Based on your arrows, it looks like you are getting some bounce off the lane guide. You could try adding some drop dead foam to the lane guide. That should make the ball mostly stop, then roll directly along the path of the lane guide and feeds the right flipper. Pinbits sells the foam.

Check your playfield slope and make sure your PF is level!

Pull the tilt off and leave plenty of room for nudging the machine around.

This. Slope and drains on EMs can drastically be changed by small adjustments.

2 out of 5 house balls? That is normal for this era. Actually I'm surprised it isn't higher.

How 'bout bending the metal rail guide slightly?

No. It's very thin high density foam. Search on drop dead foam at pinbits. Pitch should be set to around 5 degrees.

If you haven't tried already, you may want to wax the playfield. On an older game, waxing the playfield can change play noticeably. Might not fix your problem, but it couldn't hurt.

Put a drywall screw right between the flippers.
Seriously check your left to right and make sure you're level check at top of playfield and bottom.
I've always found EM's play best at 5-6 degrees incline.

Get some small diameter plastic tube. The type that feeds windscreen washer jets is OK, at least here in the UK. Cut a length to suit the ball guide. Then cut a slot along one side using a Stanley (Exacto) knife. Slip it on the edge of the ball guide. It's only thin so won't add mech to the guide size, it can't easily be noticed and it should deaden the bounce a bit. I've used it on Perspex guides to stop the ball chewing their edges and it works fine.
Remember, these old games were built to earn operators money, not to give the players long, enjoyable games. If you think yours is hard, try a sixties wedge head. They can drain balls faster than you can shoot 'em.

Is the center of the PF board bowed down so the ball favors the middle?

The nudge will be your friend
I was showing a friend of mine that just a soft nudge when the ball is up top can have an influence on the ball direction , her game improved big time once she got the reaction/timing to apply the nudge

You showed her the nudge eh?
Alex

Its more about playing then modifying the rail, etc. when its up near that bumper you need to be actively nudging or working that rail to avoid the situation - this seems normal to me. Make sure as others said its level side to side, but I wouldnt be modifying the game - these older games can be brutal - thats why you get 5 balls and not 3.

If you can reach the suggested high scores with practice then I wouldn't see it as an issue.

JMO, but those older (60's) Bally games are notorious for House balls. I would say 40% is a bit much, but not unheard of. I own a few 60's Bally's and my biggest offender is my Trio , followed closely by the bus stop then the campus queen. But House balls are the norm.

We must remember these machines were made to make the operator money, so long ball times were not in the operators interest .

I agree with many of the others , make the tilt a bit liberal and Nudge that machine.
I would love to add a doggies to my collection, consider yourself lucky to own one.

Have fun
Brian Lenker
Madison Hts, MI

On a short flipper EM, 40% house tax is about exactly right. On games of that era you are basically trying to get that "one good ball".

Looking at the OP imagine, Is there a slot in the bottom of the plastic over the offending side rail? Is so then you should be able to re-position the angle of the side rail and change the angle.

Help.jpg

That's a good eye Chrisbee.