Thanks for stopping by!

Sutol Are the 2 red arrows the nuts to remove the right ramp? I've tried several times to find them to adjust my playfield protector.

Yelobird's Atomic Pile and Speaker Light Kit
Docquest's Batsignal Topper

Weren't these the original Stern art blades? Then for some reason they changed the design?

Ok I have a problem hopefully someone can help me with. I'm getting an error on switch #78 Joker target under the TV. This is the Left target. #77 is the Right target. When I test both switches only the results for #77 show on the DMD. I get a switch "beep" on both switches but again only the results for switch #77 show on the DMD. Instead of the switches working separately in test they appear to work as only a single switch. This oddly doesn't affect gameplay. I wouldn't even have noticed this if I hadn't checked the Tech alerts to see if there were any. I've already done the following:

-double checked and made sure the targets were Not stuck behind the metal separator
-cleaned leaf switches
-checked adjustment of both switches

I'm unable to try and reseat the CN12 connector because it's impossible to reach inside that damn turntable mech. It's very frustrating that something as simple as a switch diagnosis is this much trouble because of the complicated design of the turntable. Any help on this would be appreciated.

Yes my early run Premium does the exact same thing.

Most people mount that in the back right corner on the Riddler plastic like Stern did on the LE/SLE models. See @Docquest's pictures below on the connection.

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When you enter the service menu do you have any Switch Alerts?

Reason why I asked is I had a really strange issue with my right Joker target. After making sure it wasnt stuck behind that metal support I noticed that the switch was set to "Out Of Service" in the service menu. I have no idea how it happened. Once I set it back to "In Service" my problem was gone.

Mic drop!

To answer the Batphone you need to hit either standup target right below the phone. The Gordon target just increases the Batphone multiplier. But you need to answer the phone to take advantage of it.

This may help you...
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-official-club-thread/page/33#post-3603697

I personally waited until my playfield protector arrived before I played my BM66. Remove both wireforms, sling plastics and flippers. I moved the crane to the center of the playfield. Make sure you put a piece of thin cardboard or layer tape under the crane ball. There is a sharp point under it and this will help prevent scratching the protector. BM66 is one of the easier pins to install a protector on.

Hard to believe Stern continues to produce this machine without making more toppers to go with them. Talk about leaving $$ on the table.

Congrats and welcome to a great club! Opinions vary but I highly recommend a playfield protector especially on these newer Sterns. I waited and extra week after I got my BM66 to drop a single ball so I could install one. My playfield looks beautiful and gameplay is fast and fun. A simple wipe down with Novus 1 occasionally will keep it clean and play like lightning. It gives me great piece of mind. If you dont like it just take it off. If you do install one do Not wax your playfield first. Otherwise you'll get "wet" spots under the protector. Have fun!

Definitely easier with playfield out. But there are plenty of YouTube videos showing a couple different ways.

I kinda like this guy's method...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-official-club-thread/page/33#post-3603697

Pinball Life sells a really nice blue Start button. Much better than the stock one.

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Regarding the Flipper Fidelity speakers you Need to tinker with the settings in the menu. It will make a HUGE difference in sound.

Pin Stadiums are nice but I dont like how they reflect off the metal ramps. Plus my room lighting doesnt really require them. But I can see how some people cant play without them. Theres many lighting effects you can have.

I have a shooter eject protector on my KISS but not on my BM66. I just put some clear mylar down. Plus you can lower the trough eject power so the ball doesnt slam into the shooter lane.

Absolutely! Here's the settings I changed from default. All other sound settings I left alone.
Speaker balance -(minus) 15
Backbox treble gain +2.625 db
Cabinet bass gain +10.125 db
Volume to your preference

Awesome!! I think that's the most important one. It transfers alot of the sound to the cab subwoofer which is where you want it.

Great pics and the best advertisement for these blades yet! Are they repositionable during install? I was surprised to see Stern ships these rolled up in a box and not flat.

I think next time I will try the "wet" method. I just peeled and stuck them on. They look awesome but it took much longer than it probably should have.

Sterns topper is out of production and almost sold out everywhere. Again, why they continue to make more games without more toppers is beyond me.

On a side note, since installing the new art blades on my BM66 it gave me the inspiration to put blades on my other game. Has anyone noticed that all the aftermarket makers don't put the hinge bolt cutouts on their blades? Why would I want to cover a bolt that should be accessible? I know it looks better covered but really? Kinda frustrating.

I've thought of this but I'm eyeing some mirror blades and I guess I'd have to pre drill some holes. They're expensive and not sure I want to risk ruining them.

Looks like they only have the gold blades currently

Looking for mirror blades for a different machine. My BM66 is already looking good with the crime fighter ones

Too many problems for a NIB game. Agree with reaching out to your distributor. Someone needs to take care of this for you.

+1

Me too and thank you!

Biggest adjustment to the crane would be making sure its centered directly over each target. This can usually be remedied by setting the Penguin Lag Adjustment to Zero and power cycling the machine.

Looks awesome!! Its spinning really fast. What will keep the propeller from wearing out or breaking?

I love PB. I think they did a fantastic job on the music. At first I thought I wouldnt need to change anything. But eventually added some Nelson Riddle music from the TV soundtrack and some Penguin quacks to the crane.

You could replace one of the generic attract mode callouts with the custom Batphone one. Not game interactive but itll be in the game.

EDIT

Use an allen wrench to loosen the pinch bolt that's going sideways into the bracket around the shaft of the flipper just enough where you can move the flipper a bit. Get it aligned, then tighten it as much as you can. The bracket just squeezes the flipper shaft, there's not much going on. If you loosen the nut a lot and the flipper still won't budge, you may need to pry open the bracket a bit with a screwdriver. Make sure you use a spacer between the bat and flipper bushing to make sure you are getting the height set correctly. You don't want it too low that it could ever hit the playfield or too high that it's not hitting the ball properly. Cut 1/4" or so notch in an old credit card and use it as a temporary spacer until its tight.

Basically interactive video clips of the Villains taunting the player.

Most owners just use the Hot Wheels Batboat and mount it over the shooter lane using one of @Yelobird's mounting plates.

Speaking of the left orbit shot. Big thanks to DrBanner for sharing his fix for the left orbit shot not always registering. This shot requires a strong, clean hit. Problem is the ball will hug the side rail and not completely trip the switch. To remedy this all you need to do is loosen the 2 switch screws below and move it as far over to the left as it will go and tighten. Every shot weak or strong will now register.

Only thing keeping me from getting this is the fact I think its bigger than 1:50 scale? All my other Bat vehicles are 1:50 and I want them all uniform. Plus I already have Mezels lighted Batcopter that they sold for a limited time. Decisions decisions.

This^

There should be a sticker under the lockdown bar stating how many balls. No 8 ball multiball in this game.

Franchi should sell alternate pinball translites for various machines. He'd make a fortune.

Awesome!! Have an extra one?

It's the Bat-tube! It should be attached like this...
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Pic by RetroGamerJP

There are metal brackets screwed into the playfield that the tube rests on and the zip ties attach to.
Here's one of the brackets...

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Hawks Thank you for taking the time to do this. I also believe that the ball speed is just to great for the magnet to grab it 100% of the time. Minor complaint for such a great game.

Those are cool! I imagine a custom made cat that was hollowed out and could just slip over the Stern ones. If anyone could pull it off it would be @Yelobird.

Performed the latest update and was greeted with a blown Node Board 8. This is such fu**ing bulls**t!!! Both service bulletin fixes were implemented within weeks of release. These things are literally ticking time bombs! Marco has no stock of these boards. I'm literally at the mercy of Stern to avoid having a $7000+ paperweight. What the Hell is the point of owning these machines if they are so fragile and parts support only lasts 5 years?

Yes I've already sent an email to Chas with less colorful language. Their support has always been fantastic. Even if they sent a replacement I'm still worried about future availability of these boards. I honestly believe Stern does not want these machines to last longer than 5-10 yrs max. They want to keep selling new machines and not compete with themselves.

I beg to differ.

( I kid, I kid)

Spoke with Chas who's always exceptional. Unfortunately Stern will not be replacing the board. I'm left to pay for this and any other future board failures. I think it's pretty crappy considering these boards have a known history of failing during updates. Probably won't be buying any more Sterns. Not worth the gamble. All I can say fellow Bat fans is start saving for Node boards. Get them before they're gone!

He asked when I bought my game. After I told him he said it wasnt under warranty and didnt offer to sell me a board. I have no idea what went wrong with the board. I have both service bulletins in place for Nodes 8 and 9. There were no broken transistors on the board either.

I've reached out to my distributor 2x in 5 years. Once was for a topper purchase and another was for a bunch of phantom errors on my KISS. Both times I was told to call Stern/ Chas. My distributor just wants to sell new and be done with the customer. Dealing with him otherwise is pretty useless.

Hope the CPU board never fails. That's $1000!!!

1. Check the metal flaps at the bottom of the ramps. Make sure the edges are not sticking up whatsoever. Make sure hardware securing both ramps is tight. Heavy dimpling on a new Stern is typical. They dont make them like they used to.

2. "Mystery Scoop" is the physical ball lock for multiball. Other owners have experienced this stuck ball issue. I'm sure it's been documented in this thread somewhere. Ball getting stuck to the right of the Penguin crane is due to the crane out of adjustment. Go into settings and set the Penguin Lag Adjustment to Zero and power cycle the game. If that doesnt help you may need to adjust the opto wheel. The ball on the crane should be almost perfectly centered above each lit umbrella insert. That's documented in this thread also.

3. Weak shooter rod sounds like Stern is still sending these machines out with weak shooter rod springs. Upgrade your spring to a firmer one with more tension. They are color coded for tension. I have an Orange spring on mine and the ball plunges nicely. You can manually plunge or hit the flashing button on the lockdown bar to auto plunge.

4. There are only 2 modes per major villain in the current code. You can choose which one you want to play before plunging the ball. Hold the left flipper and push the right flipper to cycle through which mode you want to play.

These are the basics. I'm sure someone will chime in with a little more details. Congrats on your Batman and welcome to the club!

I should probably clarify for the newer owners. There are 2 different TV episodes you can play per major villain. You can choose to cash in points early or play through the entire episode for big points.

Yes a while ago. The armor is available from some distributors. Best bet for the Bat signal is to buy the one from Docquest.

In your case this is when the Lag adjustment will help. Try setting it to Zero and power cycle the game. It should help with centering the crane over each target.

I'll say it til I'm blue in the face. Why Stern didnt make more toppers for this game after additional runs on the line is beyond me. Talk about leaving money on the table.

Mezel Mods has a decent topper. I think the license is so tight that no one wants to attempt to produce any aftermarket toppers with '66 characters.

https://mezelmods.com/collections/toppers/products/batman-66-pinball-silhouette-topper?variant=18410623434849

Have you seen this one?

Laseriffic does amazing toppers. They did have a Batman 66 topper in development but it was never produced.

160

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-official-club-thread/page/30#post-3581424

A quick Google search didnt turn up any black sparkle or metallic T molding. Not sure I've ever seen it either.

I went with the 1:50 Batmobile and Batgirl cycle. Seemed like a nice fit along with the Gotham City sign.

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I actually have one but never used it. I was anal about keeping all the vehicles the same scale.

Anyone else notice this LE for sale? Great looking machine but it looks like it needs a $300 node board. At that price it should at least be included for the new owner to install.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/88143

Sounds like your left orbit switch needs adjusting. This info from DrBanner solved my orbit issues.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-official-club-thread/page/293#post-5257493

I have to respectfully disagree with this. Most of the mods for BM66 were made by hardcore fans of the series with great attention to detail. Most of these mods should have been standard from the factory. While others have improved upon Stern's obvious cost cutting.

THIS! The wood is softer and the clear certainly isn't like it used to be. Plus as mentioned I dont believe these playfields are left to cure properly before being shipped. I'm a huge supporter of playfield protectors. Especially with Sterns.

I just wipe mine down with Novus 1 and a microfiber rag. Plays like lightning after.

I put these in my slingshots right after the first bulb broke. Never had an issue since.
https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/05-44W-41

Is this a new board that has failed?

My Node 8 board failed immediately after I installed the last update. Stern was no help after telling me what I already knew. They didn't offer to sell me a board either. Hopefully you will have better luck with a replacement than I did.

A coworker is examining my bad board in his spare time. The 6V supply is out. So far several surface mount resistors in a row are bad. More testing on the board to follow.

Node boards 8 and 9 are interchangeable aside from the Dip switches. So far they are the most common boards that fail on the Spike system.

They didnt offer but I didnt ask. I was too pissed and it just slipped my mind. I asked if it was covered under warranty. I told them my build date and they said it wasnt covered. I bought my own replacement. I bought a couple extra boards for my only 2 games. If either one blows another board they will be fixed and then sold. I'm not keeping thousands of dollars of dead pinballs in my house. And I'm certainly not going to keep buying these Way overpriced boards either.

J85M is the one who has 150 plays.

Stern has sent repaired/upgraded boards to customers free of charge under Warranty. Why dont they offer an exchange program? You buy a replacement board and send your non working board back as a "core".

I mounted the Batgirl cycle on Yelobird's mounting plate above the shooter lane. I drilled a hole in the plate and used the screw the Batgirl cycle already came with. I mounted the Batcyle on top of the pop bumper. Same location as the SLE. I bought Modfather's one cuz it came with a mounting bracket that uses one of the existing screws on top of the bumper plastic.

Any update on your bad Node 9 board? Did Stern send you a replacement?

Good luck with your Node board. Please keep us posted.

I bought this set from FF.

https://flipperfidelity.com/stern-speaker-system-with-8-high-output-woofer-for-spike-2-with-lcd-display/

They also have a set with a 10" woofer. However my set came with black (preferred) surround material not red. Since I was using @Yelobird's speaker light kit I purchased the option with NO speaker lights installed. Yelobird's speaker lights are very flat and require the added speaker ring for support. I'm not sure why the set with black surround material is not shown. Maybe out of stock? I painted the center silver to mimic Sterns Super LE. Best bet is to contact Mike and tell him exactly what you're looking for. If you have a specific speaker light set in mind that'll help also.

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No advice but if you could take pics and document the process for the rest of us itd be greatly appreciated.

Totally agree. Between this and node board support/availability it just isnt worth the gamble. I have a couple backup boards. If they fail again machines will be fixed and out the door they'll go! Really sorry to Still see owners dealing with this crap.

100% agree! In fact I think an entire new machine should be swapped out at this point. But this is Stern and just wishful thinking.

If you go under switch alerts does your display look like the symbol I have circled in the pic below? If it does that means switch #77 (the right joker target) is "out of service". You can actually disable and enable that switch in the service menu. It must be "in service" or that target wont register.
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Damn!!

Wow these look very interesting!!! What are the brackets made out of? I'm concerned about mounting the light board to a metal bracket.

Definitely interested in a fine detail set with brackets. Hopefully they aren't too big. I dont want them to be the first thing you notice when walking up to the machine.

Any idea on production/shipping estimates?

RetroGamerJp was selling decals that dressed up the Penguin scoop. Not on the actual crane.

biglaw Any updates on the Catwoman plastics?

Your turntable is not operating/centered correctly. That's where the errors are coming from. Definitely need to examine the turntable from under the playfield.

I'd test the turntable with the playfield up and watch the repeated movement of the mech. I do remember another owner having a similar issue. The white Geneva gear was getting hung up on a slight burr. Once it was filed down slightly it worked properly. Heres a post that might be helpful also...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-official-club-thread/page/261#post-4951799

Pretty sure the digital code has long expired.

Nice! I haven't installed mine yet. How did you secure them? They're hollow and the bottoms dont leave very much room for glue etc. I'm debating on whether to fill them with hot glue to make them more durable.

Nice job! Your cats look really good!