Hey everyone, I'm having trouble with the left inlane wireform return, quite often the ball bounces around and skips into the outlane. I think Im going to make a lexan inlane ball guide extender and see if that stops the ball but Im wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue and if there is another solution to it.

Here is a slow motion video of the issue:

Ball returns at :17, :58, and :143 seconds

That outlane guide is actually just a piece of construction paper that I was cutting out as a template for the lexan.

I could loosen and move the wireform but the ball bounces around and can go left or right at different times, I think in the video all 3 times it bounces in different directions.

So, here is my "solution" for now. So far its helped but I could definitely see balls still getting past it. But time will tell.

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Could anyone send me a pic of the wireform exit area?

Oh yeah, thats like a 90 degree angle. Mines like a 45 degree angle. That will make a difference. Thanks!

Thanks to you as well!

I love the extra tall dmds I wish they never stopped using them. Could you imagine all the games that came since from sega/stern that could have utilized all that extra real estate?

The colordmd is great because not only does the color itself look great but the regular tall dmds are hard to find/expensive.

Pin2dmd?

From the manual, it appears to be wired correctly. I'd go ahead and replace the switch, I've had switch legs break off entirely, so I wouldn't be surprised if could be cracked and causing an intermittent connection or something along those lines.

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Does anyone have any advice on getting the skill shot working consistently? I've tried adjusting the wireform exit and I've also removed windings from the coil to make it stronger. It was working good after strenghtening the coil but now it's failing again.

Is there maybe a list of things to check/adjust? I think the skill shot is the last thing I need to do before I've got the machine dialed in.

yeah. Ive definitely noticed a bit more generosity on that ball save than is really needed. a time adjustment and flashing "ball save active" light would be nice but, ultimately, in my opinion, it's fine.

Has it ever worked? or did you just install it?

Maybe check to make sure the ribbon cables haven't loosened up? If the rom version shows at boot then it must be getting power, so maybe it isn't getting the information for what to display.

Other than that, maybe re-installing the rom file?

can someone confirm how Shark awards work? I feel like lately Ive pretty much stopped getting any.

Thanks, thats sort of what I thought. But maybe Im just not making that shot very often. Ive noticed if I collect the 25mil shark flip shot, it doesnt award a shark award, I assume that's normal too?

Ok, so I just played a few games to test out the Shark Awards, Shark Flip and other Shark-related things so that I can make sense of them based on the information above.

In summary:
Shark Awards are collected by shooting the Shark Scoop (when not in a mode) after rolling over the switch right above the Shark Flipper when Shark FLIP isn't lit.

You CAN shoot for Shark Awards when: the ball falls out of the pops to the right; when you roll down the rightmost ("Lite Orbit") inlane and then shoot the left orbit all the way around; when you shoot the center VUK (and don't start a mode); or when you shoot the left ramp (and don't start a mode or lock a ball.)

You CAN'T shoot for Shark Awards when: you shoot the Dolphin Spinner (it feeds the upper flipper); when you roll over the "Lite Shark FLIP" inlane and shoot the Dolphin Spinner (because Shark FLIP supercedes Shark Awards); or when ANY mode is currently running.

In addition, spelling S-h-a-r-k on the left stand-ups appears to simply light Shark FLIP. And the "Shark Chomp Initials" are given to the most recent person to collect a Super Jackpot at the Shark Scoop in Multiball.

Alright, I believe that covers all (or most) things Shark-related, but if anyone knows differently, let me know.

Note: This all relates to the ChadH v4.01 unofficial code.

My wife laughed at me a bunch of times when I first got mine because I kept calling it "a beast." For the record, I stand by that assessment.

I'm working on the same issue right now. But havent had luck. I strengthened the coil a bit by removing some windings, no luck. I think I need to take a look at the wireform itself and make sure the ball kicks out of it at a good angle, tough to get at it in the back though and this feels like a try for an hour and then move on with my life for a week before trying again kind of issue so I'm hesitant to pull too much out.

The thing is, while there are apparent similarities, the games shoot and feel very different. I think alot of the similarities are just because they both have an upper left flipper. When TMNT was revealed, my first thought was it looked liked Corvette, another upper left flipper game.

Another thing to note is that with some of the "obviously same shots" they really don't shoot or work the same in the two games. For example, the shot into the pop bumpers on Baywatch isn't really a shot you use, it happens but it's not really a thing while the Krang loop on TMNT is an actual shot you use and has rules associated with it.

Though, it's definitely interesting how similar a layout can be while the games themselves feel nothing alike, to me at least.

I ended up using 3 of your typical 1/2" length #8 sheet metal screws to reattach mine after removing it to repair the flasher wiring. Seemed like a better option than re-stapling it so that I could remove it again later if needed.

Pretty certain there was no foam. I don't actually see what purpose that would even serve.

Interesting, so the interconnect switch just wasn't being fully engaged by the closed coin door?

My guess is that its the ball save for when the ball kicks out of the shark hole. And no, no way to disable it.

I just wish there was an indicator of when the shark kick out ball save is active but it's always a pleasant surprise when I drain and get the free ball save.

I don't have any issues like that. So if there is something weird happening, it's likely machine specific and not a problem with Chad's code itself.

Interesting, I've only ever played Baywatch with your code revision. I didn't realise that you added that adjustment. Well done!

Is this a serious question? If so, "bolted to the floor" isn't literal, it's figurative. It just means it's "never leaving" the collection.

Those art blades look great. My machine came with mirror blades, if it didn't I'd definitely be grabbing a set of those.