No need for the chip puller, the PIC 2.0 comes with a chip puller. Pulling out the old chip with the supplied chip puller is pretty easy. Aligning 2.0 is a bit more tricky - I was one of those people that broke the leg and had to order another 2.0 chip. Don't rush it like I did and you should be a ok.

I though the big capacitors in the back of the game where supposed to make that a non-issue?

also just make sure you have just the chip and not the chip socket! Get plenty of light shined at the board.

Thanks.

I’ll try to run some diagnostics and figure it out.

Also, the right side of the glass/game has some noticeable vibration from the shaker.

Is this happening to anyone else specifically?

Turn shaker down a little.

One would think that, but it still has unregulated power to the high voltage section.

I really like the API buck/boost supply they put in Houdini. It solved tons of issues in my game as I have terribly unstable power.

Right now Houdini suffers the least when my power jumps up and down during a game.

This game has taught me something:

Man, I suck at pinball.

Thanks for listening.

I know the feeling man! Don't feel bad about closing your outlanes as much as possible. You can bring the front leg levelers up a tad too. It is your game. Don't be afraid to tweak things!

My 2.0 PIC chip arrived today (along with a new right wire ramp- the welds broke in 3 places) so now my topper works perfectly and my flippers are now adjustable (I was getting a LOT of air balls). Off to Rule the Universe!!!

Haha, yeah I already closed the outlanes a bunch, but not all the way. I may be moving them all the way, soon.

This game is awesome, though. It's killing me, but in a fun way, and I just want to keep playing it.

It really is pinball perfection.

Hard games make you a better player. Saw IM and TNA on your wishlist. Those are much easier than AFM.

Shakers make things shake.

I suck at pinball too.

This game is pure FUN!

Played this for several hours today and my friends had a BLAST!

It is sucha good game!

The first time I can can Rule The Universe is going to be epic, but I'm just not quite there yet!

Helps with glass rattle.
https://pinballpro.net/shop/anti-rattle-tape-ar-1/

I bought this per the recommendation of another Pinsider. I cut two strips the length of the glass in half, ~3/8", and wrapped it along the bottom/side of the glass where it sits in the channel. Zero rattle and the glass slides in and out easily. It takes slightly more work but it's a far better value than any "specialty" product.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QDRRNE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

For the most part, a little electrical tape, wrapped top bottom and side, in the upper corners on the glass (under the guides so you cant see it) works well.

Most of the time it doesnt have to go the whole length of the glass.

Just in a couple areas to firm it up.

Perfect! I’ll get this right away! I already tried to get something similar before, but I messed up.

What I ordered was double adhesive and the foam was in the middle.

Oops!

Yea.. it makes perfect sense that any vibration could cause the glass to move if not snug. Didn’t really think of that.

The rattling wasn’t happening last night, but I think that’s just because the volume was a bit lower.

Question:

The ball replacement guide. Is that only needed if I can "never" make the pop bumpers/super skill shot?
I can sometimes...

I think since I Have the new chip I'm just going to lower the coil on the plunger first and see if that does it.

I MAY not actually need this.

Don't know yet!

The ball, when launched from the shooter lane, should reach the pops or orbit around, if left button is held, 100% of the time.

I've put around 400 games on mine and it has never failed to do this.

Right.

So let me reduce the coil and see if I can achieve 100%.

How do you stop side rail rattle? My AFMr right rail rattles like crazy at certain times while playing the game. It will stop if you put your hand on the right spot.

I asked the other day actually.

You could...turn down the shaker motor or reduce the volume...but that's not fun right?

Try getting some of this and applying underneath the glass. This will help better seal the glass and it won't have as much play to rattle:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QDRRNE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00

If you have some standard size electrical tape lying around try wrapping the left and right edges of the glass. That usually does the trick for me.

Anyone installed one of these?

https://www.wolfsoft.de/shop/product_info.php/products_id/15399//big-saucer-martian-mod-for-attack-from-mars-pinball-remake-afm-rm.html

Love the creativity! It's a bit "dear" though...

Looks cool, but yeah, that price.

Speaking of saucer mods anyone seen something to light the saucers on the classic edition yet? I see Bill Ung has a 'notify' list for something, but not much more advertised on his site for that.

Hey guys,

Wanted to mention this just once more to feel better about it.

The VUK struggles to get the ball up maybe 40-60% of the time. Has anyone else experienced this and was just a matter of increasing the coil strength OR is it possible that I have an imperfection with my VUK as far as the shaping or something.

Thanks!

Could be a few things, not always increasing coil strength.

LTG : )

Good enough.

I assume it’s a fairly common problem.

Would you say increasing coil strength is a good first step?

its the bane of my life.

Been playing my new SE for a little while, only issue I have been having is the ball is getting caught on the ball gate when launching the ball instead of making it all the way around while holding the left flipper during ball launch. Has anyone else had the issue? I did a search on "ball gate" and didn't get any results. It is almost like it isn't going up high enough.

I have the same issue. I have the replacment ball guide that CGC will send out to you if you open a Support ticket with them.
I'm going to reduce the coil strength on the plunger and see if it resolves first before I work on this replacement.

Hmm... come to think of it, my VUK was scratched up on arrival.

Didn't think much of it, but I wasn't happy about it.

I'll have some results soon after properly leveling and adjusting coil strength.

I had this very same problem, increasing coil strength did not work, opened a ticket and was sent a video to gently realign the geometry. Easy fix and haven't had an issue since. Below is the link CGC sent, see if it works for you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pjnidctcncvd7zw/2017-12-28%2009.32.42.mov?dl=0

Good deal!

not sure if it is the same problem you are having, my ball gate will actually pinch the ball and I have to remove the glass to get it unstuck. If it didn't get caught in the gate it would make it around just fine.

Thank you for this! Been having the same issue on my SE and it is the only thing preventing the table from being perfect

Awesome!

Please let us know if the suggestion makes it perfect for you.

No, nothing like that. The ball never gets stuck.

Bracket the gate is on. Gently bend the bracket up a tiny bit.

LTG : )

Seems the hot remake is the LE version, as expected! I've seen AFM-SE's in the 6K range, Standard in the 5.5K range. And to think that I had a high end restored AFM at one point that was valued (at the time) at $10K-11K. LMAO.

Buddy of mine just sold his HUO, low plays AFM-SE for $6k, had it listed for over a month and just couldn't get traction on selling it.

Didn't matter though, he ended up buying a Dark Knight and said he loves the fresh/new gameplay and the fact it changes up "the old" collection.

If I was in the market for an AFM, it would most definitely be the LE.. just a fantastic package.

Topper alone is worth it

Thanks LTG!

Agree completely!! Add in the shaker motor and the larger color screen, at it was a no-brainer for the extra money, IMO.

Anyone have an issue where, when the mothership/destroy the saucer shot is made, it registers as a locked ball? Probably happens only one in 15 or 20 times but I’m wondering if there’s a small tweak that can be made.

I'd check that the subway switch under the playfield isn't sticking or the plunger on the left VUK isn't occasionally blocking the optos, sticking up or not going down far enough.

LTG : )

Will do. Thanks LTG!

Agreed, the topper is easily one of the best ever.

So...here are my leveling efforts ..

It looks "good" and the ball isn't rolling. I REALLY like this test to determine if the playfield is level...after all it's the ball that's rolling in the first place.

Here's my only...quirks with this. I used this digital level and zero'd it, put in the playfield and it reads 6.5. Perfect! Sorta! When I put the level back down it's always reading 0.2 and I tried this multiple times.

This would suggest 6.7 actually and if you look at the bubble on the machine, it's a touch higher than that second line which if it actually has any accuracy, could mean it is in fact 6.7.

Idk... It's "close" or w/e and the playfield being level just seems more important.

Thoughts/Comments on my first efforts?
pasted_image (resized).pngpasted_image (resized).png

I would say you may be overdoing it a bit. Does it play well? That's what matters. If its too fast or hard, raise the front. Too slow, lower the front.