Ball Between Rods and Cushion

[eddieg]

Hey Guys,
I know this was just posted a few weeks ago, but I have 1 lane that is driving me nuts!!! I have shimmed up the rear of the pit frame (by ball wheel), I just rebuilt the entire lift rods (bushings, metal spacer, rod covers), and cut my kickers down to almost nothing. I am still getting 1 call a night with ball between rods and cushion. Any suggestions???
Thank you

[smurtland]

Is the lift centered to the ball wheel?

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

Place a bowling ball on the ball wheel with the pit all the way to the rear. Slowly roll the bowling ball forward (toward the bowler...not the up the lift rods) and see how much of a gap there is between the bowling ball and the upper part of the pit frame. You can "feel" the gap by rolling the bowling ball...until it touches the pit frame. How much of a gap is there? Here is a picture of what I am talking about. Your goal will be to raise the pit frame high enough to make just a 1/16" gap between the bowling ball and the upper pit frame. Remember, the pit frame is as far rearward as possible.

[mikeb]

I would like to add one thing to Steve's post. I make the same adjustment, and it works very well!

Be sure the ball is not a piece of kicker strip. If the ball is on a kicker strip when the pit is shimmed you may accidentally shim the pit too high. I use kicker strips that are 1/8" thick. If I shim the pit to a 1/16" gap on a kicker I have zero gap when the ball is off the kicker, which could potentially cause ball damage, or other weird ball calls.

[Kanga (James)]

A poorly adjusted pit cushipn trip arm or to shorter delay for light ball triggering can also produce the same problem.

[Marty Murphy]

Do you have SBE's installed? Thats could be a little too low.

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[speir01]

possibly mis-adjusted lift rod?

[Popeye]

When you know that all other adjustments are good and you still get balls in there thy this. The inside edge of the rubber block is 21-1/2 inches from the left side of the pit board. They are made from two pieces of the long rubber strip that glues on the bottom of the pit board. The block is about 12 inches long. I install them with two carriage bolts. Make sure to use fender washers under the nuts.


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[wepauls]

When you know that all other adjustments are good and you still get balls in there thy this. The inside edge of the rubber block is 21-1/2 inches from the left side of the pit board. They are made from two pieces of the long rubber strip that glues on the bottom of the pit board. The block is about 12 inches long. I install them with two carriage bolts. Make sure to use fender washers under the nuts.


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Very interesting concept please let us know how its dewing down the rode

[eddieg]

Thanks for all the posts guys, I used Steve's adjustment this morning. I didnt realize I had the frame shimmed up so much, when i put the ball on the ball wheel (not kicker). There was no gap between the ball and lip of the frame, as I kept taking a washer out I could see I was getting some gap until I got the 16th I needed. I had a seniors no tap touny bowl on it this afternoon and NO ball call! I could see the better transition the ball was getting from the pit board to the ball wheel. Ive never seen this adjustment like this.
Thanks again.

[Kanga (James)]

One of many Steve has shared. Worth searching for others in the future for immediate info.

Glad you got it sorted.

[Phil_B]

Another thing too add is that if the carpet cover or zip carpet is too far rearward causing it to overhang the rear clamping plate, it can cause the same issue.