Table Shaking

[Doug]

I have one lane that the table jumps up and down when lowering causing pinfall. seems really noticable on 1st ball cycle. I have looked at everything I know to look at even changed out the gear box thinking it may be a bad gear or bearing inside the gear box and that didnt do any good either. any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks
Doug

[Kat]

Re: Table Shaking

Doug:

Make sure that the table drive assembly is TIGHT. If there is any play on the shaft, it skips...causing that bouncey bouncey effect. While in there, check condition of the key and keyways. (both on the shaft and the table drive casting.) I like to use a big MO-FO 1/2" drive ratchet with the 3/4" wrench to get good leverage.

Let us know what you find.

[Rep]

Re: Table Shaking

Yes, we had one a few months ago where the table drive was loose causing bounce. Check the table shaft, all components of it (also check the big bearing for the table shaft, that tends to be our #1 cause of table bounce). Also check the cam followers, we had a bad one once on one of the table cams which made the table bounce. Hope this helps.

Rep [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

[TheGMan143]

Re: Table Shaking

Aside from using a big 'mo-fo' wrench to apply "plumber's torque" to anything, you can check the keys in the shaft by putting a mark across the shaft, cam, and key (I use the thinnest "sharpie" black marker they make... it makes a nice, thin, clean mark that can be removed), then run or crank the table up and down... if any of the marks are misaligned after moving it, there is play between the key and keyway that can cause problems.

[TheGMan143]

Re: Table Shaking

[DetroitSignal]

Re: Table Shaking

When I was working on 70s, I remember we had one motor that would cause the table to sort of jump up and down during respotting. Changed the motor and it stopped. Didn't repair or inspect the motor myself, so this could be a dead end suggestion.

My two cents.

[Kat]

Re: Table Shaking

G-Man:

Nice tip. I'll have to remember that one next time I suspect I have a worn key.

[deadwood_dup1]

Re: Table Shaking

Kat and Rep have the right ideas here. Lately we have had a couple of tables that have been bouncing babies. I took almost everything off the front of the machine looking for a slight crack or a bad key. Turns out that the shaft at the splines was worn down sooo much that that the splines would slip. Go figure..never seen that before.

Rep: Is that the little devil guy from that one game show "Press your luck"?

deadwood

[shamefowjze]

Re: Table Shaking

you may want to check your counter balance springs as well though, unlikley. i'd put my money on the table drive and/or shaft.

deadwood....you're right that guy is from "press your luck" they're called "whammies" i didn't even realize what it was till i saw you say that..lol

alex

[8270king]

Re: Table Shaking

To eliminate the worn splines...pull your gearboxes and lubricate the splines.

Jerry

[Rep]

Re: Table Shaking

Yep, that's the infamous Whammy from Press Your Luck. A fav childhood show of mine, and they just started rerunning episodes about a year ago so I figured what the heck and used the pic as an avatar [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

Rep [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

[TheGMan143]

Re: Table Shaking

Originally posted by deadwood:
Kat and Rep have the right ideas here. Lately we have had a couple of tables that have been bouncing babies. I took almost everything off the front of the machine looking for a slight crack or a bad key. Turns out that the shaft at the splines was worn down sooo much that that the splines would slip. Go figure..never seen that before.
deadwood

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I can sympathize... been there, done that... wouldn't wanna do it again...

[Doug]

Re: Table Shaking

This machine has a new table shaft so that rules out the worn splines theory, I have checked for worn keys and keyways they are ok too. I will try changing the motor and see what happens. I am out of ideas myself.

Thanks for all the help.

Doug

[Rep]

Re: Table Shaking

Doug, also don't forget to check all cam followers on the table cams. As I said we had a bad one causing table bounce not too long ago. Good luck!

Rep [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

[John_Galt]

Re: Table Shaking

Man, you guys are all over this like dog poo on my bowling shoe after I walk out, forgetting to change them.

I wanna reinforce the one from shamefowjze - really out-of-adjustment springs 2 688 and 2 689 springs could be the culprit.

Also, even if the driveshaft splines are new, the combo output shaft splines could be worn on both gearboxes you've tried. Have a look, and, per Jerry, get 'em all greased up.

Chadorizo