New Pin Blues

[BG]

[ November 06, 2001: Message edited by: geminix ]

[JEFF KUHNLE]

Re: New Pin Blues

HELLO THERE

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAVE WORKED ON AN AMF MACHINE, BUT PERHAPS I WILL REMEMBER SOMETHING.

WHEN NEW PINS WERE PUT IN TO THE MACHINES SOMETIMES THEY WOULD HANG IN THE PIN WHEEL SO WE WOULD LOWER THE KIDNEY DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE WHEEL JUST A BIT, THAT WOULD USUALLY HELP, AND SOMETIMES JUST A GOOD CLEANING OF THE PIN WHEEL TOO.

HOPEFULLY HELPED
JEFF KUHNLE
TWIN OAKS LANES
TOLEDO OHIO
[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: New Pin Blues

I ran into this a couple of years ago and thought it was a good idea to mark the position of the kidney with a magic marker before I adjusted them for the new pin problems. I think I went about it backwards. I should have marked the kidneys after all of them worked with new pins so that over the year as changes are made I could revert to the marked position when we got a new set in.
When you think about it, how are the new pins different then the old ones? We know they are slicker and they are going to slide on the pan more so maybe part of the adjustment should be to start the pin on the kidney sooner? I think new pins ricochet across the pan more then old soft ones so maybe lowering the kidney could help? Or are the new pins already smaller and going to leave the kidney sooner and thats whats causing the problems so you need to move it closer to the pan? I don't know. Keeping the the pan and pins extra clean for the first couple of months seems to help out. I went so far as to add extra spacers under a few dist so the pins didn't drop so far onto the pans but still held in place by the kidney to prevent head first pins. On some the pans had to be adj away from the wheel to ensure no head first pins. Some the kidneys have been shortened 3/8" because I ran out of adj and the pins were fed to far onto the pan and rolling off. Other kidneys have been reverse pitched at the top so the pins rotate backwards onto the pan to disipate their energy. I was going to make a adjustment guage for the distance and hight of the kidney in relation to the top-dead-center of a pin holding bracket on the wheel when I discovered that alot of my pinholders where crooked. After squaring up the holders on the last troublesome machines I gave up on the idea.
This subject really interests me. If any of you have made any calculations I would love to here about them. For instence. If the machine was designed to run with a 6" pulley and you put a 5" pulley on is there a formula to change the kidney relationship with the pan and wheel?

[Bill LeMieux]

Re: New Pin Blues

You have the correct spacer on the distributor support post right? You know you can adjust the distributor turn pan frontwards and backwards right?

[Kat]

Re: New Pin Blues

Ensure your turn pan is as far back as possible without it hitting or rubbing on the pinwheel.

Next, make sure your pinwheel is running straight and true. Check your guide rollers and see that there is no play.

Make sure your pin ejector and pin seting rod are properly adjusted and functioning correctly. New pins like to hang out of the wheel on butt first and will not enter the turn pan the same all the time...so you will pull your hair out trying to get the pin guide (kidney) perfect. The seat rod gives them that extra push back into the wheel pockets.

These factors contribute to poor orientation, but is amplified when new pins are used.

[8270king]

Re: New Pin Blues

I have experienced some of the same problems.....most of mine were with pins being loades on top of others and hitting the butt stop and sliding back out of the correct bin slot causing a jam....new slick pins suck!

Jerry

[Ed Fox]

Re: New Pin Blues

LMAO!!! Sorry budy. I sware I was going to post a "good luck to every one with there new pins" tomorrow.

Well, happy adjusting!

Charlie [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[AmfPro]

Re: New Pin Blues

Hi Geminix, We had this exact problem 5 months ago. Brand new AMF pins for a mens state tournament. Put them in and had 1000% increase in Pin Jams. My boss had me try sanding the entire orientation pan with a piece of coarse sandpaper, and the results were amazing. Almost no PJ's whatsoever. The more a pin rolls coming off rail or kidney, no matter where its positioned, results in better and smoother orientation. We also have bin pin guides mounted on all distributors, opposite the driveshaft on all Dist.
We set rails or kidneys high and up to get maximum toll when sanding the turnpan/orientationpan. Give it a try!!! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[BG]

Re: New Pin Blues

[ November 06, 2001: Message edited by: geminix ]

[8270king]

Re: New Pin Blues

You can mount the kidney solid with the sleeves from the cushion shock as spacers...then use nylon lock nuts and 5/16 bolts.

Jerry

[BG]

Re: New Pin Blues

[ November 06, 2001: Message edited by: geminix ]

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: New Pin Blues

Try this,

Loosen the inside nuts of one of your kidneys and let it slide down towards the pin holder and retighten. Then stop the P.W. as a head first pin enters the kidney. While holding the neck of the pin against the inside of the wheel so it stays fully seated loosen the outside lower nut and retighten after you get a 1/8-1/4 gap between the pin and the kidney. Now jog the P.W. until the pin gets to within a inch of falling off the kidney and stop it. Hold the neck of the pin as before AND the kidney with one hand, then with the other hand loosen the top outside bolt. Raise the top of the kidney so it touches the pin and retighten the nut.
Now watch it operate and adjust the it closer to the pan with the inner nuts as needed.
This is the easiest way I found to adj the kidney to the P.W.. To close and the pins spit out, to far away and you get head first feeds.

[8270king]

Re: New Pin Blues

I have had problem with jams since new pins in the middle of August. I had most of the machines running ok except 4, 12, 13, & 15. I sanded the pans as mentioned earlier with some success. I have been usint the vantage hi grip belt exclusively. The pins just wouldnt grab on them. I finially tried the quality orange rubber rough top belt. These belts are SOFT. They really grab the pins. I put these new belts on my problem lanes and have only had 1 jam in 3 days as opposed to multiple jams until the switch. They come in a roll of 4. Maybe they will help some of you guys too.

Jerry

[BG]

Re: New Pin Blues

[ November 06, 2001: Message edited by: geminix ]

[8270king]

Re: New Pin Blues

All you have to do is the pin kidney swap to eliminate head 1st pin feeds!

Jerry