Hello everyone, I'm a newbie owner(played machines for years though) and I've owned my Stern NIB JP premium for about 3 months and love it. It's my 3rd pinball machine. However, I'm having issues with flippers. When it arrived there always seemed to be unsmooth feel often, pushing the flipper button itself. As if it was getting friction/resistance as the button pressed in to its housing(kind of like a notch that was resisting the push and then would clear the resistance suddenly.) I more or less got used to it and now it's less pronounced. However, now the left flipper is not responding at all to subtle "micro-flips" for tap or flick passes along with post passes(won't respond at all to post pass attempts from the left flipper all of a sudden). It used to perform these functions perfectly until the last few days. The flipper is almost binary now: full flip or nothing at all. I have the flipper power set to full in the settings. I've read about new Sterns having terrible coil stops and coil sleeves. Is this maybe the issue? I've ordered new ones from pinballife.com. I'm also thinking it needs new plastic buttons just to be safe. As I investigate further I'm discovering other possibilities like the EOS switches(still unclear if that's the switch the plastic flipper button connects to or something on the playfield near the flipper coil?) Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thx for the info! Yes, it could be just the button itself. Any chance the leaf switch/blades the button connects to could also be the issue? If I try to describe the problem, it's like I used to be able quickly or lightly press the button and it would respond well with micro-flips even from a position of cradling(button pressed in fully). Now if I'm cradling and try to post pass, etc. it doesn't respond at all to my subtle button pushes. It requires a full release of the button to respond in any way. Also, I used to like to control the ball in the left flipper at the start of a paddock. When The metal post comes out of the playfield to trap the ball in the left inlane while the paddock animation runs, I would hold my flipper up fully and the when the post releases and the ball comes out I could slightly "micro flip" to control and catch the ball in that left flipper to line up a shot to the "A" ramp for example. It's just that kind of thing. The subtlety in flipping is now gone.

Hahaha! button button button button...

Thx again

What do you recommend for cleaning the steel ramps? Is Novus 1 ok? Will naphtha work on the stainless steel without harming?

Thx!

Thx for the tip! I bought some replacement buttons from pinball life. I'm assuming they will work(even with the staged right side flipping for upper flipper)? I will try sanding the existing buttons though! My NIB Iron Maiden Premium had similar friction on the button press issues. Stern may have a bad 2018/19 run of those here and there.

I've had my JP premium for 3 months now and the auto launch and manual plunge made the inverted turn to feed the right lane 100% of the time. Now all of a sudden I'm having the same problem. It now only makes it successfully 70%.. It's very frustrating bc it interferes with gameplay(skill shots, T-rex multiball 1st shot set-up, etc.) After searching this forum I tried the washer fix on the left fork of the ramp thing: didn't work(made it worse). I'm pretty frustrated as it seems like this is a real problem with the game and that mech. I hope there is an actual solution.

Thx for all of these suggestions. I just wish it would work, lol. It's such a great game but this problem is knocking it down a few notches. I wish there were a solid, agreed upon fix. I guess I'll keep tweaking pitch/leveling, checking balls, adjusting launch power, checking the autolaunch fork teeth alignment, etc etc. My Iron Maiden has similar issues but easier fixes in my experience. It's unfortunate that Stern can'y just "solve" these launch problems bc I love these games.

I have to do some repair to a chip along the raptor tower ramp ball guide on the upper left area of the playfield. I’ve read a number of posts about JP2, Deadpool, and AIQ for these ball guide/playfield chipping and pooling repairs(So frustrating that this is still an issue on NIB games.) Just a few questions to be “clear” -har har- as I begin my repair to the playfield:

- I have the vinyl repair round iron mentioned by Yelobird to apply to any pooling areas. But I assume if it’s already chipped I should not use this 3 second iron method?

- So, for the chipped area I apply/flow a small amount of the water thin super glue(purchased on amazon) BEFORE applying the acrylic paint pen for aesthetic matching to the artwork? I understand this is for helping to bond the clear to the chipped area.

- Then I apply the acrylic pen to match colors to the art and let dry. After this I have the clear coat brush applicator pen you get at automotive stores, and I apply this over the acrylic painted area?

- Fooflighter, you mention buffing this area. What do you recommend for buffing? I assume a fine grade sandpaper? Any clarification on this buffing step would be so appreciated.

-Finally Mylar, and then a washer if necessary under and guide posts, etc to lift off the playfield I assume.

Thx for any additional advice/clarification! Wish me luck on this unfortunate repair!

Thx so much for your response! I happen to have a Dremel tool so all good there. Did my other steps in that post seem correct about applying the water thin glue before the acrylic paint pen, etc.? I think I have a plan of attack to repair that chip and keep it from getting any worse. Thx again for your advice and help on this!

Thank you so much for the detailed advice! It’s truly helpful. I’m new to ownership just this year and I have to admit it’s super disappointing for these things to happen on new machines. But, I want to play and enjoy them and this will hopefully be a good mend for a small area that isn’t in plain sight while playing. Thx again!

Hi, I was hoping someone may have some insight on an issue with my JP premium that popped up last night. Mid game, I nudged and the game restarted. Granted, I have restart by left flipper and start button enabled but I don’t think it was that(requires holding it for a few seconds.) All of my high scores and achievements were erased except my GC score. I’ve been playing the game for a year so kind of a bummer. All settings seem to be the same(flipper strength etc.) but only my GC score remains. All others went to default. Any ideas? thx in advance! I’m on 1.03 code(been on it for quite awhile.)

Ahh ok! I bet that’s it and the restart thing was a coincidence. Never knew that as I’ve only owned new Sterns for a year now. Now time to go set that to NEVER for my other Sterns, lol. Worked too hard during the lockdown to give up those accolades, hahaha. Thx for the response!