I'm afraid more people want in this club, than exist in the club. Dear me... (raises hand)
-mof

Room for one more?
In Da House!
-mof

201405-praise-the-lord.jpg

Thank you. How are you liking your Flash Gordon?
-mof

Thanks man!
-mof

Has anyone ever solved getting their top saucer to eject after a re-lock during multiball?
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/tech-bally-fathom-ball-wont-release
thanks!
-mof

Finally posted pics of the recently acquired Fathom
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bally-fathom-shop-job

"The more you restore, the higher the score..." (c) mof

I'm really getting the hang of Fathom, and realizing what an amazing of a game it is. At first I was "iffy" about it, and with each tweak I made to the gameplay, I got to enjoy the game more and more. Now I'm smitten.

The two evil pops sold me on its greatness. They are as evil as the ones in Black Hole, which means I have to rank Fathom in my top-5 all time. It's right up there with Centaur and Black Hole as best games of all time.

-mof

Sunday was "fix everything in Fathom or die trying" day. I won.

Played for 2 hours last night. Put in at least 40 games. Played great.
I wasn't able to release a single multi-ball.
This is one tough game, I love it! It is so brutal -- tougher than Centaur.
Beat the game (3-ball, 900K) one time -- roughly 1.1mil.

-mof

New HS of 1,600,000...

Wondering if these two posts should have rubbers on them or not...

-mof

20140731_170904.jpg

I tried installing some rubbers last night and what it does prevents the skill shot from making it to the A lane. I'll be leaving the rubbers out.

-mof

Makes sense. Which shot do you feel would cause the wireform to absorb the force of the ball ?
-mof

Ok, good to know...

Hell yes, brother!
-mof

Yeah, those stencils look incredible.
-mof

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I sent a simple idea to Cliffy to help out our lovely Fathoms, and in typical fashion -- he improved upon the idea. His invention just came back from the factory, and he just shipped me the first prototype.

I'll report back when I have conclusive results.

Fathom owners get ready to smile! The solution already "looks" fantastic -- I just need to do some more play-testing.

-mof

Fathom owners, rejoice! (And protect your precious CPR plastics)

I got in an hour more of play-testing tonight, and I have a good feeling about these. I think you'll like them too.

I came to Cliffy with a problem of having a broken set of Fathom flipper return frames (made of plastic). I asked if I could just throw them out, and put in some Cliffy stainless steel replacements. Cliffy had a better idea -- make 'em with cut-away areas so you can set the plastics on top to allow the light to shine through, but then they are 1mm taller to make contact with the ball. Hopefully the plastics will be unbreakable going forward...

It works!
-mof

1. Unwrapping it...
201503-cliffy-fa-3-prototype-in-hand.jpg

2. Get the old guides off...
201503-cliffy-fa-2-getting-my-guides-off.jpg
201503-cliffy-fa-4-my-guides-are-off.jpg

3. Compare the edges side by side to ensure the Cliffy's are 1mm taller
201503-cliffy-fa-5-1mm-bigger.jpg
201503-cliffy-fa-6-1mm-bigger.jpg

4. Installed, and they look great! You get the stainless steel EDGE and the light shining through the middle, so it's a true "hybrid" look that really matches the game.
201503-cliffy-fa-7-looks-brilliant.jpg

Question: What are some goals to go for during multi-ball?
-mof

Question. Is this the natural angle of the stationary target?

1. I can't backhand it easily
2. I can't seem to nail it with the 3rd flipper.

I would think it should be rotated to aim towards between the 2 flippers.

-mof

201506_FA-target-angle.jpg

My Fathom is now playing better then ever...

I've learned quite a bit about tuning up an early SS Bally in the last week.

6 MAGIC KEYS TO A WELL-TUNED UP FATHOM

1. outlanes NEVER drain (re-position the ball guides with new holes for the hex screw if necessary)
2. inlanes can nudge-save (1/5) of the time or better. (So you feel like you have a "chance") -- (adjust rubber and location of post until it's perfect, use a small washer under base of post for increased stability)
3. all inline drops are flush with the playfield
4. make sure all rollover stars can go flush with the playfield when a ball rolls over it (carve the plastic of the STAR if needed)
5. make sure the upper flipper is laying as flat as possible
6. make sure the orbit exit is flush from wire guide to rubber (re-position the ball guides with new holes for the hex screw if necessary)

-mof

Can I get a little help on the orbit exit alignment?

I'd like to see a few photos of how yours is aligned (plastics off might help). I am looking for a Fathom where the ball gracefully flows out of the orbit the same way each time. Mine is so poorly aligned that the ball exits in a random fashion each time.

-mof

201507_FA-orbit-exit1.jpg201507_FA-orbit-exit3.jpg

Well, I didn't hear any advice, or see any pics so I took matters into my own hands, and did a little gentle flexing of the ball guide and re-positioned it.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bally-fathom-shop-job#post-2547672

-mof

for metal inlane guides I use:

vice
dremel
(perhaps use a smaller radius bit if your goal is to remove no plastic) -- with metal, the old inlane guides are a discard.

If you look at my pics, there is no issue if you remove or scratch a tad of plastic around the hole... it will be covered by the one-way gate or the washer.

-mof

Yes from Cliffy (See page 3)
-mof

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fathom-owners-club/page/3#post-2305895

Fathom...

Did some adjustments today to the trough switches for balls two and three. Thought I'd get in some games. But no. Instead I get diver captured on the right saucer, then no 2nd ball.

Why?

Mof

Yeah, when I replaced the apron, I got the two trough switches dialed in just right (afaict)

If I just play 3 balls and drain -- no issues. It recognizes each ball QUICKLY and moves to the next one...

-and-

I don't know of any issues with the cave switch #5. It always says "mermaids trapped" -- when I shoot it in there, just sometimes the game doesn't continue and shoot one out the trough. There are OTHER problems as well, where weird things happen. It has ALWAYS been like this. It makes me think this is not about switches on the playfield but the MPU instead...? It's as if this game is a little schizo...

-mof

So I go to switch mode.

Noticed I was having some intermittent flipper chatter on the right lower.

I touch the flipper switch and it came up 3 for a moment... Wtf. I think we have a clue...

3 is lower trough.

Second anomaly. 2x scoring turns on sometimes...

So yeah, the failure is "mermaids captured" not followed by targets raised and "dive again"

I'll move my tech help to a smaller thread

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fathom-cavelagoon-trap-intermittent-bugs

For those of you doing PF swaps - remember the new custom Cliffy frames that reduce ball hop. Highly recommended for better ball flow
-mof

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fathom-owners-club/page/3#post-2305895

Otherwise your new flipper guide plastics will eventually break again.

Start up a new fresh thread that we can follow and help with questions, etc.
-mof