The Aussie Pinball Arcade

Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: pinball god on January 08, 2009, 10:50:32 PM

Title: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 08, 2009, 10:50:32 PM
Don't know if this is a problem or just a thing with T2's. The top saucer hole where you collect the LHS insert awards ie. Hold bonus, extra ball etc etc, the ball more times than not will bounce out rather than lock in on my machine. I can try say 10 attempts and 7 will fail if not more. Is it an alignment problem ie level of machine or some part that needs replacing?
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: Strangeways on January 08, 2009, 11:47:33 PM

Rob - Can you post a pic of the area - I'm not familiar with it ?
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: MartyJ on January 09, 2009, 08:13:50 AM
Don't know if this is a problem or just a thing with T2's. The top saucer hole where you collect the LHS insert awards ie. Hold bonus, extra ball etc etc, the ball more times than not will bounce out rather than lock in on my machine. I can try say 10 attempts and 7 will fail if not more. Is it an alignment problem ie level of machine or some part that needs replacing?


Do you mean the area below the skull, which pops the ball via the VUK to the ramp? 

If so, then yep, if you don't have the machine on the correct angle this can cause issues.  Also there must be a piece of foam between the wire ramp and skull.  There is a service bulletin from Williams in relation to this.

Thirdly, is the drop target going down?  If it is broken and the ball is bouncing straight off it, this may also be the cause???
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 09, 2009, 12:07:49 PM
Will try to get a photo of the area Nino.

No Marty its not the skull area but the top right corner. Gonna be a bugger getting to it seeing how I've positioned my machines!! BTW the skull area doesn't miss a beat
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: PinKong on January 09, 2009, 05:28:20 PM
Never had that problem on mine, always locks and then shoots out.
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: MartyJ on January 09, 2009, 09:53:00 PM
Ahh, OK....I understand the kicker hole your're talking about.  Gee, its really hidden up there!

I will test for you tomorrow, but MY understanding of it is that it should kick the ball out - unless the lock sequence is running ie multiball pending etc...I think the other hole half way up on the far left (middle pf) is the same....You should be able to manually activate the switch, to ensure the kicker is working.  If it is then I would suggest that everything is a-ok.
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 10, 2009, 12:29:45 PM
Don't want you to misunderstand the problem Marty and go to a lot of trouble. The popper works 100%. It's just shooring for it, the ball will most times hit it and roll outs/bounces off than sit in/lock in and wait to be ejected out. I get the odd shot that does the same on the other hole, but this usually happens when you do a really hard/fast shot the this closer hole.

So in short the ball tends to bounce off the hole more times than not. Thanks
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: MartyJ on January 10, 2009, 01:45:55 PM
Sorry!  I'm shooting 0 from 2 here.    @.@

Here is a photo of mine.  Ball lands home 100% nil bounce.  Photo is to compare (You'll probably need a photo as I couldn't put my head in there to see without removing pf).

Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 10, 2009, 01:53:33 PM
Thanks heaps Marty, Will check mine, but if you look at my games room photos, it'll be a squeeze to get the same shot as you but will try.

For a laugh I forgot that the lighting of the room is actually between the roof and wall cavity section as you wouldn't read about it but after moving my pins against this wall, 2 of the 4 globes have blown. Now I've gotta do a bit of muscle work!!!!
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 10, 2009, 02:11:06 PM
Just had a look and it looks exactly like yours. Even ball wear on the plate at the same angle. Maybe my machine is too steep or something and the ball isn't hitting it square?? Thanks for your efforts BTW
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: Strangeways on January 10, 2009, 02:22:25 PM


The ball is diverted straight into the hole. Not much can go wrong here, unless the plate is loose.. Is it possible to simulate the problem with the machine off ?

If the plunger is stuck and holding the "kicker" slightly raised, it could prevent the ball from sitting in the saucer   !@#
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: MartyJ on January 10, 2009, 09:09:10 PM
Very strange   !@#

I'm just wondering - is the ball going into hole, out ---> hitting back plate then out all the way?  OR is ball coming in and angle of backplate too low causing it to bounce straight out?

Is the depth of the cup roughly the same? (ie red bit)....
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 11, 2009, 01:19:43 AM
Yep a tricky one, I need to try it like Nino says with power off to see if I get the same result. I am thinking the plate may need adjusting but I can remember it being a problem prior to the last couple of moves in the house. That's why I'm thinking maybe alignment/level???
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: wonder on January 11, 2009, 10:47:30 AM
Just had a look a mine and you cant put the red cup in wrong if you tried.May be the kicker arm is sticking up to high or the angle of the play field may be the cause of it.I no i had a problem with my dirty harry balls getting stuck and adjusted angle and no more problem.Took a photo if it helps
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: pinball god on January 11, 2009, 12:03:14 PM
Thanks mate, I have a spare new red plastic I might replace and see how it goes. But I agree it could be the kicker arm or level. But I more wrong than right when it comes to solutions on pinballs
Title: Re: Terminator 2 saucer hole
Post by: Strangeways on January 11, 2009, 07:59:03 PM


So the problem started after the machine was moved ? Could be the level.. Or coincidence.

Adjusting the back plate could be an idea - But it might be a fair bit of work getting to it ?