TZ Powerball

[felixthadog]

Hey guys & gals,

What is the deal with the TZ Powerball? I bought a new powerball from Wayne recently but it is not what I expected. I always thought that the powerball was lighter and smaller than a standard pinball, but the one I bought feels the same as a standard pinball and is the same size. I called Wayne to ask him about it and he said that all TZ powerballs are now manufactured by a Japanese company based in the US so everybody is buying the same powerball as the one I bought. However, he did mention that back when the TZs were being manufactured, there was a revision of the TZ powerball and that this revision might have come about due to customer complaints about the weight and/or size of the original powerball. Can anybody confirm or deny this statement, or know anything more about the TZ powerball? 

Matthew

[ajlaird]

Well, you can find replacements for the lighter ones on eBay, being made new (actually, I reckon this guy had a big box of them made up and he is still selling from that box):-

http://cgi.ebay.com/Twilight-Zone-Pinball-POWER-BALL-new-SALE-$35-powerball_W0QQitemZ140303421474QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090223?IMSfp=TL090223131012r30698

Depends on how much you want to pay, I guess.

[ajlaird]

Further to this, MarkC has them on his spare parts website, but not in stock - it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about whether the ones he sources are lighter or not. But I think he might be up at the Gold Coast, so you might have to wait for a response (a week or so).

[felixthadog]

Well, you can find replacements for the lighter ones on eBay, being made new (actually, I reckon this guy had a big box of them made up and he is still selling from that box):-

http://cgi.ebay.com/Twilight-Zone-Pinball-POWER-BALL-new-SALE-$35-powerball_W0QQitemZ140303421474QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090223?IMSfp=TL090223131012r30698

Depends on how much you want to pay, I guess.

Well according to Wayne, the part number for the powerball that he sold me is 20-9809, which is exactly the same part number listed in that eBay auction. As stated in the listing, "This ball is produced to the exact same specifications, weight and size as the original and will last just as long as an original one" but that still doesn't tell me whether the "original" powerball referred to is actually 20-9809 or 20-9809-1. Since the eBay ad is for a replacement, I think it is more likely to be the same ball that I have rather than the lighter, smaller one I am looking for.

Matthew

[ajlaird]

Well, you can find replacements for the lighter ones on eBay, being made new (actually, I reckon this guy had a big box of them made up and he is still selling from that box):-

http://cgi.ebay.com/Twilight-Zone-Pinball-POWER-BALL-new-SALE-$35-powerball_W0QQitemZ140303421474QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090223?IMSfp=TL090223131012r30698

Depends on how much you want to pay, I guess.

Well according to Wayne, the part number for the powerball that he sold me is 20-9809, which is exactly the same part number listed in that eBay auction. As stated in the listing, "This ball is produced to the exact same specifications, weight and size as the original and will last just as long as an original one" but that still doesn't tell me whether the "original" powerball referred to is actually 20-9809 or 20-9809-1. Since the eBay ad is for a replacement, I think it is more likely to be the same ball that I have rather than the lighter, smaller one I am looking for.

Matthew

Have you weighed the powerball and a normal pinball? The powerball should be about 20% lighter. The eBay ad highlighted above does mention that the product being sold: "is a specially made ceramic ball that is lighter than the regular steel balls." So you would need to know whether the powerball you have purchased is lighter or not. I haven't read anywhere that states the powerball is smaller.

Pinball Life (http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1293&parent=49):

> White zirconia ceramic "Power Ball" used in Bally's Twilight Zone pinball machine.
>
> New production bright white pearlescent color (as original).  Conforms to the original size and weight specifications: size - 1-1/16" diameter, weight - 65 grams.
>
> Bally reference #20-9809.

Normal pinball is around 81 grams.

See also http://www.marcospecialties.com/storeitems.asp?cc=PFLD-PINBALLS - it says the same thing.

I couldn't find any matches for 20-9809-1

[pinnies4me]

When I had my TZ I can say for certain that it was the same size, but maybe 2/3rds the weight - that's why the thing goes crazy when in play. KTM450 has a TZ at the moment (as I'm sure some others do) - can someone take theirs out and weigh and measure it (assuming it's an original ceramic one).

[ajlaird]

Is their a chance that some operators or sellers used smaller ceramic powerballs because they couldn't find a proper replacement?

[pinnies4me]

Is their a chance that some operators or sellers used smaller ceramic powerballs because they couldn't find a proper replacement?

Could be - come on, there's 12 TZ's among our ranks - anyone measure and weighed theirs yet?

[MartyJ]

Is their a chance that some operators or sellers used smaller ceramic powerballs because they couldn't find a proper replacement?

Could be - come on, there's 12 TZ's among our ranks - anyone measure and weighed theirs yet?

I didn't get much sleep last night, but that reads just WRONG!...   

[ktm450]

When I had my TZ I can say for certain that it was the same size, but maybe 2/3rds the weight - that's why the thing goes crazy when in play. KTM450 has a TZ at the moment (as I'm sure some others do) - can someone take theirs out and weigh and measure it (assuming it's an original ceramic one).

I'll weigh my powerball when I get a chance, working the next few days 

[pinball god]

if I'm part of the count, I can't help seeing I got a replacement as part of the purchase deal so I wouldn't know any different as mine cannot be original. Sorry.

[ajlaird]

if I'm part of the count, I can't help seeing I got a replacement as part of the purchase deal so I wouldn't know any different as mine cannot be original. Sorry.

Nevertheless, you can still weigh the powerball and a normal pinball to see if the replacement weighs the same or not! Go on, you know you want to.

[ROLLERBALL]

I hated the powerball in the TZ I had...I didnt think It was a good add on to the game at all...mind you I didnt like the machine much at all anyway....But dont get me wrong..I can see why people love it....just not for me..

[ajlaird]

I hated the powerball in the TZ I had...I didnt think It was a good add on to the game at all...mind you I didnt like the machine much at all anyway....But dont get me wrong..I can see why people love it....just not for me..

Did you ever weigh it by any chance?

[vinito]

I bought a couple of the ones from the eBay guy a while back for my game.
Firstly, the guy is a good and reputable seller. The balls are very nice quality.

Second, the balls are the same size, but DEFINITELY lighter than a steel ball. The play is much faster because of it. It's not a thing where you'd have to compare back & forth to tell the difference - it's very obvious. Holding the ball, it feels pretty heavy, but then you pick up a steel ball and you can feel that the steel is heavier.

I think if you try it in a game (doesn't have to be a TZ, any game will do) you will notice the obvious speed difference and probably enjoy the temporary change of pace and challenge. It takes a whole different timing to play the ceramic ball so things get all shook up, which was the original idea.

The only "revision" of the powerball that I've heard of is the color. They originally made a blue one I think, but it was too hard to see so they went with white.