My first machine is on its way!! And its...

[Blastronaut]

Sammy 2008 Back To The Future!! Though I had a hell of a time finding any information about the machine itself, I don't think I could pass up Back To The Future.

If all goes well, I'll have two more machines in. But something nags at me to eventually build a ball tank, so that I won't have to keep refilling the machine whenever I get a reach or fever.

[Card Shark]

Congratulations!!!

[candyflip]

Make sure you come back and tell us all about it.

[Blastronaut]

I will! Though I'd be interested to know if anyone else has this unit, so they can tell me about it. I couldn't find any videos or larger pictures of it online. Not that it deterred me at all. (obviously!)

[Melbourne]

Congrats, the first of many. Build a nice cabinet to house them all and integrate in a lift and common reward hopper.

[Blastronaut]

I'd love to at some point! Does anyone have any custom blueprints/plans/instructions to build a common reward hopper/distribution system?

[Melbourne]

Hi, I've seen a few on this forum, haven't settled yet on a design. Most have some common plumbing like PVC tied into a wood or plexi hopper with a manual shut-off valve if you are opening the cabinet(s).

[pachiwall]

This one is in the research center. PachiTalk Research Center - FAQ - Pachinko - Custom Four Game Pachinko Ball Management System - PachiTalk Not exactly a blueprint, but has some good ideas for designing your own system. Lots of pics too!

[Blastronaut]

Hooray! My machine just arrived today! Unfortunately, I am maybe a bit TOO new to this. I can't find the ball release mechanism, so the balls fall into the floor instead of getting paid out. Does anyone have a diagram of where this gate is located? Or is it different on every machine? If it is, I'd better send pics. (I'm waiting for my daughter to stop freaking out before I can take a pic and upload it...but I will do that later tonight anyway)

[Card Shark]

I am sure with pictures we can show you what you are looking for. Congratulations on getting your first of what I am sure will be many machines. They do tend to multiply pretty quickly.

[Blastronaut]

Okay, I managed to take a few pics (I'll take some of the machine actually on and running later tonight)...hopefully you can show me where the mechanism is, so I can stop the balls from falling out the back and onto the floor. Admittedly, these aren't the best pics, since I only had one hand free to hold the unit while I took the pictures, but I hope its at least enough so I can get a better idea. I'm still trying to find the potentiometer, too, so I can adjust the volume.

photo.jpgphoto1.jpg

(I swear the pics were portrait when I took them)

Anyway, thanks everyone for the support and helping me out!! And yes, the first of many. (CR Macross Fever and CR Yatterman are coming in next week)

[Card Shark]

I rotated the pictures for you:

Pachi1.jpgPachi11.jpg

[Card Shark]

I only have one modern machine. The volume control on it is a three way switch located under the center-most cover. I cannot see the same switch from your picture but you might check there.

[Card Shark]

I am not sure if I am understanding the problem you are having with the balls falling out. Do you have something in the back of the machine to catch the losing balls? These may be the ones that are hitting the floor. The balls that are paid out come from the top hopper and only pay out when you hit bonuses.

[Card Shark]

I was originally thinking that the balls you put in the hopper were working their way all the way to the floor like you were clearing out the machine. However, from the shot of the back, it looks like it is holding those balls and is ready.

[Blastronaut]

I'm going to try and attach some more pics here. All I know is that balls seem to be falling on the floor...about half of the balls I launch into the cell.

photo2.jpgphoto3.jpgphoto4.jpgphoto5.jpg

[Card Shark]

I think those are the losing balls. You need a tray in the back of the machine to catch those. An egg crate works in a pinch. A lot of people have built cabinets for their machines that drop those balls into a paint tray so they are fed underneath the machine to the front. Others have set up ball lifters to move those losing balls from the catch tray back up to the upper hopper. I have yet to build my cabinet, so I just have a tray in the back that catches the losing balls and then I reach around to either put them in play n the front or add them to the top hopper.

[Card Shark]

I still have not spotted a volume control. I actually ordered some volume controls off of eBay to add to my machine. I got six for $18 shipped. You need one for each speaker. I have a couple of machines that needed these added so six made sense for me.

[Blastronaut]

There is supposed to be a volume control installed. If nothing else, I can tell because the machine is too QUIET. Usually without volume control they are way too loud, right? As for the losing balls, is that normal for the machine to drop balls behind it?

[Card Shark]

Yes, the losing balls are supposed to drop behind the machine.

Usually they are too loud. So if yours is too quiet, I would assume volume controls have been installed. I would start at the speakers and trace the wires backwards. Should be a volume control in-line on each.