Pinball Machine Adjustments?

Question

I recently recieved a Bally Bow and Arrow Pinball Machine. It works well enough, the only problem is that when the ball rolls past the flippers, I have to open the door and press a metal piece under the ball in order for it to return to where I can send it back into the game. I can do this up to the third ball for every game before I have to start a new game.

How can I fix it so it automatically returns? Also, how can I set it so I get more than 3 balls per game? As in 5 balls, or unlimited.

Answer 1

There is an adjustment inside the machine to change it from 3 balls per game to five. You can find more information on how to set this in the service manual which you can find here:

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=362

The service manual also provides information that might help you will the ball return problem. It sounds like it may just be a problem with the switch that detects when the ball is out of play. You may just have to adjust that switch to it makes contact when the ball hits it. Here is an excellent site with more information on repairing pinball machines:

http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index1.htm