powerlift assistance needed

[gearhead]

We have ball accelerators and on one pair the balls hit the lift hard and make a clunking sound.
I replaced the leather and plate but then the leather was marking balls,i changed the lower tire(i use the black v-shaped),added some spare carpet to the top of the leather pad,tried shimming the plate assy up etc.It still wants to do that hard clunking.
I can quiet it down some with the added carpet idea i did but then when i use a 6lb ball it sticks in front of the lower tire at times.
I've checked the other lanes and comparing heights,widths etc it seems good.
OH-i did change on lower c-track,it was all cracked but the noise was there before that.
It like if you roll the ball twords the lift,there is a slight dip in the plate area and that seems to be the trouble spot so that's why i tried filling the spot up with carpet but...it's slightly better but not a long term fix.ANY other ideas?Slow ball speed down from the accelerator??

[MASTERMIKE]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

Hi Gearhead,
You must have the higher rpm motor on your accelerator. When you have those, you need retarder tracks up front.
Make sure your accelerator motor Is the same rpm as the others. Your better of with them slow anyways. Also make sure know one put the wrong size pulley on It.
The Master

[Roscoe]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

Gearhead:
Check the transition plate's mounting tabs to ensure they are not broken from the plate.This is one area that will cause your problem.
Roscoe.

[TPJ]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

gearhead
Roscoe I think has nailed it on the head. When the tabs break the track falls down and the balls impact the transition plate hard making that clunking sound. After making the repair I would put a 2 x 4 under the track to help relieve the pressure on those tabs.

[gearhead]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

yah,the transisition plate is new, old one was still good but where it bolts down to those two front bolts are broken off in the wood.,by front i mean front of the lift not the rear twords the ball tray.
I tried shims,tape,i know a piece of metal track thin is also broken off but i did manage to get that back into place.
It's stupid things like this that drive me knutz!
The retarders are good.I'd love to go to a slower accelerator pulley but right now since summer play is dead(been too damn hot/humid for bowlers to even go out)i have to wait for the season to start for ordering, but one way or the other i'll fix things.Did ya know a coat hanger is great when you break a scissor guide wire!!

Re: powerlift assistance needed

If your not getting ball damage from this problem, sounds like the transition plate is loose toward the front of the building, ball comes into it, lifts the front up a little, then ball goes a little further, and smacks the plate back down real quick. This is assuming your retarders are in shape, and the retarder track is tight and in line with the powerlift. Could also be a different pulley/rpm problem also. Easy to compare those by nameplate, and measurin an acc drive pulley, and comparing to a quiet lane. No need to wear out them parts with super speed of an accellerator.

[gearhead]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

Finally got this done,been a long summer.Sorry i'm late with a update!
I had to lift up on the front of the transisition plate and shim it with a 2x4.Just as the balls came off the retarder strips it would drop down,so i lifted it up and it's much better.
I used measurements from another lane to see what was bad.Also had to bring in the sides of the retarder track,they we're too far apart.
I do still have a carpet strip i cut from a spare roll and tied it so it sits on the plate,this helps keep it quiet,if i went too high with shims the balls stuck under the lower tire,there is a fine line on the puppy that's for sure.
Found out that my spare carpet strips are excellent for replacing the leather strips,sure made those 2 lifts super-super quiet,just glued them down like pit carpets.Okay....it's funny but it works.THIN carpet not thick.
Not allowed to spend much money unless it's urgent,i use what i can get my hands on.NOT my way of repairing that's for sure!!

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

I wouldn't count on that carpet lasting very long...there is a good reason they used leather there. It lasted...

[murreyinternat]

Re: powerlift assistance needed

Gearhead;
We make a 1725 rpm accelerator motor. The standard 3450 rpm is too fast for certain centers. In the future, keep it in mind. We sell quite a few of these. It's easier than changing all the other possibilities. Call me at 800-421-1022. If interested I'll give you some recommendations on other centers that have changed for the reasons you described....Bill [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]