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Author Topic: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage  (Read 7439 times)

JPbowling151

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Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« on: February 01, 2014, 11:37:56 PM »
I'm curious as to what problem with an automatic pinsetter causes your bowling ball to come back with nicks and scratches? Most recently during league a few of us had our balls return with a small "shave cut", I had a very thin but noticeable slice shaved off by the finger hole just outside of my finger insert which wasn't affected despite being right next to the slice. Any ideas since the employees on hand just said must be a problem in the back somewhere. Thanks!
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J_Mac

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2014, 12:51:43 AM »
I worked as a pin chaser on Brunswick A-2's... posting pictures might be the best way to get an answer to what might have caused it...

I've seen a lot of damage over the years, but short of spotting the shavings on the machinery where the damage occurred, it is often a wild goose chase.

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itsallaboutme

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2014, 06:17:59 AM »
Is the house wood or synthetics with wood approaches?  Is the spot that is shaved off round?
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JPbowling151

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2014, 10:23:37 AM »
The house is full synthetic overlayed I believe. I wouldn't say the shaved spot is round, kinda half moon shaped, maybe a nail or a loose bolt in the back shaved it off?
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itsallaboutme

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2014, 11:11:32 AM »
Post a picture.

The reason I ask about the round shaving and wood or wood/synthetic is sometimes the foul line will be slightly raised and leave a round shaved spot if you set the ball short and lay the ball on the approach instead of out onto the lane.  I have seen this too many times to count and it's not something a mechanic will ever look for.  This will leave a shaved spot about the size of a quarter.
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J_Mac

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2014, 01:11:50 PM »
Quote from: JPbowling151 on February 02, 2014, 10:23:37 AM
The house is full synthetic overlayed I believe. I wouldn't say the shaved spot is round, kinda half moon shaped, maybe a nail or a loose bolt in the back shaved it off?

Brunswick pinsetters or AMF pin spotters?
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JPbowling151

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2014, 01:15:13 PM »
Quote from: J_Mac on February 02, 2014, 01:11:50 PM
Quote from: JPbowling151 on February 02, 2014, 10:23:37 AM
The house is full synthetic overlayed I believe. I wouldn't say the shaved spot is round, kinda half moon shaped, maybe a nail or a loose bolt in the back shaved it off?

Brunswick pinsetters or AMF pin spotters?

Brunswick.
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J_Mac

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2014, 01:28:09 PM »
Kickback plates are fastened with short, casing style head, nails and those leave 1/8" wide grooves about 1/16" deep and maybe 5/8" long.  This damage is usually only seen on balls that end up next to the kickback plates in the flat gutters... i.e. shooting spares...

If the damage you are seeing looks like the diameter is about 1/2" and is very shallow, you're probably looking at a missing "plug" over a screw that is used to hold down the synthetic panels.

If you could accurately roll a ball straight down 20, you might hear the ball run over quite a few of these plugged holes as it traveled down the lane.  If the plug is in place it should not cause an issue, but if the plug is missing it can cause damage similar to what you're describing...
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bowlerzs

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Re: Pinsetters and Bowling ball damage
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2014, 12:09:41 AM »
Another place that causes a lot of the small scratches to bowling balls that people often overlook is the ball return track. If the track sections are off a little it can do damage fairly quickly.
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