in either direction?
I would try removing the screw first. If the ball gets stuck there, removing the screw should help the ball roll into the pop bumper skirt which should trigger the switch.
Ok, so I removed the screw and the bumper area is more lively however, the ball still gets stuck. It seems that the frequency is slightly less but the screw must have been put in by Stern. I am going to order some sleeves and assorted rubbers next week and give them a try. I also may try adjusting the bumper switch to make it more sensitive on the lower bumper.
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Quoted from Crashnburn:Ok, so I removed the screw and the bumper area is more lively however, the ball still gets stuck. It seems that the frequency is slightly less but the screw must have been put in by Stern. I am going to order some sleeves and assorted rubbers next week and give them a try. I also may try adjusting the bumper switch to make it more sensitive on the lower bumper.
100_2322.JPG 753 KB
Just curious. What is the level/incline of your game? How far up are the leg levelers on the back of your ST? Are they all the way in?
Try putting a mini-post rubber ring on the screw and put the screw back in without flattening the added rubber. That would probably put the screw high enough to prevent the ball from resting there.
Quoted from TomGWI:Just curious. What is the level/incline of your game? How far up are the leg levelers on the back of your ST? Are they all the way in?
When I set up the machine, the feet were all the way up which is what they are out of the box. I bolted on the legs and then raised the rear to get the bubble in the correct spot which should be 6.5° to 7°. Then I adjusted the side to side level.
Quoted from Chrizg:Try backing out the screw a couple of turns and see if that fixes it.
Its more annoying than anything else. All I have to do is shake the machine a few times to get it out an moving. I just think that this should not be happening on a new machine.
Quoted from Crashnburn:Its more annoying than anything else. All I have to do is shake the machine a few times to get it out an moving. I just think that this should not be happening on a new machine.
Welcome to the wonderful world of pin ownership.
Quoted from DCFAN:Welcome to the wonderful world of pin ownership.
Exactly. TFLE, xmen, LoTR, sm, avengers, had way more problems than this.
Quoted from Chrizg:The screw is there to prevent the ball hang ups that are happening. Try backing out the screw a couple of turns and see if that fixes it.
What he said.
check your horizontal alignment. Mine doesn't hang up but comes out slow, which is OK. If you have to adjust it slightly to the right, then OK. Sure beats drilling into a brand new playfield.
Mine never gets stuck there. Never. I suggest adjusting the pop bumper switch to be more sensitive. If the ball is touching the pop skirt, it should trigger the bumper.
I going to try and adjust the switch first then I am going to try putting the screw back in place and adjusting it out a turn or two and see what happens. The bitch is I have to unscrew most of the right ramp to get at the screw. If that does not work I should be getting the sleeves and rubbers in a few days
Quoted from smokey_789:check your horizontal alignment
Mine comes out slow too when it does not get stuck. The screw was in the PF from the factory.
I don't have a screw in that location, but my ball sometimes gets hung up there. If it happens during a multi-ball I don't always notice until all the other ones drain and it goes into a ball search. Then a nudging will free it.
Quoted from maf-mi:I don't have a screw in that location, but my ball sometimes gets hung up there. If it happens during a multi-ball I don't always notice until all the other ones drain and it goes into a ball search. Then a nudging will free it.
Pics? Is the hole there ?
You can not see it just looking at the bumper area. You have to use a mirror or get a camera in the back facing forward to see it. I did not know it was there until I used my camera.
Maybe add one of these to the existing post near the bumper? I'm thinking upside down relative to this pic. (http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=2431)
I adjusted the bumper switch and it was better but the ball still hung up. I then put the screw back in with two washers and I played about 5 to 7 games with no problems. Once and while I could hear the ball hitting the screw but no hang ups. I may remove one washer and see what happens but this seems to have fixed the issue. Time will tell.
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