The outhole kicker fires but the ball falls back and is kicked again, sometimes several times.

Ball rolls back to the outhole instead of reaching the shooter lane

Cause: Dirt, paper or debris in the trough rails under the apron, sticky or corroded rails, a dented apron that the ball hits, a gummed outhole plunger, or the game out of level.

Checks

• Remove the apron and look along the trough rails.
• See whether the ball feeds properly with the apron off; if it does, the apron is too low or dented.
• On games with a side-mounted outhole kicker, check the plunger and spring move freely.
• Check side-to-side level.

Fix

• Clean the rails and remove debris.
• Gently bend a dented apron back, taking care of its paint.
• Clean the kicker plunger and free its spring.

Systems

• Williams System 3
• Williams System 4
• Williams System 6 / 6A
• Williams System 7
• Williams System 9
• Williams System 11
• Williams System 11A
• Williams System 11B
• Williams System 11C
• WPC Alpha-Numeric
• WPC Dot Matrix
• WPC Fliptronics
• WPC DCS
• WPC-Security (WPC-S)
• WPC-95
• Bally MPU AS-2518-17
• Bally MPU AS-2518-35
• Stern MPU-100
• Stern MPU-200
• Bally 6803
• Gottlieb System 1
• Gottlieb System 80
• Gottlieb System 80A
• Gottlieb System 80B
• Gottlieb System 3
• Data East CPU Version 1/2
• Data East CPU Version 3
• Data East/Sega CPU Version 3b
• Capcom
• Electro-mechanical

Related tips

• Ball only rolls halfway up the shooter lane from the outhole
• Outhole kicker hits hard but the ball rolls back: lower the bracket, shorten the spring
• Outhole kicker bounces the ball back off the apron: drain switch bent too high
• Outhole kicker sometimes fires twice after ejecting: replace the trough switch
• Ball keeps rolling back into the skill shot lane: missing one-way gate

Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)