Top Gun Semi Cyclic Mod

[Lddrizzt]

I have spent the afternoon figuring and cutting up my Top Gun machine.
The result is a semi cyclic mod which lets you run with about 40 balls, because they cycle back to your shooters tray instead running out the back.
This is called SEMI cyclic because this mod also allows you to use the hopper if you so desire so you can still have your machine payout balls when you hit the pockets. But be aware that this particular case has a shallow shooters tray and when it fills up, the balls will payout into the lower tray. But there will be no reaching around back for balls to refill the hopper, all balls come to the front.

This first pic shows the ball paths that will need altered.

c1.jpg

This second pic shows where you need to cut. Notice the metal ramp on the left. That is where you want your balls to wind up. This is also the ramp from the payout motor.

c2.jpg

Unfortunately I forgot to take a pic of the area before I hot glued in the ramp. But this pic shows the ramp (outlined in red) already in place.

c2a.jpg

This pic shows a little triangular wall (outlined in blue) that needs to be in place so the balls don't fall off the ramp on that side.

c3.jpg

This pic shows a little triangle of plexi (outlined in blue) that needs to conform to the angle of the original plastic to cover a ball sized hole. Also filled in another hole (outlined in green) with hot glue, that might cause a ball to hang up.

c4.jpg

Here is a pic of the ramp without all my doodling on it.

c5.jpg

[Lddrizzt]

THis pic is from the top of the ramp. Circled in red is where the ramp meets the original plastic ramp. This spot has to be right up against the original and the path needs to be as smooth as possible so the balls roll correctly.

c6.jpg

This is just a top view of the ramp in place.

c7.jpg

This is a pic of the little extension that basically fills in the hole that balls normally fall into on thier way out the back. This needs to come out far enough so that when you close everything up it meets the ramp you installed earlier. I usually overlap mine just a tiny bit and line it up so it is a hair above the ramp when closed.

c8.jpg

This holddown lever (circled in red) needs to be turned to where I have it, and not straight up and down so it doesn't run into the ramp alterations you have already done.

c9.jpg

There you have it. Fill the shooter's tray with balls and play nonstop for hours.
Enjoy!

[logicprobe]

Bravo, Lddrizzt...

Great pics and super description. You've done all the hard work for us... thank you!!!

[Lddrizzt]

actaually each one I do it gets easier and easier to figure out what needs done. This makes 9 different frames. Had help from Arby on the first 3. Been doin em solo ever since.

[arbycoffee]

Very Fast Learned Sr. Grasshopper

[Lddrizzt]

Once one has learned from the Master, One will have skills for life.
And since you O Master taught me the inner workings and logic behind the path of the metal sphere, I can usually apply those teachings to each machine.

[slotter]

Very nicely done. This will really help and guide others! Enjoyed the tutorial.

[Sid]

Lddrizzt... the Cyclic Man

very very helpful

and your pics really help in understanding the process..

[Chrisdice]

I have been reading these post on Cyclic, semi cyclic and palor ready. Do pachinkos go into hopper empty tilts when they run out of balls? If they do how is a cyclic game fooled into thinking the hoppers full? If they do not tilt out, then why keep refilling them in fever rounds, also what whould happen in the parlor if the hopper emptied. I like the idea of semi Cyclic just trying to get a grasp on it. Thanks

[Lddrizzt]

Most machines will just turn on a light to tell you that the hopper is empty, plus an error code on the back, But they will still play. In the parlor I am sure a bell goes off at the parlor.
Cyclic and semicyclic are almost the same. Both re-route the balls back to the front, usually the shooter's tray. Semi Cyclic just allows you to continue using the hopper and get payouts if you so desire.
There are switches on or near the hopper that will turn off that light, but if you don't mind another light that stays on (you could unplug it I suppose) just ignore it. When the light is on the payout motors are usually disabled.

The main thing is to remember to reset the machine before you add balls to the hopper so it doesn't try and catch up

[Tulsa]

With cyclic, there would be no point in filling the hopper. The semi-cyclic only channels balls from dropping out the back, to the front, no difference in play though vs parlor ready. It's just to keep from having to reach around the back to get the spent balls.

[slothappy144]

I hate the reach around, I have to move out the machine cause of me packing the game room tight. and I only have feet for now, I am moving things around too much right now.
I almost started cutting int the bow wow, day 1. I am going to mod the Daiichi, a snap job.
I saw posts of ramps and trays to let the balls flow back to the front, I might do this with some scrap 1/4" ply just so I don't have to mover the machine.
Thanks to everyone for posting their mod pic's I have too many ideas now.

[hanabi]

Well I'm still enjoying my Fever Rounds giving me a fever literally - whilst I'm topping up the Pachinko Balls!!

Guess I've got more Stamina then you Guys eh?

So I'm not ready to go Cyclic or Semi-Cyclic quite yet! but if I were, there's plenty of useful info on these threads....

[Sid]

I hate the reach around, I have to move out the machine cause of me packing the game room tight. and I only have feet for now, I am moving things around too much right now.
I almost started cutting int the bow wow, day 1. I am going to mod the Daiichi, a snap job.
I saw posts of ramps and trays to let the balls flow back to the front, I might do this with some scrap 1/4" ply just so I don't have to mover the machine.
Thanks to everyone for posting their mod pic's I have too many ideas now.

so much for Gunnery Seargent Hartman's theory...

[Lddrizzt]

Well I'm still enjoying my Fever Rounds giving me a fever literally - whilst I'm topping up the Pachinko Balls!!

Guess I've got more Stamina then you Guys eh?

So I'm not ready to go Cyclic or Semi-Cyclic quite yet! but if I were, there's plenty of useful info on these threads....

Well actually you have already gone Semi Cyclic with your cabinet. It routes the balls so you can get them from the front. I don't use cabinets, so I have to make the modifications in the machine.

[hanabi]

Well actually you have already gone Semi Cyclic with your cabinet. It routes the balls so you can get them from the front. I don't use cabinets, so I have to make the modifications in the machine.

Hmmm.....Your right!

But I class Star Wars as belonging to the Wookie!

My Babies are Garfield and Julie

[drcrippen324]

i thought jule was for the wookie but have you adopted it now

[hanabi]

i thought jule was for the wookie but have you adopted it now

You should know how my mind works by now!

I told the Wookie it was for him!

You know damn well it's really for me and always has been!!!

[Tulsa]

Hmm, a woman with her own agenda.

I've never heard of such a thing...

[hanabi]

Hmm, a woman with her own agenda.

I've never heard of such a thing...

Don't knock it - It gets results

Now I'm really looking forward to the next purchase - for the Wookie of course