Thats all great but... lets just say im a customer who wasn't handy who will do this and what will it cost. Keep in mind to do this on all those bad posts means removing ship, and ball launch ramp etc.

Does the issue happen to all Pirates ? Or the late manufacture models (march 2019) are ok ?

*4. Don't forget to trim/sand down the star post bases by the height of the washers or the slings will sit too high, reports all over here this causes problems.

*Not an expert but this totally makes sense and was suggested by another in this thread

At some point JJP started putting plastic washers underneath the posts. My 2/4 built LE has them and also noticed a thin plastic / lexan washer under the the star post located underneath the Black Pearl ramp. No wear present. 2/4 is well before these issues were being reported at this level so someone at JJP must have heard something and implemented a change on the line.

I was referring to the poor quality sling posts that are uneven at the base with sharp material protruding.

I posted a pretty good side by side of what a good one looks like vs what they used.

Mine came with the small washers and I have no issues, but I'm thinking about doing the star posts with rubber washers. I think that would have to be better than having the little hard washer potentially moving around.

Wish you were closer!

Where does one buy a rubber washer that is roughly the same size as the Star post?

I’m not selling have to hit one of the others up

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-2-Count-5-16-in-x-3-4-in-Neoprene-Standard-SAE-Fender-Washers/3012346

If you install these with the stars please report how they perform.

It will look just like the one with the green star posts pictured above. I have done it on my TNA and haven't noticed any issues.

Bah! Those annoying Stern shills!!!
I say we find em all and STRING EM UP!!! They’re to blame for all our pinball problems!!!

(Not to make light of these playfield issues. That’s really crappy. Hoping you guys are all made square. JJP has typically been great to deal with from my experience.)

Maken: don’t ever change buddy. You’re my favourite crazy Pinsider.

-Your Pal,
Chambahz

This is what I'm going with. Rubber/neoprene washers under star posts. Nothing hard or sharp to touch the playfield.

20190515_171718 (resized).jpg

Doesn’t look bad, any issue with the slings firing reliably?

Only Asking! As you were not the original buyer is it possible since the game was registered to someone else with warranty possibly thats why they are not responding to your service tickets? Have you gone after the original owner that had it on route yet?

Define does not exist?? Seems like the one I bought looks real??

IMG_3283 (resized).jpg

I am trying a few things

1 - I am trying double star posts, where the sling channel is lower than the single star post. See the comparison the pinballlife folks helpfully provided.
2 - If I still get escaped sling kickers, I will then remove the washers and do the mylar discs. For now I’d like to keep them, as I feel the padding is a positive thing.

F745D908-1AA9-4F86-8C5C-09CDD1B865D3 (resized).jpeg

Does not exist on the jjp site for sale anymore

I'll sell you mine, no postgate either! lol $3,000 lolol JK

I’ll pay you 3k for it if you first install my posts with no washers the way the factory did. If no postgate we have a deal

What washers are you currently using? I know the gummy ones from amazon are a no go.

I'm guessing these are the double star posts you picked up?

https://www.pinballlife.com/plastic-translucent-double-star-posts-1-116-tall.html

The gummy ones from Amazon.

I thought those were eating at the single star posts?

I think I might try the lowe's ones posted up above.

The neoprene ones from Lowe’s seem like they could be a good option since they compress a bit.

I am an original owner HUO. Chips after a month. No love here for any remediation. I offered to buy a new playfield at cost and was turned down.

If JJP does offer a solution to owners it would be under warranty most likely.

Good idea! I definitely like how the doubles allow the sling to sit lower.

Will you have this done and tested today?

I don’t think I have these options due to the metal washers pre-installed, but may not have issue either. I’ll leave at that for now.

Unless PinballLife puts them on a one hour flight to me, no. When they arrive I will report.

Haha

Right. I’m not even thinking. Back to bed!

Has anyone considered o rings?

How often do they show up on pinball tables?

Idk if the rubber would be too hard, but they are tiny and could still create separation between the pf and posts.

Those posts need to be pretty solid, don’t see how an o ring would provide enough support for the post.

how about replacing the bad clear posts with ones that are flat with no bevel or sharp edges when I take delivery?

these May work if people are looking for something simple. Part number Traxxas 1815, body washer. The hole is a little large, as they are .75 inch in diameter, but the material is like a lexan/thin plastic. It’s strong enough to not deform under pressure points, but weak enough it will compress just a bit. I think they sell the thicker type at Lowe’s as well, but those are usually a hard plastic and don’t compress much. Best of luck.

Your doing it again. You do not Have this issue!! Step away from the thread and play your game till the next epidemic arises. Lol

Lol

This guy is very good with Photoshop.

I think the point of this thread which Harry raises (thank you Harry) is to identify how much this is happening, report it to JJ and hopefully come up with a JJ endorsed solution. If that is not possible then come up with a solution that will resolve it in the best way possible.

Here is what we know:

1. All posts without the small washers installed at factory are going to be sharp. You need to ask JJ for the small washers. They will send.
2. Many machines have ripples around posts. These are delaminated clear coat that may or may not chip away.
3. Removing posts to put on washers may cause ripple to chip as it did to mine.
4. Even those with metal washers on their ce installed have chipping, so it is NOT just due to these sharp posts alone.
5. Star posts will cause a larger indent so once you go to these posts there is no going back
6. Excessively thick washers may impact the sling performance.
7. Mylar underneath needs a flat surface. Mine did not adhere because the posts were driven into the surface. I believe repair may not be strong enough under posts. For Mylar to work, maybe can only be used under star posts.
8. Slings are too strong and causing excessive strain. Turn them down

I personally just installed the washers and went back to playing whilst I wait for JJ to reply. If it gets worse, I will install Mylar and star posts.

Please let’s all be nice.

Star posts with rubber washers...
Just played a few games and slings are not as active. I will have to adjust the switches. I think it's because the star post are wider and pulled the sling rubber just a bit farther from the switches.
I tried the skinny posts with rubber and plastic stacked. Slings still worked fine that way.
I like the star posts more so I'll give adjusting the switches a try.

Mylar is a fake fix. I talked to the DFW pin restore guru Keith Holbrook and it won't prevent urethane clear from lifting from the substrate under heavy pressure of the post.

So really, a soft padding like rubber is going to be needed- especially if chipping/rippling is still occuring with wider playfield-on-post contact without adequate rubber padding. The big key will be, how to adjust the post height the best. Shaving/sanding down the single star post or perhaps those doubles from Pinball Life.

My game hasn't chipped yet but I can already see the writing on the wall- a service pack/fix is needed.