Adjust the leaf switches first before you drive yourself crazy. If they were firing on their own then that would indicate that one of the leafs are too close together. When it stops firing all together it’s because they are making contact for an extended amount of time. The spike 2 system will cut voltage so it doesn’t short. The problem likely has nothing to do with node board.

Weld it or buy a new one.

The new one (3.0) is actually better... can go left or right, front or side. Can be removed in case you have it on the side and need to get between two pins. And it is cheaper.

I was skeptical, too, but Scott Danesi (designed TNA and works for pinball life) just said on a podcast he only recommends the new ones, now...

https://www.pinballlife.com/pingulp-30.html

Something you can try before buying a replacement.

Assuming you have both the ball and shaft removed from the machine, clean off any and all glue residue that is on that newton ball shaft as well as in the ball.

Put the ball in the oven at about 325 degrees for about twenty minutes. At the same time, put the shaft in the freezer. What will happen is that the ball will increase in size a very miniscule amount. At the same time, the cold will cause the shaft to shrink by a very small amount.

With the ball hot and the shaft cold, very carefully hold the ball in your gloved hand while inserting the shaft into the hole. Use a small hammer or other object to lightly tap the shaft into the hole.

Now put the assembly aside for half-an-hour or so until it cools down. With luck, the shaft will be fixed tightly in the newton ball.

I think I have an issue on my JP pro. When the ball comes into the pop bumpers from the top is just rolls right past the left pop without activating it. Doesn't activate any pops, just rolls right out the exit.

I've seen some deadflip footage on YouTube and their left pop activated whenever the ball dribbled in from the top.

The pop itself works on coil test and when I toss the ball at it. Sounds like I may need to adjust the sensitivity. Is it an easy adjustment to make? I've never done this before.

Thanks for any advice!

That’s an interesting idea. My newton ball is fine, but I’m going to file this away in the recesses of my brain.

I would couple this idea with some JB weld while you are at it.

When you installed these do you the carbon flaps lay over the metal edge of the ramps or do they lay flush on the playfield butted up against the edge of the ramps?

Thanks

Answered my own question. Just got my Cliffy's today and removed the metal flaps. I didn't realize that the ramps were level with the playfield and that the flaps will indeed overlap.

I didn’t realize that either. Have a pic?

Personal best today previous PB was around 350k. Default rules. Dammit I love this game. Only got it a couple weeks ago now. No mods yet. I think I want the mirror blades. Anyone with pictures or videos of their set up with mirror blades?

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That is completely awesome! Not everyday you better your previous best by a factor of 2000! WoW! Congrats! (j/k. Yeah, I know what you meant...)

My left ramp occasionally doesn’t register my shot. Frustrating really messes your game plan up. I’d say 20% of the time it doesn’t register. Seems mainly on skill shot weird.

A perfect fit and big improvement....

Are you sure its a qualified skill shot? Any score will kill it...

Ah shoot. You spotted the rook around these parts But really, thank you

Black electrical tape over part of left opto (on left ramp). Look it up. It works.

Any chance someone could post a picture of this? Appreciate it!

I had this aswell. I did 2 things....

1. Bit of electrical tape over the bottom half of the optical sensor.
2. Removed spacers from the lid of the ramp so the ball doesn't ride as high when it's hit hard up the ramp.

No pics to hand but I found those solutions on this forum somewhere, you should be able to find it.

If you are getting refraction through the ramp hole then try this - https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jurassic-park-stern-2019-owners-club-welcome-to-jurassic-park/page/212#post-6309369

However if you you are wanting to limit the beam, in order to detect airballs, then just put some tape over the lower 1/3 of the actual hole.

What registers the skill shot? The opto on the ramp or the opto behind the backboard? I have seen conflicting info...

Small peice of electrical tape over lower left opto only. Place the tape on the ramp steel- not the opto. Approximately lower 1/3 of opto should be blacked. I will post a pic tomorrow if someone doesn’t first. Not home at the moment.

Thanks a picture would be great!

Put a deposit down on a premium JP from cointaker a few weeks ago. Does anyone know when the new JP premiums should start shipping?

I’ve seen a few of these around posted from distros. If you can call around you might be able to find one now, if you can get your deposit back.

I just hit my personal best of 355m, so you’re giving me hope for new heights!

I’m not even sure what the opto is?

I liked going with cointaker because they are local to me and will come and set up the machine and add small mods I want done. I just hope I’m not waiting until after Christmas.

Good luck not sure they plan on running any more of these this year from the schedules posted here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/what-is-on-the-line-at-stern-pinball-delays/page/67#post-7049332

An opto is an optical emitter and receiver. Basically, an invisible (infrared?) beam of light that goes across the ramp. When the ball passes through that beam of light the game knows that the ball went up the ramp and you made the shot.

You can see it on your ramp if you look for the holes on the left and right side of the ramp.

(I'm sure someone can give a more technical explanation, but that's the gist)

Just received by Jeep from BallyKiss1978. Incredible! The #18 Jeep fits on my pin and I love the off-road look upgrade. Installing this weekend. Thank you!

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Ok strange problem here

The Pro I bought was still on .88, I moved to movie code 1.03, I have an issue where whenever the replay sound plays (either on a Match after the round, or during round with a good score) there is maybe a missing sound and there’s a loud pop from the speakers.

The movie code doesn’t touch that specific audio file.

I tried updating to Stern 1.05 and doing a full / checked update, but the issue persists on the Stern code as well.

Any ideas? Maybe reverting to a previous Stern code where the sound was added?

That pop sound is the simulated knocker. It's normal. You can turn it off in the settings. Likely was turned off in your settings previously.

I didn’t realize there was a skill shot after the double super skill shot! For the first time today I hit the fourth skill shot which is hitting the O after hitting the raptor tower*. I did it a second time just now and ended up getting the record for 8 skill shots on my machine. Not sure what the hottest shit is but that seems pretty solid

So glad you like it! Thank you for the nice post. My daughter will be very happy!

What shots did you make - as I’m not aware of one involving the raptor gate/pen?

The 4 shot skill shot I know about is left ramp, right ramp, tower ramp, “O” shot Or you can do left ramp, right ramp, upper orbit & tower.

There are also the secret skill shots - “C” shot, amber target (in the pops), and the “O” shot.

Maybe I’ve been missing something loll

I think I simply used the incorrect terminology for It’s the exact 4 shot one you described first with the O shot as the final one.

Wow I cannot believe that is an official sound. It’s terrible. Thank you!

I like the sound cus it usually means I’ve done something good lol

I have no clue what the random knocker sound means when I’m having a decent game but yeah I like it cause it happens during a good run lol. Means I’m not having a shitty game.

It means you have surpassed the Replay score set on the machine. But basically, yes, means you are having a decent game! Lol

Ah okay. The replay score can be variable though right? Because I swear it doesn't always happen when my score is the same.

I also have replay/matching turned off since it's on freeplay and it doesn't make much sense lol.

but but but !? this sound IS the sound when playing a pinball machine !

even in freeplay i enjoy this like nothing else
and than the "triple clack" is even better, my son can hear it from other rooms in the house, and than he knows i've beaten the hiscore (lol)

Turning the fake knocker down to the low volume definitely helps. Sounds much closer to the real thing and isn't so ear shattering. Still not the same as the real thing, but I wouldn't personally want to turn it off either.

You can install an after-market real knocker if you prefer - https://www.pinballlife.com/real-knocker-kit-for-stern-spikespike-2.html

Just want to say that I installed both of Mr. Tantrum's Jeep and helicopter mods (with cockpit LED!) and they're fantastic. Thanks, Mr_Tantrum for the detailed instructions (but yeah...the helicopter was a bitch!).

Got a couple things delivered today from Mezel Mods. Raptor pen and shooter lane protector. Raptor pen looks great. Is the lane protector suppose to stick to the wood of the shooter lane? I took off the sheet of protective film and thought it would stick, but it is literally just laying on top of the shooter lane and effects the balls ability to make it up the heliramp, even on auto plunge.

After completing these two modifications I recognized a few things started happening right away.

(1) My auto plunge button stopped working. The lights light up. I can start up a game using the button, but I cannot get it to auto plunge for me anymore. Mechanically speaking, what makes this happen?

(2) When I can get the ball to go up the heliramp and down the right lane to start off a ball, once it touches the helicopter the red flashing lights on the t-Rex ramp turns off and my ability to collect skill shot points goes out the window. Never happened before putting my mods in.

(2a) I also noticed that the game will act like I lit up map and if I hit the t-Rex ramp from the start, it will start up the first paddock. This doesn’t always happen.

(3) When I get a ball save, the auto plunge is noticeably slower now. Could it be the shooter lane protector? That doesn’t make any sense to me, but I will check this out.

I hope I didn’t permanently fuck some things up when putting in the mods.

Any words of wisdom around here?

Thanks

Bottom line is you added non designed things to your game which makes it now not work right. Easy answer is remove the mods. However here is the answer you probably prefer:

You are having switch issues. Shooter lane switch is either not detecting the ball or stuck open/closed. Remove the protector. Waste of time and money. You don't see yourself wrapping your sofa, lamps, car, etc in plastic in order to prevent scuffs right? Just reduce the ball kick-out power to the minimum it needs to get the ball in the shooter lane reliably. Despite what some folks here believe, your game will not be worth thousands more because you put a shooter lane protector in(or leave the goody bag sealed and stapled inside). Doesn't change a damn thing for value.

Map white arrow shots. Fix the shooter lane first. If you still have issues then you likely have an over sensitive switch somewhere on one of the white shots. Once it registers this is what is terminating your skill shot.

Go into switch test and see what's happening. Pound the pf with your fist to induce vibration and see which switch registers.

Everyone's grandmother*, ever...

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*if that term offends, please replace with grandbirthingperson

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Look on their site they have instructions on installing the shooter lane protector. There is a sticker that comes with it that you use to stick it to the wood.

As for the auto plunge not working, it's because the lane switch isn't being triggered because the lane protector does not shit flush against the wood. It "floats" a bit down there. Your skill shots also won't be working because it never registers a ball is in the shooter lane.

They also have a video on how to fix this if you have the issue. Basically you have to bend the switch to make it pop up taller. It was a bit tricky for me to do but I did it and haven't had any issues since.

Both of the videos are on the product page.

https://mezelmods.com/products/pinball-shooter-lane-protector

Hey I totally remember the lamps in the living room being wrapped in clear plastic while I was growing up lol. Let's not go back to the 70's please lol.