I found that Cliff Notes thread to be the most helpful to follow along. Wish he would totally finish it but once you understand the basics of it most comes together rather well.

I’m back in Texas working on PIN number one - the shooter rod contacts the auto plunger robbing power which the CA pin doesn’t do.

Does this look normal? Trying to determine if the auto plunge needs adjustment or the rod assembly itself.

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Thank you!

Hard to see if anything on the auto plunger is off. My shooter rod was also hitting the auto plunger. I adjusted the manual plunger by moving its housing around. Took 3 or 4 attempts to perfectly center it, but now works great. I'd start with the manual plunger housing so that rod is perfectly centered in relation to the auto plunger. If that doesn't fix it, then you have an issue with the auto plunger.

Thanks! I did the same. It did take some finagling but now it’s great. I do need to add a washer to the auto plunger to reduce its side/side motion as it still occasionally contacts the plunger lightly if it’s slid over too far. Easy peasy.

ok, i haven't been following the disc thing, so 3 was dropped to a single?

good or bad?

It was controversial when it happened, and many people pulled their preorders (myself included.)
But what we didn’t realize was just how strong all the REST of the game still is, and that it totally stands alone as a top 10 pin without it.

Double-sided adhesive tape like "tesa Powerstrips"

it's tight, but then it just scratches the "ASSEMBLY BLADES"

My manual plunger was already low as it could go and just hitting the auto, so I used a dremel to grind away a little where it was hitting the auto plunger. Works great now.

I just removed one of the washers that was contacting the auto plunger. That did the trick

the other option is to loosen the shooter rod housing, add a washer between the bottom of the housing and the cabinet. then tighten the housing back up. this will cause the tip of the shooter rod to tilt down ever so slightly and make it so it doesn't hit the auto launch.

play-wise... i think the single disc probably affects the ball much more than the triple disc. so that might be a change that was for the better.

it is kind of a bummer that you don't get to see your map mystery rewards line up with the triple disc on the playfield but its a pretty minor loss in my mind.

Agreed. Would like to play a proto game someday to compare, but if I had to guess the single disc ball action probably results in more interesting gameplay.

The screen animation is fine--most people say they really like it--and you avoid the added noise and additional possible points of failure of the 3 concentric physical rings. The ring change is not an issue to me and if anything I would say the production version and the adjustments made to get there represent a great solution. Best possible? Dunno, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

The electronic randomizer seems to leave out some of the more insane combinations. Did the physical one do this too? I've always waited for something crazy like "plunder - 6 - ball"

The 3-disc version was SUPER cool looking. But because the discs were all spinning at different velocities so close to one another.. the ball would kinda jiggle around until it wobbled to the outside of the larger disc. I totally understand the decision to change the mech since it was a PITA to maintain apparently. And if it didn’t affect the ball hardly.. why make trouble down the road for yourself?

But you can't deny the spinning LED inserts in those disks was pretty dam cool and innovative. Yes they did the right thing and the end result was More than acceptable but there is no argument that original design was over the top creative genius!!! Wish it worked.

Agreed, and it was even cooler because it fit the theme. Oh well! As others have said, losing it would hurt a lot more if the rest of the game wasn't so balls-out awesome.

Sorry to bother your small talk but I have a serious problem. Received the machine yesterday. Having a party tonight and my Black Pearl stopped moving!

It’s hanging to the left. My girls were playing so did not see what happened

First thing the machine says:
Switch#48 Target Ship is stuck closed
I solved that problem by moving the English ship a bit. They are good in switch test now

But. The Black Pearl is still not moving!!

Did also the ship test but no luck. Since I cannot reach the Pirates manual from the JJP website (dont know why yet) I’m stuck now

Can someone please assist

Thanks so much!
Peter

It moves a bit in the Ship Test
It moves left. Then moves right. Also center.
Then it stops doings test. Now its stuck again

Also did Force Recalibration.

The Black pearl Motor inner opto is black. I saw it green as well when it was working in tests just a minute ago

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I did a restart and now it is in Full left position when I look at the screen.

In the picture
It show the right (motor inner opto) in green now as well.

Still no luck to move the ship again in testmode nor in gameplay

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There are Several helpful posts in this thread to adjust this issue if you scan back a few posts. Specifically search for posts from #ZaphX He has done a good job of documenting and helping others with issues such as this. I would start with the bracket Behind the rear playfield upright that moves the ship. Specifically the linkage connection and the cotter pin that connects it.

Yeah definitely look at that linkage, if it is misconfigured and the ship tops out or bottoms out against the slot on the back of the playfield, it won’t have full range of motion except at very high speeds.

If your calibration test won’t go down to single digits I’d definitely suspect this.

See this metal thing with the two screws, hooks the motor to the black pearl ? Un clip it and see if it moves freely. If so, then loosen the screws and adjust the metal bar so it doesn't bind things.

LTG : )

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No argument - I'm just saying I understand the design decision, and that the decision didn't actually affect the playability of the game, and (IMO) actually enhanced what it might have been - from a gameplay standpoint. e.g. It would suck if the ball just got stuck there all the time

Thanks for the feedback. I got it up and running after Lloyd tip. I just moved the rod and after it it moves again!

Thanks so much!!

Lloyd is the problem solver and savior to Pinball fact. Now go enjoy friends and the Best Game ever made!!! Arrrghhhh!

Lloyd is truly the great!

Easy now! Don't let his head get Too big now. But as for support and a friend you couldn't find a nicer person anywhere so yes Great is fitting.

Well, got mine in and they are perfect. Does not rub the sides at all. But, I also have the Pinstadium magnets in there. They get scraped first and actually save the side art. I love the graphics. Exactly what I was looking for. Hard to get a good shot of them.

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Must say I was dreading removing the ship, but following LTG’s instructions, it was reasonably easy (sorry about the rubbish pic).

Laid the ship on its side, and when I got under there, the brown/green wire was off because it had broken at the insulation. Must say, the factory soldering job was sloppy at best. It looked like a blindfolded five year old had played 'pin the tail on the donkey' with a soldering iron while dizzy on lemonade. The loom at this point was too tight, so I removed a couple of wire ties.

Getting the ship back on again was another matter, although I’m sure this gets easier with practise. So, the Black Pearl is up and running again. What a great game. Thanks LTG.

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Thanks. This happened to me as well yesterday. I cannot find the second screw but Im happy to read that removing the solonoid is enough to solve the problem.

Ok, so I had a problem with the balls not releasing in the trunk. Turns out my balls were too big! I got them from The Ball Baron. Where does everyone get their pinballs? I've heard that some of the shinier ones don't react to magnets as well.

Getting the ship back in is really a struggle every time for me. I have no tips. I’ve done it 3 times and it just *doesn’t seem to fit* back in. Until it does.

Agreed. I was flapping about with it for ages. The only tip I would give is to get the front part of the ship under the ramp first, and than wiggle things around gently.

Say what?? I highly doubt they are selling oversized balls unless you were just making a comical statement?

Hi guys.

Any must have protection items needed for POTC? Cliffys, mylar, airball protectors, etc?

How about side-art VS mirrors VS nothing?

Thanks in advance.
Nick

It happens. I've seen at shows two boxes with balls. Regular for pinball. And larger ( for bingo games ? ) I bought some one time and sure enough had one larger one that got mixed in.

LTG : )

Actually, this makes sense (to me at least). Ive always been suspect to Ball Baron’s balls. I tried them in both my SW and IMDN. They felt....different. Hard to explain but the Game was easier, slightly floaty returning back to the flippers. I kept quiet cause i thought it was me. But putting standard balls (Marco) back, game felt normal and fast.

Never had an issue with the Ninjas in any of my machines. I’ve been through quite a few as I change them out often.

Did not know that guess I need to verify with the micrometer more often never would have thought they could do that. Learn something new everyday Thanks LTG!

JJPOTC #900 reporting in! I got it set up last night right next to its cousin and played it all the way through midnight. What a machine! Very impressed so far.

Believe it or not, I've read through every post in this thread in preparation for receiving my game. I was anticipating having to make adjustments and fixes... But my POTC worked perfectly out of the box.

Still working on learning the shots and wrapping my head around the ruleset- and still getting used to the fact that this machine takes your picture- every high score entry has me making a dumb face at the screen! Ha!

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And Truck Stop used smaller, 1", balls.

LTG : )

So where is a good place to buy some pinballs? Everyone I've found is trying to charge $9 and $12 for shipping and that seems ridiculous.

I usually go with Pinball Life.

Shipping can run high, balls aren't light.

LTG : )

They seem to be out. That sucks because I just ordered a part from them and could have combined.

Those look as good as I thought they would! I was hesitant to install mine until i had an extra pair of hands to help.

I also have my pinstadium lights ready to install at the same time. Where did you hook up the UV glow flasher?

Any other notes that might be helpful?

They look great. Guess my cabinet is tighter for some reason. I tried twice (repaired them and tried again). Oh well. Glad it is just mine.