On an unrelated note, I'd recommend putting down some mylar on the playfield where the ball drops from the wireform ramp to help protect it from damage.

This is definitely all mechanical, so you'll need to pay close attention to exactly what happens when the ball hits the end of the guide at various speeds.

Obviously, adding a washer or two is non-destructive, and after I make sure that the guide is actually dropping the ball dead center in the lane (instead of bouncing it off of the slingshot plastic or the lane separator to the left or the right...), I would try the washer(s) to raise it a bit.

If that doesn't work, on other games I've re-formed the actual wires at the end of the ramp. I didn't bend them... I re-formed them. Bending is something you might do over and over again. Re-forming them is done once. Hehe.

This is one of those tricky mechanical adjustments.

Before starting, make sure your playfield is properly leveled left-to-right, and that your playfield pitch is where you want it. It could be that making your game faster (going from 6.5 degrees of pitch to 7.0 degrees) could solve your problem and add a bit of zing to the game. When you get too much playfield pitch you won't reliably be able to shoot the ramps, so don't go too crazy.

Good luck!

If I’m understanding the problem, you’re saying the lane is a bit tight and the balls are getting jammed up there out of the wire form?

If so, play around with the sling rubber and the posts.

A video would definitely help if not.

rd

High wear area that gets a lot of abuse from the balls, so I would.

Take a high speed video then slow it down. That might give a good indication of what might actually be happening.

Yeah, you've got a VERY nice Rollergames (you can tell from the picture), and I would also be hesitant to do something permanent to the game.

There is an app for playfield adjustment, and as I remember it, I always set Rollergames to a very high (fast) pitch, like 7.0 degrees or even 7.5. It's a game that benefits from being a little punchy, a little over-fast.

For Rollergames and Mousin' Around I used to be able to get leg levelers with 4" of 3/8-16 thread for the back two legs from Suzo-Happ. Now they don't sell that product anymore, and the 4" leg leveler they DO stock is $23... each! I'm cheap so I'd probably cut a 2 by 4 wood block to set the back legs on to get more playfield pitch.

I hope you come up with a solution to the ball draining unfairly. Stretching a rubber band to block off the outlane completely on the right side doesn't count as a solution... though I've seen it done!

Good luck!

Most phone cameras have a slo-mo mode built in these days. Very handy for things like this.

rd

As it happens, I just uploaded the models for the leveler feet I made. They are intended to work with the foam & plastic furniture sliders you can get at the hardware store (Ace, Home Depot, whatever), fitting over the foam part and distributing the pin's weight better.

If you have a 3D printer, they are an easy way to get another 1" of height, on all legs or just a pair. I also have a version that adds only 1/4" of height, useful if you just want the benefit of spreading the load over the foam but don't need the extra height. Put the tall ones in the back, and the short ones in the front, to get the increased playfield pitch and the better weight distribution at all four legs at the same time.

People who don't own a 3D printer can still use them; often a local library will offer printing services, or you can send the file to an online service like Shapeways or Xometry. Some UPS stores have 3D printing services. Of course, the services charge money, but usually it's a minimal, reasonable fee.

https://www.printables.com/model/322424-lift-slider-support-for-pinball-feet or https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5647202

1" leveler lift

Hey - I'm the guy that this machine came from! This issue is unique and I don't recall it ever happening to me or anyone else who played it, including a full weekend at the 2021 Pinball and Arcade Show in Tacoma (where tournament players were ALL over it because their was one in the tournament area) and a few months at our local Pinball Collective. I'm glad it got worked out and that the washers I suggested weren't needed. Have fun!!!

In situations like this, you have to think…

“This thing is 35 years old … it must have been working ok before I got it … what did I do?” Then work backwards from there.

rd