Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

[*70*PinMonkey]

Yknow, im new here, and im enjoying this site very much. Id like to say though that i pick up this vibe from all you guys like ive got the only house on the planet with constant problems cropping up. You all sound so knowledgable, and it sounds as if you service a pile up a week, and a ball return or two every financial quarter. Let me tell you, i havent got time to piss without something snapping or piling or splitting or freezing up. Dont leave me hanging guys, i want an idea of how many calls your centers average, and what are the dominant ones.

[Rep]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

We're a 64 lane house split. I'd say on average we run maybe 4 calls a side for league a night. The calls do go up with the humidity, we get pin piles often from it. Most of our calls are setups, from offspot pins getting knocked over most likely. We get a pin pile here and there and even tho we have kickers, we don't often have a ball return aside from pins in the exit. Just the common stuff really. Anyone else?

[Clutch Plate]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

24 lanes.....0-3 calls

OOR mostly

[HouseBall]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

There's a 70 house near here that has constant problems. It's only a 16 laner. A buddy of mine quit the place I'm at (A2s) and went to there (70s). He misses the A2s.

JOEY

[Rep]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

70's can run like gold or like total crap. Depending on parts budget and who is working on them. I've seen both ends of the spectrum. Parts, time, and a knowledgeable tech that wants the machines to run good and cares can have 70's running like new imho. Just my $0.02

[old-school-mechanic]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

I have 18 machines & on a normal league night I'll run 2 or 3 times. Mostly pin blocking ball openings, fewer pile up's or fewer still OOR's. Some night's I go without a call, Other night's I might have 1/2 doz.

[willey]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

We have 22 lanes of Brunswick A's were averaging about 15-20 calls a week(only doing 14-15 lines a week), we usually have a couple of pin stands a day probably because of the AMF infrared triggers,these things seem to trigger on thier own for some unknown reason,usually in pairs.We get one deck jam a week( have'nt caught that one yet)and maybe a couple of head first pins (no pinwheel brake ).
willey.

[CJ_dup1]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

70 Pin Monkey. I know which house you work at. Do yall still have Magic Score?

[DavidC]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

Rep is right alot depends on your parts budget. This is the 2nd time I've been at the place Iam at now. The first time I quit because they wouldn't spend any money on parts. When they asked me to come back I said only if I get the parts and upgrades when I want and need them. Well I've been back 20 years now and I have maybe 20 calls a week.
We are a 24 lane center and the machines get a going over every summer. I pull the pits every summer and rebuild the dist. and ball lifts. Then, I go over all the assemblies and replace what needs replacing and lube and oil everything.
I know for larger centers this might not be fiesable but for me it works out great. The bowlers see the results every season.

[DetroitSignal]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

We have 20 lanes of 8230s. They run about 3-10 calls a day. More calls if it gets too warm in the back.

[dewbowler]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

Originally posted by willey:
we usually have a couple of pin stands a day probably because of the AMF infrared triggers,these things seem to trigger on thier own for some unknown reason,usually in pairs.
willey.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Those puppy's have a sensitivity screw setting in the middle of the lites, one for each side. They will increase how fast they flash(and how fast they burn up) but that should eliminate that double triggering problem.
If not set correctly you can bang a pin on the side wall adjacent to it and set off the sensor.

[*70*PinMonkey]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

very interesting... hey CJ, who are you buddy? No, we ditched ye olde MagicScore system and went with Steltronic a few years back. The jury is still out on that switch.....Guys, i think my center must exist inside some sort of temporal nexus, or subspace rift, the kind Riker and Picard always find themselves in. Some nights its utter insanity, while the very next, alls quiet.

[Dutch]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

When I came on full time about 2 ½ yrs ago we were chasing 15-20 calls a day in our 24 lane 82-70 house. After spending only $10k &amp; a few long shifts we’re only chasing 4-5 calls a day.

Most numerous calls: (#’s are approximate)

Respots – 20%
DJ’s – 20% (Until recently, when we started cleaning the carriage tubes &amp; rollers on a regular basis)
Ball calls – 20% (Until recently, when I went thru all the starter &amp; KKR assy’s. We’re also in the middle of replacing our Magic Circles with C-90’s. Had lots of UG’s with the M/C’s)

Tips to eliminate nuisance calls:

1) Spend a few days thoroughly cleaning all the machines. A clean machine is a happy machine.
2) Spend another day or 2 thoroughly lubing all the machines. A lubed machine (just like a lubed human) is a party animal. (Just use oil the 1st time thru. It’s a lot faster than a grease gun &amp; as long as you’re getting lube in there it doesn’t really matter what kind it is.
3) I’ve e-mailed you some checklists. Modify them as you see fit &amp; stick with them. You won’t believe how fast your calls will drop.

[CJ_dup1]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

70 Pin Monkey,

I am from Dallas. I bowled and YABA and worked at AMF Desoto (1998), Bronco Bowl (1998-1999), and Don Carter West (1999-2000). I left Dallas in 2000 for the military. I am still in the military but moonlight at the local center we call "The Barn." I know Maurice Friday and James Bandy. I worked at Desoto with them. And Maurice would work at bit at Bronco when they got their 90s.

SO yall still have those MOD Masks yall painted green? If so restore them to their orignal apperance I went to a center that has them with their cosmic and they look pretty cool. I haven't been to you house in about 3 years.

Hmm, that temporal nexus you talk about must exist all over the D/FW Area. I remember all three centers I worked had good and bad nights. We would blame it on that texas weather. I never realized it until my friend Mike(dont know his last name but hes kind of tall and a bit of a beer belly) whose an A2 Guru explained why on one shift of league we may run very well but as soon as those fronts come through and the humidity and temperature changed all hell broke loose. Might want to pay attention to the weather. I remember high humidity and rain would reek havok on AMF-Desoto and we would have scoring and machine problems out the *.*. That was usually blamed on the poor grounding of the building. Might want to check that. I believe your house and Desoto were built about the same time if I am not mistaken. If you look on the Dallas ABC Page, and look at the past yearbooks, your house begins to appear on the 83-84 yearbook and Advantages (AMF Desoto) begisn to appear on the 84-85 yearbook.

That just my two cents.

[Dutch]

Re: Only in Texas Do 70s run Poorly

For those of you that have my pinchaser checklists, I've added 3 things to the 'monthly pinchasers checklist';

CLEAN CARRIAGE TUBES &amp; ROLLERS

WIPE PIN CUPS WITH OIL

CHECK PINS (ESPECIALLY THE BOTTOMS) FOR MODERATE TO SERIOUS DAMAGE

Pinmonkey - That last one isn't on the one I sent you.