Ball door issues....

[Shaggy]

So Im having multiple issues with ball returns at my center and
I'd like to figure this out because the chief mech dosent to care & the GM asked me to bowl-tech it and see what I can do.

We are running 40 GS-98 with nex-gen boxes

Anyways we have issues like pins in the accelerator, half way through the ball door, pins blocking the ball door, or balls just getting hung up by the door and hesitating before they go through.

no here is what I have done to try to fix these issues.
* all t-bands are kept aligned.
* the t-band frame bolts are still secure and intact.
* t-bands are cleaned regularly
* we have done the cotter key adjustment.

Id like to know what is the PROPER adjustment for the ball cushions, doors & locks.
and ANY ideas on what is being done wrong or maybe ideas that improve it.

BTW I have a EXTREMLEY tight budget, the only way I can get parts is if the machine "HAS TO HAVE IT TO RUN"

I appreciate all comments!!!!

[cyclonus]

Have you not checked your pin deflectors for correct allingment? If there not they can cause a LOT of preoblems with your ball doors etc

[sbrooks]

Do the ball cushions have the cushion flaps on them. They help keep pins out of the door. You can cut your own out of an old T-Band but they are less flexable than the original ones that Brunswick sell for around $40 per cushion.

Sent you a pm.

[Shaggy]

Have you not checked your pin deflectors for correct allingment? If there not they can cause a LOT of preoblems with your ball doors etc

how should the deflectors be adjusted??

[davegargamel]

PM'd ya.

[cyclonus]

how should the deflectors be adjusted??

Make sure there not catching off the t-band and rest firmly on the kickbacks and ball accelerator

[Shaggy]

thanks everyone for the help, will try these suggestions and more are always welcome!

[Glitch]

Don't forget that ball cushion adjustment is very important. The fact that you mentioned the ball "hesitating" could indicate cushion misadjustments.

[Joey Pascal]

To me this sounds like you have two issues here - pins not getting into the elevator quickly, & balls not getting into the accelerator as fast as they should. Both these problems are interconnected. The ball stops pins getting to the elevator & pins stop the ball from getting to the accelerator. Bit of a chicken & egg thing.

There is a whole load of adjustments that need to be right for the balls and pins not to interfere with each other.

First off the forward/back tilt of the ball cushion needs to be set up so balls goes straight through the ball door without hitting the sides of the ball door protector.

The ball doors need to be as high as you can get them to lessen the chance of pins hitting the button on the door, but low enough that the lightest balls can get through. Make sure the ball doors don't bind on each other.

The t-band drive tension needs to be set so the roller isn't getting pulled off the support brackets which would give the t-band too steep of an decline towards the ball door. Pins would naturally go towards the ball doors if this isn't right.

One of the most crucial adjustments is the t-band tension. Too tight/loose and the pins will either bang against the elevator without going into the shovels or idle on the t-band. This one can take a while to get right.

Lastly pin deflectors need to be set up to direct pins into the elevator. I'm not sure how to explain this one in writing.

When everything is right, pins will go into the elevator real quick. Nearly a pin every shovel. Balls will exit the ball return before or just as the sweep has risen all the way up.

It normally takes me about 1-2 hours per lane to do this depending how out of adjustment the machine is. There's a lot of watching & tweaking. Good luck.

[jday]

Those ball cushion flaps can be made from old T bands. Works very well.

[cyclonus]

thanks everyone for the help, will try these suggestions and more are always welcome!

Any luck?

[Shaggy]

Sorry guys for taking so long.

UPDATE:
I have replaced all the ball cushion flaps with the ones I made from old t-bands, & I adjusted all the pin deflectors and things are starting to look better already!!!
I will keep everyone updated with the progress!