How to stop air balls(primarily off standup targets)?

kencinder

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How to stop air balls(primarily off standup targets)?

I finally got my Robocop back together...and I can already tell why the sling plastics are busted on most.

I'm getting some serious air balls off the center standup targets. They already have foam behind them, but it's obviously not working.

Any advice on how to stop it, or at least lessen it? We're talking air balls here where the ball fly's into the glass really hard and slams back down to the PF near the slings.
 
My IJ is really bad about this and I've been wondering the same. I was thinking cutting a lexan piece that comes out over the top of the drops and nicks the ball if it jumps. I noticed this effect after adding a FT plastic protector on the captive ball, and tho it's not the reason for the protector it's helpful.
 
I'd think the metal backing on the switch is bent. Either that, or the 90 degree angled bracket that mounts the switch to the underside of the playfield is bent.

Unscrew the switch from under the playfield, check to see if either side is obviously bent. Should be perfectly straight metal, and have a perfect 90 degree bracket with no gaps.

They make some styles of replacement stand up targets that have reinforcements built-in. (Basically, the back side of the bracket is L-shaped instead of just being flat.)
 
I do several things to stop this from happening. First try bending the switch so it angles a little bit downward. You can even take some of those wood shims they use for triming door frames and wedge a piece between the opening and the steel back to keep it from bending in the future.

A simpler fix is to put new foam between the target and the metal back, or add some extra foam up near the top so the target, when it, points a little more downward.
 
I put some rubber pads between the back metal part of the target and the wood of the playfield. This keeps the targets from bending back and giving you that catapult action. I "rubbered" all my Tommy targets and now I never get airballs. Same w/ the Palantir target on LOTR.
 
+1 to what's been said about keeping the targets from getting bent back. If the target is bent back, it acts like a ramp for the ball, no matter how sturdy it is or how good the foam is. On my TZ I replaced the clock target with the reinforced one from PBR, it still made occasional airballs until I removed it and bent it so that it's tilted just a tiny bit forward. No more airballs :)
 
I bent the targets a bit outward for a downward angle, and bent the backstops as close to them as I could...not helping. I'm still having balls fly so hard they clear the freaking outlane and go right down the drain. Now that isn't all that common, not compared to smaller hops off the targets, but I'd at least like to stop that.

What about putting some washers between the target bracket and the playfield, to lower the targets ever so slightly?

The foam on there is in good shape, still firm and already up at the top of the backstop. I see no sense in replacing it.
 
A simple and reliable fix for most instances is to raise the playfield and bend the entire target bracket slightly to tilt the standup more forward. Little shims and stuff won't help. The main bracket gets bent backward slightly over time, leading to a back tilt and airballs. Bending the bracket forward should keep things working well for a very long time. You can generally do this by hand--no need to even remove a single screw! (Yes, I've been doing this for decades when needed, with never a problem.)
 
Also, make sure the flipper coils are the correct ones, not stronger ones. And make sure you have 6.5deg or more PF angle.
 
One other question, have you ensured the flipper coils are the correct ones for the game? I've seen this when someone installs too "hot" of a coil, making the game flippers too strong.

I also really like the suggestion above regarding playfield angle. Generally, it should be 6.5 degrees incline. Some games have a level on the side-rail near the plunger lane to help you get the right angle. If not, you can pick up an inclinometer for pretty cheap. Alternatively (yet I've not tried this option), there are incline and level apps in the app stores for most mobile smartphones (iPhone, etc.)
 
Yes the flippers are stock as per the manual and not overpowered, and the playfield is set at the factory incline(cabinet sits level with the ground on this game, rear legs longer).

I'm actually going to REMOVE the foam behind the targets, as I've noticed the other bank of targets has none behind them(just the metal backstops) and NEVER is this an issue with them. I'm thinking the foam is actually working more as a slingshot than cushioning the blow.
We'll see how that works out...
 
That shouldn't work since the foam keeps the target from tilting all the way back into the rear support. With the correct flipper coils, 6.5-7deg PF angle, good target foam and the targets tilted forward/downward slightly... you shouldn't have airball problems.

If you end up not being able to figure this out, you could always try the next weaker flipper coil.
 
That shouldn't work since the foam keeps the target from tilting all the way back into the rear support. With the correct flipper coils, 6.5-7deg PF angle, good target foam and the targets tilted forward/downward slightly... you shouldn't have airball problems.

If you end up not being able to figure this out, you could always try the next weaker flipper coil.

If the rear supports are right up against the switch, like they are on the green targets, I don't see why it wouldn't. But who knows...I'm gonna try removing the foam tonight, and if it doesn't work then I'll try denser foam behind them.

Lower powered flipper coils are not an option, I wouldn't make the ramp jump shot.

Edit: I bent things to what I thought would be overkill...the targets slightly angled and the rear supports right up against them with the foam pushing on the targets a bit, no more glass smacking balls...still a bit of a hop off them though, so I think I'll try some stiffer foam.
 
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