All of a sudden, I am having the ball hang up on the right orbit control gate after coming out of the shooter. The control gate works when under the solenoid test. It allows the ball to move through when shooting the left or right orbit. But the ball hangs up ~1/2 the time when coming out of the shooter. I have to shake the pin side to side to release it.

It looks like I will have to remove the right ramp to get to it. Before I do, I would like input. Thanks.

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The game is level side-to-side.

Yes, I think the gate is bent. I was hoping for a photo or something like it from a working game. Stern technical support was extremely helpful with a burned out opto. But less so on this problem.

It looks like my choice is to disassemble the right side of the pin and take a closer look.

This is difficult on these newer stern pins because they no longer have the long slide bracket underneath.

I understand that a business needs to keep costs in line. But darn it, it sure makes it tough to work on these pins. And now I find myself paying $55 for something that should have come with the pin in the first place.

I have had everything apart now twice. There is not a spring. The gate swings freely, but is opened by the electromagnet.

The problem is that the entire gate twists counterclockwise, then the swinging gate hits the metal ball guide on the right of the right loop and will not fully open. The twist opens up a spot on the left of the gate for the ball to sit (see photos above).

I twisted it back into position and tightened the screws. This held it into position for a few plays, until the force of the ball caused the gate to twist again.

I took everything apart a second time, and this time tightened down the screws with more force. To my surprise, the gate is now too low and the pinball cannot pass underneath.

The gate is held on two screws connected to t-nuts. The spacers are plastic.

The gate does not appear to be damaged in any way.

What I need is a way to anchor the gate on the other side to keep it from twisting, or add a third screw with the other two.

I am surprised that more Stern Star Trek owners don't have this issue. Or they do and just shake the game.

Problem solved.

A pin had fallen out of the gate. The pin keeps the gate from swinging too far backwards. I found it bouncing around the bottom of the cabinet. Luckily I had a retaining ring around that fit it.

Without the pin, the gate would lean back too far and allow the pinball to sit against the gate (1st picture)

It was a bear to get back together, but I finally did and it all works.

Now all I need is the replacement optical switch from Stern. That goes under the Vengeance. I am not sure how to get to that. I am hoping that I can remove the screws holding the metal guide under the ship and it will all come out.

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