Heiwa Spunky - Auto Shooter Adjustment

[lmdustyplug]

Hey Folks,

I just purchased a "Spunky" pachinko machine.

Being new to this whole pachinko mechanics world, the first thing I noticed was that the ball shooter would only shoot the balls 1/2 way to the top, resulting in the balls never cascading down at the top of the playfield.

I found the adjustment mechanism, but my fiddling with it has just made it worse.

Is there a step-by-step around on how to adjust this type of mechanism? Pictures included...

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[CarlW]

I'm not familiar with that shooter.

So, for what it's worth. Can you describe what you tried? Pushed it in and turned?
Did it stop at some point right or left? Or just keep turning?

Did you open the front window and bottom tray to see if anything was going on there?

My experience is that there is a spring involved and the adjustment knob adjusts the spring. If you feel adventurous, take it apart and see what is going on.

People have been known to jam coins in the front to lock the shooter on in a certain position. Any plastic cracks on the front?

[lmdustyplug]

Hey CarlW,

First off...yes, this "Spunky" seems to be a rare machine...that, or other owners haven't taken pictures and posted them on the Internet (searches for Heiwa Spunky have turned up few matches).

That said, I was able to find an access point, through the front glass, that confirmed the balls stacked up on the firing mechanism which compounded the original problem.

So, everything seems to be working...you turn the knob, the balls load in, and are launched up the left side. But, they still only travel about 1/3rd up before gravity brings them back down.

I have pushed and cranked the wheel in the back, which definitely adjusts spring tension. But, it's in a fairly tight position and still only getting 1/2 way up.

I'm thinking some component is weakened or out of spec....that would be...

1. The spring is stretched (unlikely)
2. The resting position of the striker too far back
3. The cork end of the striker mechanism has deteriorated, now coming up short for a full firm strike

Any guess which is most likely to be the culprit?

I was able to clean a bunch of gummy residue from the rail next to the striker, but did not fix the issue.

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[lmdustyplug]

Also, here's a slow-mo video showing the current movement...

[Moparformances]

can you post a better picture of the shooter area.. im used to seeing something that looks like a spring attached... your looks like a gum drop and been shoved over the spring..

and of course

Welcome to Pachitalk

[lmdustyplug]

Actually, I have another post waiting for the moderator to approve that includes a short video with the mechanism in action.

Sadly, I overtightened the spring mechanism, trying to increase the lift, which resulted in a loudish noise as the spring came out of it's anchoring. I now have that portion disassembled and need to re-anchor both ends of the spring (and close it up intact, which may not be easy).

[Moparformances]

I have never seen anything quite like that.. im sure another member will chime in..

[lmdustyplug]

A little follow-up.

So, I believe the initial problem was that the rubbery part of the auto-shooter hammer had rotted away and/or started falling off. I dislodged the spring mechanism, overtightening it, so I had to fix that before I could return to the original problem.

I fabricated a primitive rubber fitting, over the metal shooter, and the machine now dutifully sends up balls to the playfield. Anyone know of a good pachinko parts company that can better match the original, triangle shaped rubber piece (as the attached photo shows the original)?

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[Moparformances]

im still at a loss..

i dont think i have ever seen anything other then a spring on the shooter.. your rubber tip is a first for me

glad to hear you were able to fabricate a replacement

[emmadog]

same as mopar here. I've only ever seen a spring on the shooter tip/hammer.
i had the same problem once before and I checked and adjusted the shooter tension spring, made sure the shooter tip spring was reaching far enough, etc.
the culprit was the shooter tip spring was not hitting the ball squarely in the center. the balls instead were being struck somewhere off center and barely making it onto the playfield but had a heck of a spin on them.
looks like your solution eliminates any chance of an off center strike.