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Terminator 2 canon issue

Stereojet

Stereojet

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Joined
Aug 1, 2024
Messages
29
Location
Uk
Hi everyone, finally got my T2 pin set up today and there seems to be an issue with the canon, it doesn’t seem to be aligned correctly with the ramp (when it’s at rest) where the ball comes in and the ball gets stuck on the slightly misaligned canon lip. Does anyone know how to fix this issue? I’m a complete noob at pinball fixing. Thanks for your time.

View attachment IMG_9659.mov
 
Under the cannon under the playfield there’s 2 micro switches, one of them needs adjusting/moving slightly. With the playfield raised up move the cannon about top side to see underneath which micro switch it is.
I had the same problem 6 month ago. Ken
 
Yup. Common problem, and easy fix. The cannon will rest when the switch is closed (or open - don't remember which off the top of my head). It's just resting too early. Adjust the switch.

There is a some Philips screws that need loosening and it allows you to move the switch left and right and up and down ever so slightly.

I can get pics tomorrow for you.
 
A second issue I’ve noticed during play is that the ball seem to get stuck at the top of the playfield, kinda just hangs out near the top bumpers or behind the skull, do I need to raise the back feet slightly do you think so that the playfield is at more of an angle?
 
Stereojet said:
A second issue I’ve noticed during play is that the ball seem to get stuck at the top of the playfield, kinda just hangs out near the top bumpers or behind the skull, do I need to raise the back feet slightly do you think so that the playfield is at more of an angle?
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That would probably help - give it a try. You’re looking for 6-7 degrees of pitch measured between the flippers (not on the glass)
 
Dinsdale said:
Yup. Common problem, and easy fix. The cannon will rest when the switch is closed (or open - don't remember which off the top of my head). It's just resting too early. Adjust the switch.

There is a some Philips screws that need loosening and it allows you to move the switch left and right and up and down ever so slightly.

I can get pics tomorrow for you.
Click to expand...
Ok, I adjusted the switch, the canon now goes up to where it’s aligned with the ramp. I went into the menu to test the canon and target. I can get the target ok, but I can’t get it to the “rest” position. I try to calibrate it, but it just goes up and down forever, any idea what I’m doing wrong?

I’m off to bed now, I’ll try again tomorrow.
 
Dinsdale said:
Yup. Common problem, and easy fix. The cannon will rest when the switch is closed (or open - don't remember which off the top of my head). It's just resting too early. Adjust the switch.

There is a some Philips screws that need loosening and it allows you to move the switch left and right and up and down ever so slightly.

I can get pics tomorrow for you.
Click to expand...
Did you have those photos of the correct position of the switch? My gun is just going up and down constantly now…
 
Stereojet said:
Ok, I adjusted the switch, the canon now goes up to where it’s aligned with the ramp. I went into the menu to test the canon and target. I can get the target ok, but I can’t get it to the “rest” position. I try to calibrate it, but it just goes up and down forever, any idea what I’m doing wrong?

I’m off to bed now, I’ll try again tomorrow.
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Sorry, I've had a manic day and only just saw this now. I have set a reminder to do this tomorrow.

Glad you solved the first problem.

My gun calibration also went back and forth forever. I fixed this (if I remember correctly) by looking at a roller switch which is on the motor.

Do the calibration test with your playfield testing vertical (you'll have to peer around it while navigating the menu, annoying).

You'll notice there's a little groove/notch on the gun assembly plate. The switch goes into that notch which makes room for it to close (or open?), and the test is done after so many successfully closures (or openings?)

Interesting to know what the behaviour is when the ball is in the gun during gameplay. I assume it just goes back and forth forever?
 
IMG_2981.webp

This is what mine looks like. The bottom switch is when the gun is at rest. This arm can be bent as needed but I think yours is fine.

The top switch is the position I have it in. Loosen the screws and you can shift the switch up, down, left, and right as necessary.
 
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You could check if those two switches are working or not with the ordinary switch tests, or the specially provided Gun Test; the switch with the long blade closes to show the gun 'Home', the other is usually Closed, unless the arm with roller drops into one of the cut-outs on the motor cam, where it opens to show gun 'Mark'. So normally, the gun when ready for loading has both switches showing Closed. With a ball loaded into the gun, the motor starts, leaving Home, which goes Open. At the Mark position on the way out, the trigger becomes active, limiting the field of fire (malicious punters could want to hit the skull, l/h ramp or the sign on it). At the Mark position on the way back, the gun fires if the ball is still present. On reaching Home again the motor stops. The only time both switches are Open is with the gun at one of the Mark positions.
 
The cheat way to normally sort this is to put it in gun test mode. When the gun moves to the proper home/rest position lined up with the feed, switch the game off. Wait 5 seconds then switch the game back on. It should calibrate the operate as normal. If there is a switch problem then the gun is likely to continue to operate, searching for home. If a switch issue then it could be a broken wire or diode, if really unlucky a new switch.
 
Jay Walker said:
malicious punters could want to hit the skull, l/h ramp or the
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Moonraker said:
The cheat way to normally sort this is to put it in gun test mode. When the gun moves to the proper home/rest position lined up with the feed, switch the game off. Wait 5 seconds then switch the game back on. It should calibrate the operate as normal. If there is a switch problem then the gun is likely to continue to operate, searching for home. If a switch issue then it could be a broken wire or diode, if really unlucky a new switch.
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I’ll give that a try, thank you. 👍🏻
 
Canon is still playing up, starting to suspect the actual micro switch in the canon itself…
 
May I recap this thread, and ask if the cannon traversed okay before making adjustments to the switches?. If so, and it's become erratic since, then maybe reverse the adjustment. The round plate which operates the two switches is designed to show the gun at Home (both switches closed), and Mark (both switches Open) with the motor stopping when it sees the Home situation.

I've finally thought to look at the drawing of the cannon assembly; the upper portion, the trough or 'magazine' and the kicker solenoid, seems to be fitted onto the motor shaft with slots fitting over a pin on the shaft, without facility for adjustment. However, the cam/switching components seem to be attached to the motor with a collar. This is drawn with what looks like a grub screw showing in it. I think that this may allow the entire cam plate to be adjusted relative to the motor shaft, and the trough up above. Thus allowing the switches to be adjusted (or re-adjusted) for reliable calibration, and then the trough to be aligned with the feeding track by moving the cam plate, so that the motor moves over a little more (or less, depending on the direction of adjustment) before the pin on the cam closes the Gun Home switch. Similar, in a way, to moving an old-fashioned car ignition distributor while it's meshed with its drive shaft, to tweak the spark timing.
 
Jay Walker said:
May I recap this thread, and ask if the cannon traversed okay before making adjustments to the switches?. If so, and it's become erratic since, then maybe reverse the adjustment. The round plate which operates the two switches is designed to show the gun at Home (both switches closed), and Mark (both switches Open) with the motor stopping when it sees the Home situation.

I've finally thought to look at the drawing of the cannon assembly; the upper portion, the trough or 'magazine' and the kicker solenoid, seems to be fitted onto the motor shaft with slots fitting over a pin on the shaft, without facility for adjustment. However, the cam/switching components seem to be attached to the motor with a collar. This is drawn with what looks like a grub screw showing in it. I think that this may allow the entire cam plate to be adjusted relative to the motor shaft, and the trough up above. Thus allowing the switches to be adjusted (or re-adjusted) for reliable calibration, and then the trough to be aligned with the feeding track by moving the cam plate, so that the motor moves over a little more (or less, depending on the direction of adjustment) before the pin on the cam closes the Gun Home switch. Similar, in a way, to moving an old-fashioned car ignition distributor while it's meshed with its drive shaft, to tweak the spark timing.
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No, it started playing up soon after I got the machine, which is why I adjusted it. It’s never behaved itself for any length of time, if I adjust it, and it works, it will only work for a day or so and then revert back to its erratic behaviour. I’ve had the playfield up more than I’ve played the game. 😣
 
I will say, I get the canon calibrated and as soon as you hit the “lock sequence” target under the skull, the canon will just start moving up and down, seems to be connected to the drop target under the skull.
 
So the cannon starts moving if you hit the target? Have a look in switch test if the target activates multiple switches.
 
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