PBL Tensioner mods...

[Kat]

Here's a slight mod that I'm doing now to make removal of the tensioner (as well as alignment) easier.

If you look at the bottom shaft (the one that goes through the kickback) I've replaced the snap rings that hold the hanger casting in place with lock collars. This way rather than fight with the snap rings in an hard to reach place, just loosen the collars and slide the shaft into the other pinsetter. Many times you had to remove either the snap rings or the ratchet wheel.

Let me know what you guys think.

[Louie_IV]

Re: PBL Tensioner mods...

That's a good idea kat. Usually, I just loosen the set screw and pull the whole assembly out before trying to take the snap rings off. At least that's what I do in a kicker lift. I'm not sure if there's enough room to do it in a PBL.

Louie

[Kat]

Re: PBL Tensioner mods...

Originally posted by Louie:
That's a good idea kat. Usually, I just loosen the set screw and pull the whole assembly out before trying to take the snap rings off. At least that's what I do in a kicker lift. I'm not sure if there's enough room to do it in a PBL.

Louie

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's the idea. Sometimes there's just not enough room on PBLs since the ratchet drive assembly gets in the way. I guess you could do this on kicker lifts as well, although may not be needed as you pointed out.

[triac]

Re: PBL Tensioner mods...

Kat,

Good Idea…especially for narrow ball returns.

What I have done is to cut off that 1” extension next to the snap ring slot. Then I cut off the other side any excess shaft protruding in the pit.

I can remove all but 2 tensioner’s without fighting or removing anything else. The 2 tensioner’s in question are very narrow ball returns.

Triac

[deadwood_dup1]

Re: PBL Tensioner mods...

triac: That is a good idea as well but unfortunatly will not work with the kicker system because we hang out springs on the far left extension for the even kicker.

deadwood

[8270king]

Re: PBL Tensioner mods...

Kat.....great idea...

Deadwood.....quit sniffing those grey paint can fumes :p and pick up some chain at the hardware store for your even lane kicker spring.....route the spring over the lower ball lift shaft.....secure it with a nail through the paddle drive brackets.

Jerry