Hello guys, I took delivery of my NIB JP Premium on Friday. We have it set up and while really had no idea what we were doing we played it quite a lot last weekend. Unfortunately on Sunday the game started to act up. The T-Rex eats the ball as it had before but no longer releases the ball. Basically once you lose your multi-ball the game just sits idle for about 30 seconds when it must realize there is no ball inputs and then basically goes through all of the mechanism at once which results in T-Rex turning to the right and dropping the ball. (Same place every time) Then game resumes play. Any ideas?

Second issue is less of a deal but the small one way gate wire that you hit when you hit a cruise missile shot through the pop bumpers gets stuck in the up position wedged against the pop bumper cap. I used a razor blade and cut away some of the pop bumper cap and clearanced the wire so that works now. Not a big deal I guess.

Third is more wondering if the pop bumpers work right. I have a 1980 Black Knight which I've owned for less than 2 months and that's my only point of reference. The single pop bumper on BK seems to be a lot more responsive than the three on JP. Often the ball will roll down from the top through the 3 pops and never activate them. Is that normal?

So is there any warranty on these machines? I feel dumb asking that after spending $9700, but figured it's a new machine and would be trouble free. I did call my dealer and they gave me the service tech voicemail but never called back. Sucks that my first post in the owners thread is the game is broken on day 3.

Oof-da....

Stern Pinball Inc (‘SELLER’) warrants only to the initial purchaser of its
products that the items listed below are free from defects in material
and workmanship under normal use and service for the warranty period
specified:
• Printed circuit boards (game logic): 2 months
• Dot Matrix / LCD Display: 9 months
No other parts of seller’s product are warranted.

Looks like I'm on my own. Hopefully the dealer helps out but they are so far away I'm doubting they will come this far. About 4 hrs. Have to give them a chance though, I may hear something tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

Well, dealer offered phone support but nobody is coming out to fix it. Stern is email only, no phone support. I'll try emailing them. Dealer said that will likely send parts and I can try to install them. So basically for $10 grand I got a project pinball machine. Hell I don't even own a soldering iron.

Same build date as mine, hope you have better luck! Remember, it starts out with people ooohing and aweing and then it turns to running and screaming....

My glass is a pain to remove but it can be done. Just be grateful the rest of the game works. Good luck with a new machine, I can't even get an email response.

If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear what to try. I did check for loose connections behind the T-Rex and everything looks just fine. Almost seems to me as now the T-Rex doesn't line his jaws up with the ramp when he sets down to catch the ball. Maybe my imagination as now I'm looking for something wrong.

Any way, I made a short video of what the game does, hoping maybe someone else has been through this.

Thanks!

I'll take them if you still have them. I sent a message on your add. I may not be able to use the game but at least it can look good.

I do have a premium, why would it be a waste? These are the side art for the cabinet, correct? Mine are just black. Were they supposed to have had artwork?

Hi, I believe it knows (at first anyways) as it goes through the little chomp chomp deal to show she's eaten the ball. Is there a way to test the opto's through the service menu? I'm open to doing stuff like that but afraid I'll do more damage then good if I really start to tear into things such as removing the T-Rex etc. IDK. maybe easy but I have no clue.

Every new Stern should come with a 4 week class in Pinball repair. lol

Ok, yes I understand what you mean, a way to calibrate the location. I did find this and it was -3. I've now got it at 1 and it's about perfect. Unfortunately the original problem still exists. Thanks though, that solved another issue!

You are going to need an adapter for that.

https://mezelmods.com/collections/power-adapters/products/ticket-12v-power-tap-spike-system

OIC, the seller has two listings. I bought the art blades from him. I see he has the apron for sale as well.

Out of curiosity, is JP considered a hard game to play? Being new to the hobby and not very skilled at this I seem to have a hell of a time hitting any shots. I had a chance to play a 2006 Stern Pirates of the Caribbean at the movie theater yesterday and found it seemed much easier to play. Would an easier game been better for a starter game? Or perhaps I just suck at this.

What is Luke's T-Rex head? Sorry, I'm brand new here.

Went down to play a quick game before bed and shot 280 million points! I realize that's not all that amazing for you guys but having never broken 100M prior it was an awesome game. Anyways, I'm excited and the wife could care less. Gotta tell someone. lol

Since no one can figure out how to fix the dinosaur on my premium I figured I'd start trying things myself. Seems like this should do it

20220617_163456 (resized).jpg

So what I thought to be a problem with the pop bumpers not firing due to sensitivity I now believe is the ball guide being installed wrong. When the ball drops into the Amber pops from the orbit (top center of PF) the guide directs the ball in such away that it never contacts the first pop bumper and coincidentally just rolls through the pops and drains down the main PF via the right outer orbit ramp. There doesn't appear to be an adjustment short of re-drilling another hole or larger hole, either of which I don't think is going to work well or keep the guide tight in place. Basically the only way to get points in the pops is via the smart missle shot.

Would you trade a 7 week old JP Premium for a really nice LOTR?

Yes, but you just got the JP so it's still the honeymoon, right? I got my JP game memorial weekend (which the T-rex broke the second day and still doesn't work) and got a Stern Pirates about 1 month later. Being all new to the sport, we all enjoy Pirates more. The only use JP gets is when someone is already playing the other. It seems a really difficult game for a novice and frankly my really poor experience with my first NIB game (no dealer support and bare minimum response from Stern) just seems to piss me off every time I try to play it and the T-rex doesn't work. That combined with the ball guide on the PF not mounted right, IDK. I just feel the the quality of the new Stern stuff has gone to hell. Heck you can barely get the glass off the playfield. From what I've read, LOTR was built back when they put more time and effort into it vs the fast food approach of today just trying to keep up with demand.

Seems like LOTR is more of an iconic theme and makes me think that while it's already established itself as one of the greats, it will rise in value where JP I'm guessing won't. Who knows,

I could but won't be home till Thursday. Basically in the top center of the PF when the ball drains down from the outer orbit (thinks that's what you call it) into the pops the guide, I believe, is supposed to direct the ball into the first pop bumper but instead it sends the ball past, never actually causing it make contact and simply rolls through and out and down the orbit lane. I pretty much need to get a smart missle shot to fire the pops.

Can't seem to figure out how to reset the factory preset high scores. Anyone have any ideas?

Out of curiosity was there an additional charge for set up? My dealer wanted $500 to which I passed on.

I have the same issue on my premium. Best I can tell is the ball guide (on the left of the ball) wasn't aligned properly when built and it causes the ball to miss the first pop ever so slightly which results in nothing happening and the ball rolls through the pop and out without ever firing one. I'd sat this is the case about 7 out of 10 times. I don't believe its the pop as when the ball enters through the smart missile shot all hell breaks loose. There doesn't appear to be any adjustment for the guide. Can't say that's the problem 100% as I'm definitely a noob but check on your machine and see.

Steve

Wanted to mention that Stern did finally come through and fix the T-Rex issue with my NIB JP Premium. They sent a new assembly and had a tech install at no cost to me. That's the good, the bad was it took 3 months to the day for the repair. It was an eye opener to see my dealer completely wash their hands of me just two days after I picked it up from them and we all seemed like buddies. They sent me the email address for Stern and that was the last I heard from them. No follow up, nothing. It coincidentally will be the last they hear from me as well. I'm likely the minority with that unfortunate NIB story but I doubt I would ever order new again. With used you at least know it's sorted out and working. I can now finally enjoy a game without the frustration. To bad I suck at pinball. lol

Peter's Billiards in St Paul.

Looking at buying one of the mosquito amber shooter rods and it appears to be lit. Will it come with a splitter for the power source or will I need to buy one? I have a topper connected currently.

Thanks

Awesome! Thanks guys.

Noob question on my Premium, when the game shows "EXTRA BALL IS LIT" is there a shot that has to be made to collect the extra ball or does that mean you already have the extra ball? I've looked all around on the playfield for an extra ball insert light and can't find one. I know with my Stern POTC it announces the extra ball and then you have to make the shot to get the extra ball.

Thanks!

Mind sharing what shaker motor you went with? I have one in my POTC which I'm not all that impressed with so I kind of lost interest but reading your post and others like it make me reconsider.

Thanks guys!

Perfect!

I ordered the Stern unit. I haven't done anything with the machines for a while and I'm do for some fun. Thanks!

I like that back glass, where did you find that?

Hey guys, I got the Stern shaker motor and I'm on the fence. I really like the small hits you get from it like when the jeep spins or the left inlane strobe and such but when T-Rex picks up the ball for the multi-ball the shaker seems to wind up to fast and seems to be a bit to much. more of a cabinet rattler vs a shaker. Noisy and such. I wish there was some way to slow the RPM down.

So you're saying I can make adjustments to the shaker through the set up menus? Mine didn't come with a shaker from the factory. Does that matter?

Awesome, thank you!