Opinions on PPP Ball Wheel Pin Deflector

[rtrek]

I just spent an hour fishing derailed balls out from the underground track beneath the approach. We have more cork on our ball wheels than maybe we should and while that ultimately may be the problem, I was wondering if anyone has had success with the Pinsetter Parts Plus Ball Wheel Pin Deflector? http://www.**********************/Ba...nDeflector.htm

I've seen a couple posts from 2012 mentioning the part, but no follow ups as to how well it works. Thanks.

[ColJim]

I have them on 2 lanes . Not very impressed .

[Marty Murphy]

I have one. About the same opinion as ColJim. Kanga had a neat idea with some old c-lift track cover a little ways back that I want to try one of these days. But in the mean time, I have been slowing the ball wheels down in here to help the pin in the track calls.
You could also try the cut out accelerator pan ideas that have been posted (if you have accelarators !) which works well.

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[Popeye]

I don't have the PPP part but I made something similar quite a while ago that mounts from the clapper block and hangs down a piece of lift rod cover. For me they work better than the bungee cords that they replace. You have to slow the ball wheels down if you have not already done so (Like Marty said). You may have too much cork on your wheels. I have two 4' sections (total of 8') of traction material on my wheels. I don't know if that is the ideal length but I don't have any undergrounds. EBN sells a kit for slowing your ball wheels down.

[Captaintenpin]

I'll echo Marty Murphy and ColJim on the PPP part. I have 3 of them and still will have issues with pins getting carried up into the return or at least the y-switch. On one particular lane I have the PPP part and a fence assembly on the track and I STILL have a pin get past both of them once in a while. I may be looking into EBN's kit to slow the ball wheels down (thanks Popeye!).

[cuda96]

Kegel now also sells a kit to slow down the ball wheels. Haven't tried it yet buy I think I will buy one next month and see how it works.

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

I have slowed the ball wheels down on a few machines and have seen a drop in the pins that make it up to the return tracks.

I too am going to try Kanga's idea to see if that makes any improvment.

[Marty Murphy]

Kegel now also sells a kit to slow down the ball wheels. Haven't tried it yet buy I think I will buy one next month and see how it works.

I have one of Kegels kits installed, no ball related calls since July of 12. Only thing is they supply a pulley to slow the turret down a little, which works fine but the pulley to speed the pit back up is a little bit too large (or small ??) in my opinion, seems the pit is actually going a little faster than stock setup now.
I went the route of buying my own pulleys to slow the ball wheels down and think I have the right one BUT I have stopped for now, those pits are running a little too slow, so I need to try and get them back up to speed (getting lots of pins idling on the rear of the boards due to dirty zip carpets, but its too cold to be outside messing with the things now)

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[brentman1]

I have installed 1 of Kegals, and 15 of EBN's slo-down kits, love both. They treat balls like a baby, and pit speed is great.

[Trixter]

I have slowed the ball wheels down on a few machines and have seen a drop in the pins that make it up to the return tracks.

I too am going to try Kanga's idea to see if that makes any improvment.

We did the very same thing and we've experienced fewer pins as well.

[MISSION2]

I'm using the PPP Ball Wheel Pin Deflectors, have 8 installed, work fine, got tiried of constantly replacing bungee cords/tie wraps

[MikeD]

I use the ppp pin deflectors also and love them. I dont put them on to keep the pins from going up the track, but for keeping pins from getting wedged between the ball and ball wheel causing the ball to burn. we were having about five balls a month get damaged and all the lanes i have them on have not had a pin stuck yet.