Question for RKC or others about Valley/Dynamo coin op table

[KMRUNOUT]

Hello. In my home bar we have a Valley/Dynamo 8' coin op table. It is approximately 15 years old. I believe it is the "Black Cat" model. Over the past few years, it has developed some very dead rails. I have removed the trim strips around the top of the table and tightened the rail bolts. There are 3 bolts per section. This made a slight difference, but there is something else going on. The people from the amusement company that service the table claim that there is nothing wrong. They clearly don't play much pool or know anything about pool tables.

I am lead to believe that there is some underlying structure that the rail tops are attached to. Maybe some part of this structure has come loose?

I would be quite grateful if someone could provide me with step by step instructions for getting at the necessary bolts to tighten. I am not going to remove the slate, but I would do anything else that is required.

I am just north of Boston. If anyone knows an expert on Valley/Dynamo tables in my area, let me know.

Thanks for any assistance,

KMRUNOUT

 

[Johnnyt]

This would be best in the mechanics forum. If the rails are 15 yo they probably need replacement. Johnnyt

 

[ROB.M]

Table

A lot of times the corner casting come loose causing a nasty sound when balls come off the rail, there are two casting bolts you can check to make sure there tight, you can access them by feeling around between the small gap under the pocket liner and top of the gully boot, no need to removed anything to acess the two bolts' one on each side of the casting.. Use a 9/16th wrench... You may even find that the bolt may have came completely out......if all the casting bolts are tight and your still having problems I would replace the rails with a new set. www.ridgebackrails.com makes the best rails bar none! Don't buy any other brand!!
-
-
Rob.M

 

[Dartman]

...
I am lead to believe that there is some underlying structure that the rail tops are attached to. Maybe some part of this structure has come loose?
...

You generally won't have a problem with the underlying structure of the table. The rails are held on by 3 bolts each that run thru the side of the table (under the trim strips) and they all must be tight. There is some vertical play in the rails so check the cushion nose height around the table to be 1 7/16".

If all that is good then the cushion rubber most likely has deteriorated or come loose (unglued) and should be fixed or replaced. This presuming that the amusement operator used the correct rail/cushion set the last time it was recovered. Valley did change the cushion profile they used and operators are known to use incorrect rail sets when they come in to service their tables.

 

[KMRUNOUT]

A lot of times the corner casting come loose causing a nasty sound when balls come off the rail, there are two casting bolts you can check to make sure there tight, you can access them by feeling around between the small gap under the pocket liner and top of the gully boot, no need to removed anything to acess the two bolts' one on each side of the casting.. Use a 9/16th wrench... You may even find that the bolt may have came completely out......if all the casting bolts are tight and your still having problems I would replace the rails with a new set. www.ridgebackrails.com makes the best rails bar none! Don't buy any other brand!!
-
-
Rob.M

This was the info I was looking for. I will see if I can get at those.

Thanks,

KMRUNOUT

 

[Neil]

.............

 

[ykndoit]

I would be willing to bet that the adhesive that holds the rails on is bad. No one wants to take the rail cloth off just to check this, which is the only real way to tell.

 

[KMRUNOUT]

I would be willing to bet that the adhesive that holds the rails on is bad. No one wants to take the rail cloth off just to check this, which is the only real way to tell.

This may be the case. Though often this results in that particular section of rail rubber being movable...like you can wiggle it up and down a bit. I don't remember experiencing this. I will take a look and report back.

Thanks to everyone for the good info.

KMRUNOUT