Quoted from CharlestonSCPins:I posted this in All but thought I should post here as well for the experts.
Finally finished my PinBot and everything works perfectly except for the vortex ramp. I bought a reproduction one and installed it since the existing one had several cracks and repairs. Problem is that the ball never even makes it to the 5K drop through hole. I noticed that the piece of spring metal at the bottom of the ramp was sitting up about 1/8" off the play field. I used a dremel tool to shave the plastic down and then used a dab of RTV to hold the spring steel ramp down so it is completely flush with the play field. I put a new high power (blue) spring from Marco in the ball shooter. If I pull the ball shooter back about half way there is just not enough power to get up the ramp. Pulling the ball shooter back further puts more power behind the ball but then the ball seems to jump around when it hits the rivets holding down that spring steel and he ball again never reaches far enough up to even get to the 5K drop through hole.
Thinking about trying to shave down those rivets but don't know if that is wise. I don't want to have to redo them if I go too far and PinBot obviously worked with the rivets before.
Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome. This is a great game but it bugs the hell out of me if everything doesn't work.
Thanks!
Al
That really sounds like it is an alignment problem. My Pinbots are notorious for not going up the ramp if the plunger hits the ball in anything but EXACTLY straight on. Look at where the plunger lines up on the ball when the ball is at rest in the trough. If it is hitting the ball low, it would put back spin on it and it won't make it up the ramp.
Try this. Take off the glass. Put the ball in the trough and try lifting or shifting the playfield side to side to line it up exactly center (or a little higher than center on mine) and see if it does any better.
If that is your problem, then you have to work on getting the plunger to hit the ball straight.