New Machines...

[Don49er]

The center that I work at is being shut down for the next 10 days.We are getting new machines,We currently have 82-30's and will be getting new AMF XL-90's w/pbl's.AMF is currently here ripping out the 82-30's.The only training we will have is whatever the AMF guys go over with us(I'm not sure what all that will be),once they leave-we are on our own.I worked on 70's about 5 years ago(one day a week)I basically know how to change respot cells and cups,and adjust dist clutch...What is the biggest adjustment we will have to learn coming from 30's??...I know 90's has 3-4 cams on table shaft(30's had one).What breaks often?..Any quick fixes that I should know about?...This will be a learning process for us,so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.I might be a pain-in-the-ass in the next couple weeks/months probably asking stupid questions,but I know you guys will help me out with your great knowledge of 70/90's.Thanks Again for your help....Don

[old-school-mechanic]

Re: New Machines...

Don
Watch as they install them. Knowing how they go together will go a long way. When taking them apart to fix. READ and KEEP on READING. Your maintanence book should be like your bible for the next couple months. You will LEARN ALOT from there. With brand new machines. You shouldnt have to worry about breakage for awhile. Not that it couldnt happen. But mostly how you maintain them will dictate your breakage.
good luck

[toon30s]

Re: New Machines...

If you are scrapping your 30s, save the good carpets, bounce boards, ball lifts (even if they were kicker lifts, they can be either used for parts or converted to PBL), and save the good cushions. You can't use the tube weldment, but the rest is the same.
For having 70s or 90s, I hated the distributor. I did not have the guys (and gals) here to help though. I also did not like the bin/shuttle. It seemed to me like when more than 10 pins fell through on to the table, it resulted in a broken pin cup. It also never made sense to me why on the odd machines, why did AMF put the distributor clutch next to the U joint? Get one leaking oil from the rubber boot, bad news for the clutch. I know they put it there so all distributors would be the same, but seems to me to be a dumb design. Give the distributor a track and a good clutch !! I did like the easy access to the pit, just drop the curtain rod. They seemed to stay cleaner than 30s.
Keep us informed on how you like your new machines. I prefer the 30s, so forgive me when you read my signature!!!

[AIR FORCE MECH]

Re: New Machines...

I have 90-XL's (no steel table though) and like em' alot.
I spent 4 years on A-2's,7 years on GS-10's.When I came to work for this center (4 years ago) I'd never seen an AMF machine and thought I was going to hate working on them at first sight,not the case. These machines are pretty easy to work on and run good once everything is adjusted right.

Don49er,I really think you'll enjoy these machines after you work on them for a bit. If you have any problems when you get started, shot me an e-mail and hopefully I'll be able to help ypu out.

AIR FORCE

[Dutch]

Re: New Machines...

If you know 70's then you know 90's. They're almost identical.

If the installers will let you, get in there & help install them. You’ll learn to adj most of the machine by installing them.

Any other questions, just ask us. We’ll be glad to help.

[Don49er]

Re: New Machines...

Thanks for all the info and ideas...I knew I could count on you guys.Thanks Again...Don

[willey]

Re: New Machines...

To,Don49er,
If you are going from 30s to 90s it will be a piece of cake,Much different if going from 90s to 30s.
What you will notice is the advancement of certain areas of the machine,Sweep much easier to adjust and no off the rails problems,Table is the key area of adjustment but once it is adjusted properly they hold adjustment for a long time,observation of the table spotting will tell you if you get a problem e,g;pins wobbling.
Than theres the distributer,compared to the 30 this is one tricky little customer,pile ups on the orientator a rare event on a 30 but can be very common on a 70,pile ups on the bins caused by a mirriad of little problems,you will find the distributer causes 95% of your stops.
With the machine being new this should eliminate many of the problems associated with the distributer i.e; bent drive shafts caused by pile ups on the orientater,bent clutch plates same cause,so a pattern developing here distributers can cause thier own future problems.
You will learn to fine tune your machines with experience,the manual is only a starting reference,good luck.
willey.

[Toomany10pins]

Re: New Machines...

Originally posted by AIR FORCE MECH:
I have 90-XL's (no steel table though) and like em' alot.
I spent 4 years on A-2's,7 years on GS-10's.When I came to work for this center (4 years ago) I'd never seen an AMF machine and thought I was going to hate working on them at first sight,not the case. These machines are pretty easy to work on and run good once everything is adjusted right.
AIR FORCE

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've never worked on 82-70's (seen em run a few times though) just A's/A-2's. Is the 82-70/90 "easier" to work on then the A/A-2's?

[Rep]

Re: New Machines...

I've never worked with A's or A2's but I find 70's quite easy to work with. Once ya get familiar with them I didn't have much problem. The only real trouble spot in my mind is the distributor. They are very fickle sometimes and take a lot of tinkering with on occasion. I fell in love with them the first time I saw them and love working on them personally [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[DetroitSignal]

Re: New Machines...

Don49er:

What kind of Motors you run on the 30s?? Any parts you'll be throwing away, or are you trading in your machines??

[willey]

Re: New Machines...

To,Don49er,
If you have a look at the thread on distributer missing 9&amp;10 bins you will start to understand what I said previously about distributer being tricky.
Good luck,there not really that bad but a video camera is advisable for distributer problems,especially when the problem may only happen once or twice a week.
willey.

[willey]

Re: New Machines...

To,Toomany 10pins,
Is the 70-90 easier than A-A2,probably 2-3 times easier on every part of the machine except the pits,Brunswick shaker easier but heavier.
willey.

[AIR FORCE MECH]

Re: New Machines...

Originally posted by Toomany10pins:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by AIR FORCE MECH:
I have 90-XL's (no steel table though) and like em' alot.
I spent 4 years on A-2's,7 years on GS-10's.When I came to work for this center (4 years ago) I'd never seen an AMF machine and thought I was going to hate working on them at first sight,not the case. These machines are pretty easy to work on and run good once everything is adjusted right.
AIR FORCE

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've never worked on 82-70's (seen em run a few times though) just A's/A-2's. Is the 82-70/90 "easier" to work on then the A/A-2's? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The 82/70-90's are much easier to work on than the A-2,except for the pit as already mentioned.
As for the GS-10 to the 82/70-90's I'd say it's 50/50.

[Don49er]

Re: New Machines...

Joe C....our local competiter--a 40 lane house bought all of our machines.They got a bargain.

[Bobby Bee]

Re: New Machines...

I agree, see if the installers will allow you to "help" with the install. Pick their brains as you go. We had 70XLs added a few years back and our crew was more than willing to allow us to "help" and they answered any and all questions we had. Nothing like a crash course! If you can't be there for all of the install, make sure you are there after they are in and the crew is adjusting everything for operation.

BB