STTNG Cliffy problem

aberdeentp

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May 1, 2012, 11:41:23 AM5/1/12

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I noticed after installing the cliffy the the ball often hits the target
behind the neutral zone and bounces back. It seems the the ball jumps
off the lip of the cliffy a bit and so I put some mylar there to help
soften it and it helped a bit but still have the problem. Wondering if
anyone else has this problem and if you found a working solution.

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aberdeentp
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Taxman

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May 1, 2012, 12:24:21 PM5/1/12

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I am not familiar with this specific protector. But I am with many,
many other Cliffy protectors.

In general, if the Cliffy is being used to cover very bad wear you
need to rebuild the wood before installing. These are very thin and
any alignment issue can warp them like a piece of paper.

The biggest problem I see causing a lip and ball jump is when there is
a post or something going through the protector and it is tightened
down too much. It, when the post is removed, there is a compression
pit left behind this should be filled with wood putty, allowed to dry
and sanded level before hand. Otherwise you push the protector into
the dent on one side forcing it up on the other.

The same with the ones the grip the edges of a hole. It is expecting
to grip a uniform thickness.

Good luck.

Dave "Taxman" http://www.pinbald.com

aberdeentp

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May 1, 2012, 8:45:19 PM5/1/12

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I hate to mess with the wood, there are no post it just goes down with
adhesive, but of course it's a bit higher than the playfield as it has
some thickness when the ball hits that little bump there can propel it
and results in hitting the target. What I really am looking at for a
solution is somehow raising that target.

Sean Casey

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May 1, 2012, 11:54:37 PM5/1/12

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I have noticed this on the neutral zone cliffy too.

Sean

On 5/1/2012 8:41 AM, aberdeentp wrote:
> I noticed after installing the cliffy the the ball often hits the target
> behind the neutral zone and bounces back. It seems the the ball jumps
> off the lip of the cliffy a bit and so I put some mylar there to help
> soften it and it helped a bit but still have the problem. Wondering if
> anyone else has this problem and if you found a working solution.
>
>

--

Sean Casey
Easily Amused Pinball
www.eapinball.com
408/888-0805

Goonie

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May 2, 2012, 7:58:07 AM5/2/12

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Hmmm, I noticed a bounce out too, but never thought it was connected to
the Cliffy. There's a new version of that out, isn't there? I know I e
is a couple years old, so probably the original version.

--
Goonie

Hawk

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May 2, 2012, 10:03:25 AM5/2/12

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I have the new thin Cliffy on mine and have not noticed any bounce outs.

Pinsgonewild

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May 2, 2012, 10:39:39 AM5/2/12

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Is there any difference in the version of the protector? I thought the
only difference was the newer version has the ability to be physically
secured to the bottom of the play field with 2 screws?

Don.

Cliffy

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May 2, 2012, 2:11:45 PM5/2/12

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I think some are thinking of the really old, thick 24 gauge model. I havent made those in YEARS since being introduced to laser.

The Hyperthins are all .010" (ten thousandths of an inch) not much more than standard ramp flaps which are .007". If the ball is jumping, well, sorry. Don't use 'em I guess :(

Cliffy
www.passionforpinball.com

Pinballed

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May 2, 2012, 2:14:42 PM5/2/12

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Its quite common actually...you just have to futz with it, get it just
right and shes good

PinballCharlie

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May 2, 2012, 2:32:30 PM5/2/12

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Don't get me wrong - I love Cliffy's protectors (bought many - the best is the TZ rocket kicker which completely fixed my two year old problem of the rocket kicker misfiring and missing the hitch-hiker shot) but you have to expect more bounce-outs. There is a reason why we need protectors; the original wood absorbs the ball shock making it more conducive for the ball to fall into the hole. The trade-off for nailing all those shots is wear. When you use a Cliffy, the protector repels the shock and transfers it back to the ball, hence more bounce outs.

bigehrl

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May 2, 2012, 3:26:50 PM5/2/12

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i have the newest one, and never an issue.

-jon

--
bigehrl

Strohz

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May 2, 2012, 7:25:04 PM5/2/12

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Not sure how old the protector is you have, but I also had problems with
an older (but still hyperthin) design causing issues with the target.
The problem was a slight cupping if I used the screw mount, or lifting
if I didn't. Since then he made a different version that snaps in and
I've had zero issues with that one. Thanks again Cliffy :)

--
Strohz

Goonie

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May 2, 2012, 7:39:45 PM5/2/12

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Strohz;1934178 Wrote:
> Not sure how old the protector is you have, but I also had problems with
> an older (but still hyperthin) design causing issues with the target.
> The problem was a slight cupping if I used the screw mount, or lifting
> if I didn't. Since then he made a different version that snaps in and
> I've had zero issues with that one. Thanks again Cliffy :)

Yeah, I have that cupping on my WMS Star Trek, and Data East Star Trek
too. I think I probably just need to pick up new ones and give that a
try.

--
Goonie

Sean Casey

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May 2, 2012, 8:56:52 PM5/2/12

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I don't know for sure whether my protector was the old style or the
hyper-thin. It was placed on a machine about 4-5 years ago, so it was
probably the old style.

Sean

Cliffy

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May 5, 2012, 12:53:28 AM5/5/12

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On 5/2/2012 4:25 PM, Strohz wrote:
> Not sure how old the protector is you have, but I also had problems with
> an older (but still hyperthin) design causing issues with the target.
> The problem was a slight cupping if I used the screw mount, or lifting
> if I didn't. Since then he made a different version that snaps in and
> I've had zero issues with that one. Thanks again Cliffy :)
>
>

No, thank YOU Ed for the brilliant suggestion :)

--
Cliffy - CARGPB2
Home of the world's finest pinball protectors!
http://www.passionforpinball.com