I don't know if a product already exists for this issue or I feel like I may have even read about machines that had some sort of mech that would lock the balls in place when lifting the playfield.

I've only forgot to do this once or twice but still, pulling the balls out prior is always a pain. Seems like it would be easy to design some sort of 3D Printed "plug" that you could pop in to keep them from tumbling out.

What clever methods does everyone have to keep balls in place while the playfield is up?

#2 3 years ago

JAS

Manimal

Pinside member

8y 71,050 2,015 3

It exists. JJP has had a solution in place for years. Basically, a hanging flap swings down to block the ball triugh when the play field is lifted. Just a square piece of metal with a pin in the corner. Others have similar.

#3 3 years ago

JSP

RetroGamerJP

Pinside+ Frequent

Acworth, GA

8y 64,050 523 2

Quoted from Manimal:
It exists. JJP has had a solution in place for years. Basically, a hanging flap swings down to block the ball triugh when the play field is lifted. Just a square piece of metal with a pin in the corner. Others have similar.

Ah, it must have been JJP that I was thinking of. 99% of my machines have always been newer Sterns so I'm without that elegant solution.

#4 3 years ago

ZAP

Pinzap

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 119K 2,013 39 34

I’ve talked about this for years to friends. I think it needs to be something like those wine bottle stoppers that expand when you pull a lever. Doesn’t have to be as tight a fit of course. But every time I think of designing something like this i realize the rag I’ve been using for years to plug the hole does the same thing for much cheaper.

#5 3 years ago

DIE

underlord

Pinside+ Addict

14y 133K 9,043 49

61CA76C6-7EAA-4E8B-BD41-E8666247E4F4 (resized).png

#6 3 years ago

PAT

GorillaBiscuits

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 162K 4,208 22

Just shove a microfiber cloth into the area the ball ejects from. Heck of a lot cheaper than the $125 trough thingie!

#7 3 years ago

SMD

stevevt

The Pinball Co-op

South Burlington, VT

11y 137K 2,690 1

https://www.pinballlife.com/passive-ball-stop.html

#8 3 years ago

JPD

Dayhuff

Pinside member

Battle Creek, MI

11y 126K 6,346 79 11

Quoted from stevevt:
https://www.pinballlife.com/passive-ball-stop.html

EXACTLY!! This is nothing new, first introduced on Pin 2000's back in 1999.

John

#9 3 years ago

DOG

Whysnow

Pinside member

12y 187K 35,338 29 1

Quoted from Dayhuff:
EXACTLY!! This is nothing new, first introduced on Pin 2000's back in 1999.
John

Didn’t Capcom do something first?

#10 3 years ago

JPD

Dayhuff

Pinside member

Battle Creek, MI

11y 126K 6,346 79 11

Ya know Hilton I think your right but I couldn't remember for sure so I just went with it....LOL.

John

#11 3 years ago

REW

woody76

Pinball Marketing

Nashville, TN

9y 142K 6,842 6 98

I just use a rag.

#12 3 years ago

JGI

John_I

Space Coast Pinball

19y 179K 9,069

Yeah it was done way before JJP came along. Not sure why it is not on every game though. As others have said, I just use a rag.

#13 3 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

11y 158K 58,757

It existed at least as far back as the 50s when a spring loaded flap kept all five balls from embarrassing the operator.

#14 3 years ago

MOF

mof

Mof Pinball

San Francisco, CA

11y 149K 13,298 25 94

I think I posted my invention, the 'troughpon". Check the DIY thread...

#15 3 years ago

DAD

pb456

Pinside+ Frequent

Anchorage, AK

7y 85,300 1,118 8

I just wad up some paper towels. Works great. Unless I forget to remove it when I put the glass back on

#16 3 years ago

DAR

dar8dar

Pinside member

Savage, MN

10y 53,550 332 16

I use a sock

#17 3 years ago

GTX

gdonovan

Pinside member

7y 185K 13,203 70

Quoted from GorillaBiscuits:
Just shove a microfiber cloth into the area the ball ejects from. Heck of a lot cheaper than the $125 trough thingie!

That's what I do, pair of microfiber cloths stuffed in the lane and outhole.

#18 3 years ago

ROB

Rdoyle1978

Pinside member

7y 117K 18,125 14 6 1

Is there one that works for Stern games? I like to add these to every game as a precaution - and the only game that doesn’t have one is TZ, and any Stern game.

#19 3 years ago

WOZ

PanzerFreak

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 123K 12,934 19

For $6k - $9k+ and yearly price increases for over a decade I've wondered why Stern doesn't put a ball stop on their games. Every modern game should come with a trough ball stop.

#20 3 years ago

DIE

underlord

Pinside+ Addict

14y 133K 9,043 49

Quoted from dar8dar:
I use a sock

HA! I see what you did there. Sinner...

#21 3 years ago

AHS

hoby1

Pinside member

Allentown, PA

12y 105K 4,267 9 1

Piece of a sponge

#22 3 years ago

LEV

CrazyLevi

Crazy Levi's Pinball

New York, NY

10y 148K 33,503

Quoted from PanzerFreak:
For $6k - $9k+ and yearly price increases for over a decade I've wondered why Stern doesn't put a ball stop on their games. Every modern game should come with a trough ball stop.

If I pay you $6k-$9k, will you stop your six-times-a-day reminder that you think Stern should give you a bunch of free shit because their games cost $6k-9k?

#23 3 years ago

WOZ

PanzerFreak

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 123K 12,934 19

Quoted from CrazyLevi:
If I pay you $6k-$9k, will you stop your six-times-a-day reminder that you think Stern should give you a bunch of free shit because their games cost $6k-9k?

Sure, send it to my PayPal Crazy I don't want free shi* but rather for Stern to justify their asking prices by including a similar number of features and quality as other manufacturers. I guess a thin piece of metal to stop a ball is too much to ask!

#24 3 years ago

ROB

Rdoyle1978

Pinside member

7y 117K 18,125 14 6 1

Quoted from PanzerFreak:
Sure, send it to my PayPal Crazy I don't want free shi* but rather for Stern to justify their asking prices by including a similar number of features and quality as other manufacturers. I guess a thin piece of metal to stop a ball is too much to ask!

Does -anyone- even make one that fits a Stern?

#25 3 years ago

RPG

tilted81

Pinside+ Addict

11y 104K 2,389 45

I like the sock idea.

Reply

Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!

This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/does-this-already-exist-ball-stop-for-when-lifting-playfield and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.

Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.