Couple of problems with my Fish Tales pin

[beerorkid]

I think most machines will check to see if their moving parts are in the right place when they turn on. Sometimes my Bride of Pinbot will cycle the head when turned on to make sure it is positioned right.

There should be a way to adjust / test the reel in the menu as well.

Glad you got the flipper issue resolved.

 

[tomdotcom]

Buy the proper belt, it needs to be tight. A playfield rubber like you have may work at first, but they stretch out. Clean the optos, and get the proper belt, and I bet your reel will work fine.

Your playfield hooks on the front of the machine probably weren't hooked in properly, or you were not leveling it properly, or using the level properly. It should be fairly obvious that something is not right. Hold a ball up in the middle of the playfield up by the captive ball and let it drop straight down the middle of the flippers. Do it a bunch of times and see what the ball does. Make sure you let it go without altering its direction.

 

[Deadly]

Since I had purchased several Bally Williams (no built in levels like Sterns), I went to Harbor Freight and bought an electronic level. This REALLY helped me dial in the pitch and level the play field.
Facing the level length wise and about 3/4 of the way towards the top of the PF allowed me to set the pitch (degree) and then leveling the table setting the level right above the flippers (leveling) and then 3/4 of the way up top once again leveling makes a world of difference. I looked at their website and was unable to find it listed anymore. Call ahead and check I guess.

Otherwise I know Sears carries them.

 

[tomdotcom]

You have to make sure the level is perfectly straight across the table as well, if you turn it to the right or left even slightly, the bubble will go left or right