2021 POTD Thread Archive

[Winegrower]

Then using the engine in reverse pulled the support straighten flatten it with a hummer.

Oh man, I love this!

 

[Shootymacshootface]

POTD was a tune-up on our 1967 Williams Base Hit pitch and bat pinball machine. These were pretty popular back in the day, hit a button to "pitch" the ball (fast, curve or knuckle), and pull a lever to swing the bat. This version (there were variations from around 1950 - 1972) has targets that determine the outcome of the hit. The feature that makes these Williams pitch and bats stand out is the running man unit in the back box. It's cool watching the men run the bases!


1967 Williams Base Hit pitch and bat pinball machine
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Men run the bases depending on the target hit by the batted ball
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The 1967 version also has three ramps that elevate the ball into an upper tray for a home run. The problem I was having was getting home runs off the center ramp. There's a pot under the game for adjusting bat speed, but that didn't help. I pulled the cover glass to take a closer look. The problem was pretty obvious at that point, the ramp angle for the center ramp was too low to direct the ball into the home run tray.


My game has a reproduction "fence". I shined a light on the sign and could see all of the dents where the ball hits the "fence" off the center ramp
View attachment 377372

This is an "as it left the factory" fence. These are almost always cracked from balls whacking it. It was thin plastic, was attached to a piece of plywood at the very top and unsupported below. Mine has a piece of 1/4" aluminum for a fence.
View attachment 377377

Curious why the game designers at Williams would expect an identical center ramp closer to the fence to fly the same as the outer ramps. My game didn't have a problem with hits "clearing the fence" on the outer ramps, but always came up short at center field.
View attachment 377373

Here's the ramp angle of an outer ramp. Depending on ball speed, it'll comfortably clear the fence.
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Center ramp. Pretty obvious why the "fence" was so dented in the middle.
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The sheet metal ramp is attached to the table through a plastic boss. The rubber O-ring keeps the ball from hitting the boss.
View attachment 377376



My fix was to shim up the high side of the ramp. Oh, what a shame, had to add a couple of washers and play for a while to see if the balls were "flying out of the park" or bouncing off the fence! It took a few games, but I finally came up with a pretty good stack of shims. Chucked up a piece of 1/2" polyethylene, center drilled, drilled a clearance hole for the attaching screw, and parted to length.


Center drill
View attachment 377379

Clearance hole for the attaching screw to the table
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Parting to length
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Shims/nuts that worked well after MANY, MANY games! Finished bushing to the right.
View attachment 377382

Ramp angle with new bushing in place
View attachment 377383


Coming from an engineering background, we're trained to collect data to confirm our fixes. So, headed to the basement as soon as I hit "Post reply" to confirm I've got a right height bushing there!

Thanks for looking, Bruce

Bruce, that is one of the coolest projects of the day ever!

 

[rwm]

I used to love to play pinball. Then a service guy showed me the large electromagnets under the board that could be used to manipulate the balls so you would lose or win. The computer choses this with some sort of algorithm but the degree of difficulty is adjustable. That took all the fun out of it for me. Some games are worse than others. On some games, if you watch the ball move, it is pretty clear that it is "non-Newtonian" motion. I am sure the older games do not have this feature and are more of a skill based outcome.
Robert

 

[BGHansen]

I used to love to play pinball. Then a service guy showed me the large electromagnets under the board that could be used to manipulate the balls so you would lose or win. The computer choses this with some sort of algorithm but the degree of difficulty is adjustable. That took all the fun out of it for me. Some games are worse than others. On some games, if you watch the ball move, it is pretty clear that it is "non-Newtonian" motion. I am sure the older games do not have this feature and are more of a skill based outcome.
Robert

I had a buddy (passed away a few years ago) who was into them. I don't recall the make of the machine (Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Chicago Coin, Stern, etc.), but he had one that the flipper position could be adjusted for a narrow space between the two or wider. I guess the strategy was to set a new machine in place and make it easier to win free games. Hope the word gets out so more people play, then start moving the flippers out after a while. All about taking in quarters!

Bruce

 

[GoceKU]

Today i got an early start to finish the white elephant No: 2 i installed and fill the radiators, installed the accessories belt fill the power steering, installed the front bumper even vacuum and fill the A/C. Then i drove it, i put about 100 km on it running it around town got it back in the garage did an oil and filter changed and call my brother to get it. New to it engine is much quieter more responsive and more economical then the old one, no one has mess with the fuel pump on this one, now it has even some power. I even visited the tool/flea market with it.

 

[wachuko]

Using the weekend to build a shed for all the yard/garden stuff…. I was naive thinking I could build this in a weekend…

I have never donde this… just me and my wife building it from scratch. It is not even a kit…

10’x12’ with 6’ walls… 10’ tall at its highest point.

One wall and the roof to go… oh, and a ramp… oh, and the doors…

 

[woodchucker]

Using the weekend to build a shed for all the yard/garden stuff…. I was naive thinking I could build this in a weekend…

I have never donde this… just me and my wife building it from scratch. It is not even a kit…

10’x12’ with 6’ walls… 10’ tall at its highest point.

One wall and the roof to go… oh, and a ramp… oh, and the doors…

yep, naive to think one weekend...
BUT HEY you got a lot done, and it's looking good.
But you'll find out how hard a roof is.. it's not just the rafters and ply, it's the shingles too.
Get some help for the roof, someone who can throw the ply up there too ya. it will make it easier.

Great job already. I'll wish you some cooler weather to make it go quicker.

 

[FOMOGO]

Looking good. Many rears ago I built sheds, and sold, and delivered them. Bought all my materials by the full bunk. Still have the patterns for the trusses down in the one I built for myself. Got to where I could knock one out in about twelve hrs. of solid work. They say every man needs a shed, or four. They fill up pretty quickly. Cheers, Mike

 

[savarin]

They say every man needs a shed, or four. They fill up pretty quickly. Cheers, Mike

They sure do, junk accumulates as space is found to hold it.

 

[GoceKU]

No rest for me, i've decided i need to finish the 206 so i can get back on my little niva project. New clear side indicators arrived so i mounted the front end and them. Installing the bumper was a bit tricky, i also installed the inner fenders. Then i moved to the back, insulated the trunk and mounted the LPG tank carpeting and run the filler pipe for the LPG.