OK. Here's a dumb question.

On Twilight Zone, when the rocket kicker fires the ball out, should it go up the Hitch-hiker OR the Camera shot?

I messed around with this a bit last night.... I'm not sure HOW it's supposed to go. The obvious path to me should be the wider shot in the Hitch-hiker loop. To make it go into the Camera might required some modification to the metal bracket... I don't think I'm prepared to do that.

Also does you rocket shot make the loop EVERY time? Mine seems to hit the post 5 out of 10 times. I also noticed the pitch of the playfield makes a difference. It seems to work consistantly better with the incline steeper.

Thanks!

I think my coil is fine - it does shot the ball out quite hard, hard enough to make the loop, my problem is that it hits the post between the Hitch-hiker and the Camera about half the time. When the ball misses the post it does make it around the loop. My rocket bracket ( the adjustable chrome metal one ) is in the lowest possible position and the ball still hits the post sometimes. I think if I raise the incline of the playfield a bit more - it will take some steam off the ball a bit allowing it to clear the post easier.

Any other TZ owners have ( or ever had ) this issue?

Hi Dan,

I had that issue with mine. It was pretty easy to fix. If you loosen the 2 screws that hold down the plastic you will see that the metal guide mooves. You can position it and retighten the screws. It might take a few times to get the angle just right but after that it will go straight to the hitch-hiker every time.

Tom.

After re-reading your post - it appears you may have already tried this. It did take quite a few adjustments before I found the sweet spot.

OK, bracket in the lowest position, machine playfield set at about 6.5 degrees according to that Tru-pitch level. Ball makes the loop about 9 out of 10 times. Problem solved.

I think I caused my own problem ( like there's something I've never done, ha, ha ) by having the playfield too flat. I'm a taller guy, I like my machines set up a bit higher than most, I guess I wanted all my backboxes to be all the same height. I do use 3" levellers ( to get a bit more height in the front ) and I guess the front of the game was set just too high and I should have paid closer attention to the level reading ( I think I was initially set about 5.5 or 6 degrees ).

I find when the games front feet are all the way down, my hands fall asleep, because I tend to lean on the machine more. Much like riding a bicycle with low handlebars for a long distance. Anyway, enough of my babbling, problem has been solved.

Quoted from ALJO

Mine makes the loop each and every time, I don't want to dissapoint you Dan but your problem is not completely solved.

Maybe only a question of millimeters on the bracket adjustement.

Agree with Claude. This is a straight shot and it should make it every single time.

Duane

Leave the poor man alone, he's happy the way his TZ is now. It's his decision if it's 'done'.

I find on mine, that there are times when the ceramic ball doesn't quite get the time to seat in the kicker, it will not make the hitchhiker lane.  This happens during play only and not off the skill shot, and then infrequently.

It just seems like sometimes the ball just comes blasting out there with too much force, just ticks the post, slowing it enough to not quite make the full loop.

I think I might try raising the angle of the playfield just a bit more until it makes it everytime.

Thanks guys!