• TECH: Twilight Zone TZ - Slot machine gives ball too much spin/angle

    From Tim Kuo@sinkvb@gmail.com to rec.games.pinball on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 17:13:12
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

    Insight, please.

    The slot machine eject/kick-out on my Twilight Zone TZ sends the ball out with so much spin/angle that it drains (between the flippers) half of the time.
    The solenoid plunger looks reasonably flat on the rubber part.

    Is there a fix to get more consistent ejects/kick-outs from the slot machine? At least so it doesn't drain so much?

    TIA,
    Tim
    --- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Robertson@spam@flippers.com to rec.games.pinball on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 21:13:52
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

    On 2022/07/05 5:13 p.m., Tim Kuo wrote:
    Insight, please.

    The slot machine eject/kick-out on my Twilight Zone TZ sends the ball out with so much spin/angle that it drains (between the flippers) half of the time.
    The solenoid plunger looks reasonably flat on the rubber part.

    Is there a fix to get more consistent ejects/kick-outs from the slot machine? At least so it doesn't drain so much?

    TIA,
    Tim

    Is the VUK assembly solid and is the coil sleeve good?

    You could try a weaker coil so the ball doesn't come out so forcefully.
    Or possibly add a 15 to 25 OHM 25Watt potentiometer in series to adjust
    the output strength of the original coil?

    These are things I would try if mechanically the assembly seems just
    fine. I have an assortment of potentiometers lying around the shop to
    play with, not something everyone has...

    John :-#)#
    --
    (Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
    John's Jukes Ltd.
    MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
    (604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
    www.flippers.com
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."
    --- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Tim Kuo@sinkvb@gmail.com to rec.games.pinball on Thursday, July 14, 2022 19:15:42
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

    On Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 12:14:07 AM UTC-4, John Robertson wrote:
    On 2022/07/05 5:13 p.m., Tim Kuo wrote:
    Insight, please.

    The slot machine eject/kick-out on my Twilight Zone TZ sends the ball out with so much spin/angle that it drains (between the flippers) half of the time.
    The solenoid plunger looks reasonably flat on the rubber part.

    Is there a fix to get more consistent ejects/kick-outs from the slot machine?
    At least so it doesn't drain so much?

    TIA,
    Tim
    Is the VUK assembly solid and is the coil sleeve good?

    You could try a weaker coil so the ball doesn't come out so forcefully.
    Or possibly add a 15 to 25 OHM 25Watt potentiometer in series to adjust
    the output strength of the original coil?

    These are things I would try if mechanically the assembly seems just
    fine. I have an assortment of potentiometers lying around the shop to
    play with, not something everyone has...

    John :-#)#
    --
    (Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
    John's Jukes Ltd.
    MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
    (604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
    www.flippers.com
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

    It was a broken weld in the scoop for the slot machine.
    --- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Robertson@spam@flippers.com to rec.games.pinball on Thursday, July 14, 2022 23:04:09
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

    On 2022/07/14 7:15 p.m., Tim Kuo wrote:
    On Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 12:14:07 AM UTC-4, John Robertson wrote:
    On 2022/07/05 5:13 p.m., Tim Kuo wrote:
    Insight, please.

    The slot machine eject/kick-out on my Twilight Zone TZ sends the ball out with so much spin/angle that it drains (between the flippers) half of the time.
    The solenoid plunger looks reasonably flat on the rubber part.

    Is there a fix to get more consistent ejects/kick-outs from the slot machine?
    At least so it doesn't drain so much?

    TIA,
    Tim
    Is the VUK assembly solid and is the coil sleeve good?

    You could try a weaker coil so the ball doesn't come out so forcefully.
    Or possibly add a 15 to 25 OHM 25Watt potentiometer in series to adjust
    the output strength of the original coil?

    These are things I would try if mechanically the assembly seems just
    fine. I have an assortment of potentiometers lying around the shop to
    play with, not something everyone has...

    John :-#)#

    It was a broken weld in the scoop for the slot machine.

    Ah, the mechanical problem...the VUK was not solid. We have a spot
    welder for fixing that sort of thing, bur brazing with MAPP gas works
    just as well.

    Silver solder and a propane torch gives the best look as if you are
    careful the metal doesn't discolour..

    John :-#)#
    --
    (Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
    John's Jukes Ltd.
    MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
    (604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
    www.flippers.com
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."
    --- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113