Can you confirm if you've left the game running 3-5 hours and not locking up? This would be valuable information

I often leave the machine running all afternoon - have run into the lockup problem twice total in 3 months of operation

Has anyone reached out to PB about this?
Sounds like a software issue

I would say it was running for atleast 2-3 hours with no issues.

Hi Guys, I recently purchased a Alien LV shipped to me and running into all sort of issues. Frustrating of course, but as I am waiting for support to confirm this maybe someone here can be quicker to respond. The attached is a few pics of boards I noticed connections are off... I have a hard time believing that this would all come lose in shipping - but never know. I am reluctant on connecting as it maybe un-used. The following are problems that may of course stem from these connections become lose and no longer connected ...

1. The "air lock" VUK is super weak and unable to launch balls back into play; tech support suggested to increase coil strength in adjustments. I did that but same thing.
2. the beacon on top of backbox not working in test mode.
3. small display on playfield is dead - nothing; tech support keeps asking to check connections, which I have done multiple times but seems all good. I was going to remove the small display to check connection underneath unit.
4. game seems to lose track of balls in trough - ends game early, or doesn't launch balls into play when it should.

Any suggestions would be appreciated - or at minimum confirm if on your game these connection in the pics are connected.

Thanks!

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Those are not supposed to be connected, they are for the leds in the targets and are not used

You didn’t show target 4. That also shouldn’t be connected. All five weapon targets have no programming.

1. I would make sure there is a solid solder connection on the coil lugs, often these coils are not well soldered and / or may be broken under the heat shrink

2. Can you show pics of the beacon connections?

3. Yes you should remove the display and check the connectors.

4. Make sure the trough connections are solid. You should see an led on the board for each ball in the trough,+ ball jamb, wiggle the connection to make sure the leds don’t change state. Also make sure balls are not magnetized and sticking to the trough. In general make sure all connections are tight

I did a lazy set up with KJS’s Translite on my SV (no back lighting only around inside of translite back box lining). I FINALLY did it right with a frame, the back lighting etc. It was really cool before. Now it’s just freaking incredible. I just keep staring at it. May be best mod ever.

Can’t wait til apron and beacons mod arrives- I’m going to lock myself in the basement. What a pin.

I’m still 2.5 with no issues, I’ll leave it there as I don’t want to risk introducing a problem till I see others with no issues.

I went from the rebuild 2.2 straight to 2.6. Haven’t done 2.7 yet.

I would 'hope' it would be a cumulative update and you could go from any version to the latest.

Here we go,
Artwork printed under all metal & plastic posts,

Anyway moving forward now.

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Invoiced and paid in full today. Now for the real wait. If the FB post was right my game will be built in the next two weeks!

Invoiced today as well. It said the game will be at their facility next week. We shall see...

2.6 is larger than the others because it was the first release for the Limited Version, and had extra files intended for the LV on it. The original thinking was that this update would be ONLY for the LV at the factory, and a subsequent 2.6 "light" would be released later for the SV, but we went ahead and released the same code for everybody. The LV-only files are just ignored.

As of 2.7, the release size is back to normal. If you have an SV, you should definitely be able to update from 2.2 to any newer version without any trouble. If this ever changes, it will be clearly noted. For LV, 2.6 is the minimum that has LV support, so don't install 2.5 or earlier on it.

- Brian

What is your game number Chalkey ?

Mine doesn’t have art under that post.

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How did you determine the next 2 weeks? Thx

Ditto what’s your game number?

I’m LV 172

Time for some petg clear washers.. Just ordered a bunch for mine.

interesting, so this is the latest version of this PF? how many of you have art under posts?

i have an early pf... art under all posts and white plastics.

Anyone have the washer sizes for the posts on the game?

Are they delivering in order of LV # or is it random?

You really think they've already shipped 172 LV's ?!

I never received a game number unless it was in one of the order emails somewhere.

Lv #002

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Wow I thought the new pinball brothers playfields were like indestructible

agreed, I was disappointed to see. I guess their videos were maybe about the inserts more? I am not sure. Clearly these modern printing methods can't survive posts.

This particular issue is more of a design issue than a PF issue I think. The post in question gets a ton of impact and is frankly too narrow and short to absorb that abuse. Even with washers in and the longer bolts it still tends to bite into the PF over time. I don't think there is really a good solution for it as it is built. A true fix would probably be to drill out the hole bigger and put a much larger post in there with a wider base. Maybe even a metal sleeve that goes through the hole and onto the top / or bottom for more support for the post.

JP has a similar post also in front of upper flipper and the post is a regular post, however, it is sitting on a thick metal washer from the factory.

In this case, the washer really is not enough. Part of the initial issue was that the post was too short and only went a thread or 2 into the metal catch on the back of the pf.(blanking on the name right now). They did provide longer posts, but there just isn't enough strength there to prevent the post from bending. I added a washer early on, and I can see it is digging into the pf. There needs to be some more reinforcement on the back side.

I don’t know man I have 30 plus pinball machines including jjp , I never had a single
Playfield chip so far , looks like defective playfield to me

That one could be, mine isn't chipping... but that post is a known point of failure.

How is this post currently attached to the pf? is it a T-nut? if it is then I am thinking that the T-nut is flexing on impact and changing the axis and it will bend. A nut would be a poor choice here and I would change that out. Curious to know how it is currently attached.

Jp had this exactly same issue on initial runs and it was solved by replacing the post and adding a washer and nut under the PF and on top.
The hole for the post in JP is actually oversized, this meaning, it was actually an afterthought, as this was also an issue in the initial runs of JP. The post dot not move nor wiggle nor it changes location after hundreds of plays even though the hole is oversized (by not much fyi)

I would just take that post out and put a thicker, longer post (with more thread) and add thick washer. Would actually use the exact same post used in JP.

I have had zero issues in Jurassic Park using this new post (my game is relatively new but almost 800 plays now) and the post has not budged nor moved (and it gets hit by a lot of balls all the time).

This post is used on WOZ at the outhole...takes a beating...https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/530-5005-00

Tnut, yeah that's what I couldn't think of. They did send out a nut to go with the longer post but there is not enough room for a nut and a washer as the flipper assembly is right over the top of this and the post is still too short for all of that extra. The nut barely makes it on. Just not enough room there.

Ah...I don't have my game yet, but it it possible to mill/drill a hole in the bracket to allow access to the nut? not sure what exactly is above the nut clearance wise....anyone have a pic?

Jp also has a flipper assy and it barely fits. gotta use the slimmer version of the nut for it to fit.

Other option is drilling a hole on the assy so the post and nut can protrude. The assy (if the same as Williams) is very soft so it can be neatly drilled in a sec really.

That said, the assy in JP just has the nut underneath and it fits. I would just use the same post and nut used on JP.

lol we thought the same. Yes it is possible and actually much preferred so you can replace the post when needed without taking the assy off, which often included removing the flipper bat which is annoying lol.

I was going to drill the assy in my JP if this post became a problematic part needed lots of adjustments but it has been great since I adjusted it after 200 plays...

just checked my new game which was built in May. Theres no art under any of the posts except ones connected to ramps. Dunno when they switched over

LV #983 landed today.

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It’s day 190 since I paid in full for Alien LV #32.
Feeling like it’s close now.
Went ahead and had shoulder surgery so I can’t play it for another 4 weeks, so maybe time will line up just right.
It is stateside at least.

Nope. Which is odd, because my invoice said LV#0137