Star Tech Journal

Data East Robocop Gate Installation
~,
Randy Terry
Alpine Amusement
Connersville, Indiana
PROBLEM
NOTE
Players always complain that when they shoot
the ball into the top right saucer. it will some-
times score; but almost always comes back
down thus not being ejected by the saucer into
the jet bumpers.
Be sure and check that the ball gate is free
swinging and does not come down on top of the
ball. It sounds like a lot but is actually quite
simple and not very time consuming. It took me
60 minutes for the first one and about 30 min-
utes each thereafter.
CAUSE
Ball strikes top edge of the saucer and bounces
back.
SOLUTION
Install a one-way ball gate at the bottom of the
saucer. I used a left ball gate (Wico #04-0635-00
from a Williams Fl 4 Tomcat for example). I made
a metal bracket as follows:
Cur Our ----....--r---,
W/1'"/4
IIAt:.J< 111w
I then drilled a 5/64" hole in the right side ball
guide (DataEastPart#500-5149-00) 7 / 16" from
the top edge of the screw mounting bracket at the
top of the right side ball guide.
Remove top right plastic (remove bulb behind it
for easier removal). Insert ball gate into fabri-
cated bracket (with proper tools assembled it
takes 5 minutes to make the bracket). Slide into
5/64" hole in right side ball guide, mark and drill
5/64" hole in the playfleld through 1/8" hole
mentioned above. Mount bracket using 1/2"
wood screw.
NOTE
When drilling 5/64" hole in right side ball guide,
I raised the playfteld out of game and laid it top
side down across the cabinet for easy access and
view of the screw mounting bracket on the right
side ball guide.
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