Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1990-April - Vol 12 Issue 2 - Page 5
Willia111s/Bally Pinball Trough Mechanism
Proble111s & Cures
William Prutzenreuter
Williams Electronics
Chicago, Illinois
Recently, a few operators stated their most often
encountered problems with the Bally pin.
SYMPTOM
The ball trough on a Bally pin is the most serious
design flaw. This part of a Bally pin has always
given me trouble. If the game is jarred, the ball
in the trough jumps, causing the microswitch
wires to slip behind the balls, now when you
push the start button, the game indicates that
all three balls are not present and does not allow
the next game to start.
SYMPTOM
Another historic Bally problem is the ball kick-
ing too hard into the shooter lane and bouncing
back into the trough. That will usually hang the
game up as well.
I thought this would have been fixed by now, but
I observed the problem in a brand new Game
Show pin. Just stretching the kickout spring
will usually work, but I always wondered how
this got by the engineers for so long.
The other Horizontal Ball Guide prevents the
ball from lifting too high up into the air. This,
too, can contribute to the ball falling back into
the trough. Typically, lower this guide if there
are still problems.
***
1990 UPDATE FOR S *T J's
MONITOR MANUAL
New! Monitor articles covered in 1989/90 publishing
year in a handy format. Over 30 new video monitor
Symptoms & Fixes that appeared in STAR*TECH
Journal's Volume 11 (March '89 - February '90).
Update your technical library with this valuable refer-
ence text. $9.95 (2.50 s/h). S*Tl, PO Box 1065,
Merchantville, NJ 08109. COD call 009/662-1080.
MURPHY'S
LAw # 1202
FACTORY SOLUTION
There are 2 adjustments for the Williams/Bally
Trough mechanism. Both are accessible via the
shooter lane with some needle nose pliers.
The first is a Vertical Ball Guide towards the
backglass. The second is a Horizontal Ball Guide
on the top of the trough.
Typically, if the ball .. bounces" back into the
trough, adjust (pull the guide away from the
backbox) the Vertical Ball Guide (thus aiming
the ball DOWN towards the plunger).
Upcoming STAR*TECH Journal
Regional Seminars
Apr 21/22
May 5/6
May12/13
May 19/20
If you adjust this too much the ball cannot go
thru the guide (sometimes you can adjust the
vertical ball guide that is furthest away from the
backbox, but normally this not adjustable).
New England Coin
General Coin
Active Amusement
Betson Pacific
Norwood,MA
Seattle, WA
Phila, PA
SanFran, CA
For more information see page 23
or call S*TJ at 009/662-1080.
Proble111s & Cures
William Prutzenreuter
Williams Electronics
Chicago, Illinois
Recently, a few operators stated their most often
encountered problems with the Bally pin.
SYMPTOM
The ball trough on a Bally pin is the most serious
design flaw. This part of a Bally pin has always
given me trouble. If the game is jarred, the ball
in the trough jumps, causing the microswitch
wires to slip behind the balls, now when you
push the start button, the game indicates that
all three balls are not present and does not allow
the next game to start.
SYMPTOM
Another historic Bally problem is the ball kick-
ing too hard into the shooter lane and bouncing
back into the trough. That will usually hang the
game up as well.
I thought this would have been fixed by now, but
I observed the problem in a brand new Game
Show pin. Just stretching the kickout spring
will usually work, but I always wondered how
this got by the engineers for so long.
The other Horizontal Ball Guide prevents the
ball from lifting too high up into the air. This,
too, can contribute to the ball falling back into
the trough. Typically, lower this guide if there
are still problems.
***
1990 UPDATE FOR S *T J's
MONITOR MANUAL
New! Monitor articles covered in 1989/90 publishing
year in a handy format. Over 30 new video monitor
Symptoms & Fixes that appeared in STAR*TECH
Journal's Volume 11 (March '89 - February '90).
Update your technical library with this valuable refer-
ence text. $9.95 (2.50 s/h). S*Tl, PO Box 1065,
Merchantville, NJ 08109. COD call 009/662-1080.
MURPHY'S
LAw # 1202
FACTORY SOLUTION
There are 2 adjustments for the Williams/Bally
Trough mechanism. Both are accessible via the
shooter lane with some needle nose pliers.
The first is a Vertical Ball Guide towards the
backglass. The second is a Horizontal Ball Guide
on the top of the trough.
Typically, if the ball .. bounces" back into the
trough, adjust (pull the guide away from the
backbox) the Vertical Ball Guide (thus aiming
the ball DOWN towards the plunger).
Upcoming STAR*TECH Journal
Regional Seminars
Apr 21/22
May 5/6
May12/13
May 19/20
If you adjust this too much the ball cannot go
thru the guide (sometimes you can adjust the
vertical ball guide that is furthest away from the
backbox, but normally this not adjustable).
New England Coin
General Coin
Active Amusement
Betson Pacific
Norwood,MA
Seattle, WA
Phila, PA
SanFran, CA
For more information see page 23
or call S*TJ at 009/662-1080.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).