Masking unit up cycling of the Brunswick Pinsetter - by request ! Garage bowling alley 

I wish mine had the louder bell sounding pinwheel ! Not sure the difference but mine isn’t as loud as I’ve heard them

@@GarageBowlingAlley It might be because it is slower, as it is an A instead of an A2

It’s an A2 converted A as it was one of the first ones built s/n 3690. I took off the larger pulley and out on an A size pulley to run the machine at A speed. No need in stressing the poor thing out !

@@GarageBowlingAlley I see, cool!

Nice! Still have As ?? I’d love to convert mine back to an A Those are some low number pinsetters. How are they doing ??

The A had a mechanical trigger coupled to the clutch to push the stop arm out of the way to start the cycle where the jetback and A2 has the instant rake drop which triggers electronically the clutch to be tripped using the reset button basically. A has a fixed cushion which raises when the rake drops where the A2 and jetback the cushion pivots up slightly so the ball can fit under and get to the ball wheel in back. There’s mods in the electrical box but basically it’s 2 different cushions, 2 different rake drops and 2 different types of triggering. The A2 or jetback is a much more sensitive and reliable triggering method. There’s more but that’s the main difference.

@@GarageBowlingAlley thanks for the info!

Tell me about yours ?

@@GarageBowlingAlley they were salvaged from a local center. There is some footage on my channel. They are late A's converted to A2's. 62 and 64' production years.

I need to go check out all your videos. Thank you for saving them ! Sad to think how many went to landfills.

@@GarageBowlingAlley Yes the rest are being parted now and soon the remaining machines will be scraped.

Church in ft worth closing up the rec center and selling things off. I got the lane segments and Pinsetter out then scavenged then country for the rest of the parts needed.

@@GarageBowlingAlley ok becorse i want to get one my self (like 2 pinseters)

Sure. I rotate out the deck shield from time to time so I’ll do a video next time it’s off

I need to do your deck shield-less video still. It’s coming.

I need to do your deck shield-less video still. It’s coming.

Thank you !

Converted s/n 3690 model A I’d like to convert it back ! I’d be a first

@@GarageBowlingAlley That would be awesome! I’ve always wanted a Brunswick A pinsetter myself. I worked at a center that had unconverted A’s with 90° over travel still on them. For the past two years I’ve been trying to convince the owner to sell me one.

I hope he’s still in business and going well! Wonder what his serial numbers are on his machines. I think the 90 degree over travel was a link you added in the detector if I remember right. Without it you get 90 then rake drop and sweep. With it the machine ran 90 degrees then stopped so when triggered the rake dropped and swept immediately instead of that 90 degree cycle then drop. Am I correct ? It’s been YEARS since my first pinsetters that were As that I pretty much was self taught on. With great assistance from a head mechanic at a local center who I drove nuts calling all the time.

@@GarageBowlingAlley I never exactly understood how the over travel worked but I believe there was a linkage added for it. I do remember that there was possibly some sort of holding system for the rake that would release once the clutch engaged on second ball. I do know that the machines are from 1957 and that a couple of them might even be old Otis machines.

If they’re from 57 they’re Otis green machines. See if you can get the serial numbers off them. Atleast 1. The overctravel just advanced the gearbox 90 degrees on second ball Otherwise it would go 90 degrees once tripped then the rake would drop and sweep The As I learned on didn’t have them but I think we made several using 1 as a pattern. I’m not even sure exactly where it was to see if my detector had it installed or not. Guessing the A2 conversion you’d have to remove it.