Anyone worked on replacing the balls on their Gottlieb Bank A Ball / similar? I found the Aussie(?) YT video showing how to pull the ball assembly off, but he doesn't actually replace a ball from the arm / pin it rides on. I don't want to assume that I can just squeeze the pin to remove the old ball arm (or can I?). I also have an arm without a ball. I do have new "balls on arms" from Steve @ PBR. Posted same on FB group EM Pinball, but no helpful responses (yet). Photos and/or video is super helpful if anyone has a reference. Thanks !

Thank you, Mike. Looks like I need to reach out to Steve @PBR to source the rivets? I'll play with one of the balls I'm replacing re: the slot idea, as I'd hate to ruin a $30 part. Also not sure how I'd tighten the new ball around the shaft it sits on...

Thanks Paul & Mike. Found some more videos on YT (PinballHelp) and will figure out what I'm going to do (e.g. thread a #4 screw replacement, cut a slot, or ???).

11.14 UPDATE: I just noticed a tiny bag inside the bag the ball came in. It's two VERY small rivets. Now I assume that I'm to carefully Dremel wheel off the old rivets, install the ball part and squeeze the new rivets into place. Delicate stuff...

11.15 UPDATE: I was able to cut off the two smaller rivets, but still don't understand what I need to do to remove the shaft that works the contact points. I've cut the head off of the rivet, but nothing is coming apart. I also notice that balls 7 and 15 only have one set of contact points, while all of the other have two. I've put circles around the issues I'm discussing. I appreciate the advice !

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This was my solution, borrowing from other's experience, posted for future pinball mechanics tackling this for the first time. I did NOT remove the actuators to perform this and am unsure why anyone would unless they are doing more than replacing the balls. I also did NOT cut into the new ball plastic. I know I still need to crimp the small rivets into the plastic arm, but wanted to post while this is fresh in my mind. Let me know if I missed anything?

Tools used: Dremel tool with cutting / grinding wheel, #4 / 40 tap and wrenches, screwdriver, heat shrink and lighter, #4 / 40 x 1" bolt and nut.

Steps: 1) cut the existing pin(s) end off, remove the existing ball arm, and pull the arm spanning the switches out. This will probably destroy the plastic ball piece, unless you are more careful than I was. 2) tap the top actuator hole and the new ball plastic top hole (yes, both). 3) trim the existing plastic sleeve about a quarter-inch with your cutting wheel and grind even. Install and heat an equal length (as the plastic sleeve) of heat shrink on the bolt, then put the sleeve over the top. 4) screw the bolt through the new actuator hole and through the new plastic ball piece, then cap off with a nut. Optionally put a little blue or lesser-strength Lock-tite on the nut. 5) check operation / for clearances.

I ran the bolt in the direction I did to put more surface on the plastic arm side, so as to make it harder to accidentally over-torque the new bolt.

DM me any questions. Peace.

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