Have parlors ever been accused of intentionally putting the nails too close together?

[bf_of_pf]

I just wonder if any pachinko parlors have ever been caught making the spaces between the pins on bonus holes too close together, in order to cut down the chance the ball will enter, like some carnival/midway games have been shown to be "rigged".

[Tulsa]

As long as the parlors are owned and operated by human beings, then I think it's a safe bet that someone, somewhere has done just this.

[slotter]

I'd say it is a definite bet they have. As a matter of fact, my Bunny Girl had two pockets (the 10 ball payout pockets) which it was impossible for a ball to enter because the pins were too tight. I doubt it was accidental.

[bf_of_pf]

As long as the parlors are owned and operated by human beings, then I think it's a safe bet that someone, somewhere has done just this.

I thought I'd read a thread here that said that a high percentage of machines that someone got had certain key sections in which the space between the nails needed to be expanded slightly. I also saw a video that showed a professional in a Japanese parlor "tweaking" the nails with a special hammer and guide tool (almost like setting a gap on a spark plug). Do you folks who have pachinkos consider it to be routine to check your machines when you get them to make sure the spaces between the nails are what they're supposed to be?

Also, Slotter...did you find out about the problem at the beginning, or only after having played the machine for a while? And, did you use a special tool to fix it? I've heard that the pins can be a little tricky to bend properly.

[Tulsa]

I do. I have a set of tools, I put a pic of them up yesterday that have a gap tool like a sparkplug tool set and a ball tool which is basically a pachinko ball on a stick and and hammer and nailtool that fits the nail perfectly for making adjustments.

I check all the machines as I get them and them adjust them to my liking. I have received some that the nails are too close together to have ever let a ball though. Usually they are found around the outer pockets that payout more.

[Mike]

I'd never thought about it, before you mentioned it. Now it's gonna bother me!

[slotter]

I have, thanks to Arby and his generosity, the same tools Tulsa is referring to and they sure make it very easy to make fine adjustments.

That said, before receiving these great tools, I used a gentle touch and needle nose pliers without mishap to adjust pins as needed and never had a problem. Some people suggest using a small socket from a socket wrench attached to an extender. Use a small socket that fits over the pin and then gently use that to move the pin into the position you want.

[Mike]

Thanks Slotter. I'm personally gonna leave it for now, I've not had my machine long and am enjoying just as it is. I don't want to lose a good thing!

[bf_of_pf]

I do. I have a set of tools, I put a pic of them up yesterday that have a gap tool like a sparkplug tool set and a ball tool which is basically a pachinko ball on a stick and and hammer and nailtool that fits the nail perfectly for making adjustments.

I check all the machines as I get them and them adjust them to my liking. I have received some that the nails are too close together to have ever let a ball though. Usually they are found around the outer pockets that payout more.

Where did you post the link? I checked the maintenance part of pachinko and didn't see anything?

[Tulsa]

It wasn't a link, it was just a pic of the tool set. I'll have to search myself to find it now..


http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10072

[bf_of_pf]

It wasn't a link, it was just a pic of the tool set. I'll have to search myself to find it now..


http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10072

What I meant to ask is where was the link to the post. I just clicked on it; very cool. (I obviously hadn't seen it before, but that one tool DOES look like a spark plug gap tool.)

[Bigsasquatch]

all 3 of mine turned up with nails so bent that you couldn't score in the payout pockets ..... but focused so you couldn't miss in fever rounds - seems the Japanese must prefer the big win Jackpot all or nothing style of play....


BIG"S"

[Mike]

That's interesting, I just assumed that Pachinkos were just designed to pay out the big wins. Where did you buy your machine from - was it 777Heaven? I have noticed that it's almost impossible to not get to the end of a Fever on my Star Wars. And I can't recall ever seeing any other payouts - I can see this is something I'm gonna have to look into!

[bf_of_pf]

all 3 of mine turned up with nails so bent that you couldn't score in the payout pockets ..... but focused so you couldn't miss in fever rounds - seems the Japanese must prefer the big win Jackpot all or nothing style of play....


BIG"S"

What did you do - leave it as it was, or tweak it?

[Bilko44]

As far as the pachinko parlors tweaking or adjusting the nails go, it was generally accepted by the playing public that the games would be frequently "adjusted" by the parlor.

This practice continued for years until game odds could be adjusted via the computer terminals. The manufacturers don't deny that certain versions of their games can be manipulated and parlors routinely have special days when game odds are made more generous, i.e., Ladies Day, New Game Introductions, etc.

The newer games we receive in the US have the capability of such control IF and ONLY IF, we had access to the software programs that link the games within the parlors. Don't expect to see this software offered on Yahoo, Japan.

As I understand it, the software controls how frequently the games will go into certain bonus modes. Adjusting the nails, therefore, is not as big of an issue as it once was. Nowadays, it actually behooves the parlor to adjust the pins to a somewhat easier setting to keep the player on the game longer so they can get more balls into the start pockets.

It is Japan's version of giving the player more frequent bonus spins but at much lower or more infrequent payouts. They then rely upon the "grind" (constantly recycling balls in and balls won back into the game) to drain the player of their money.

[Tony Junior]

It is Japan's version of giving the player more frequent bonus spins but at much lower or more infrequent payouts. They then rely upon the "grind" (constantly recycling balls in and balls won back into the game) to drain the player of their money.

In other words, much like the slots in American casinos.

[Tulsa]

Greed knows no nationality.

[arbycoffee]

A good parlor will change the nail "tightness" everyday on their pachinko machines. Loosen them for slow days and tighten them on busy days.

When a machine has been retired to be sold for home use. They bend the nails real tight over the second win pockets and open the start pocket, to easy place.

People are getting them for the video action and not the winning of balls (Sorry Don), even if the machine is not set up to recycle, all will play with the reward hopper empty.

[Lddrizzt]

You mean you are supposed to fill the reward hopper?

[slotter]

A good parlor will change the nail "tightness" everyday on their pachinko machines. Loosen them for slow days and tighten them on busy days.

When a machine has been retired to be sold for home use. They bend the nails real tight over the second win pockets and open the start pocket, to easy place.

People are getting them for the video action and not the winning of balls (Sorry Don), even if the machine is not set up to recycle, all will play with the reward hopper empty.

Yep, that is just how the nails were adjusted on most of my machines upon arrival, Arby. Start Pocket way-wide open, the secondary pockets so tight often a ball couldn't even go in if you pushed it. (But, you know me, I like to set the thing so it is a challenge to make it into a machine that slightly favors the house as a game. Then when people come over they attempt to beat the machine. And, often do... )