(Topic ID: 220286)
Linked Games
Stars
Stern Electronics, 1978
Topic Gallery
Sparta, NJ
The Norse God of Pinside strikes again! You are an endless source of entertainment! I agree Stars is FANTASTIC and more people need to discover this gem. It is one of those sleeper games that has legendary status with certain people in the know.
Thanks!
First I was surprised there wasn't already a club. I did search.
Second, it was starting to seem like I was the only member. Story of my life. Start a cool club and none of the other kid's mommys would let them join!
SK-4 if you want to include his work while at Gottlieb. 
https://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?searchtype=advanced&ppl=Steve%20Kirk
4 weeks later
does anyone in this prestigious club know what the the little doohicky is called in the shooter lane that keeps the ball from coming back down the lane that is positioned just outboard of the right side spinner?
My Stars is lovely and plays terrific, but that part was missing when I bought it - and I haven't been able to find one since.
thanks
I'm not in the club, but can look shit up. There's a game manual in the IPDB calling it a ball gate asm. p/n A-471
Good luck
I picked up this one, and put it back to the way it's supposed to be: 
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-starswtf-is-this-spinner-doing-here
This is my pride and joy. Number one played game. Dialed in to play hard and fast. Beautiful clear coated playfield, great backglass, and stripped and stenciled cabinet. Took a long time to finish. Definately a keeper.
0A21A28B-11D4-4438-919D-A2D7D95B2285 (resized).jpeg15973030-44D4-47A8-ABF6-4FB8E3CF2393 (resized).jpeg1C886711-5FAF-4AAA-BAEA-DB8C471BF68D (resized).jpeg89A3EBB9-279E-4AB6-9272-10E6B1DC9064 (resized).jpegBD4BED36-6BCB-4752-B278-8E4873737969 (resized).jpegI was able to score a free Stars awhile back and was thinking of turning it into a coffee table or a lit pf wallhanger because the head is completely gutted. I think id now rather get the game up and running because the pf and cab are in decent shape. I know i can get a BG resto bg but how hard would it be to find a head harness, light board, and boards? Anyone happen to have a spare head they want to part with... 
35930414-3E8F-44D1-9587-0D793B733A33 (resized).jpegB0B7A036-9B3B-4E51-9259-9FC925A4C05A (resized).jpegMy stars is in a rough shape, but I plan on getting It up running.
The cabinet is very rough, so I will probably just buy a new one.
Where can you get new stencils?
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Quoted from poppapin:I'm not in the club, but can look shit up. There's a game manual in the IPDB calling it a ball gate asm. p/n A-471
Good luck
yep - I found that too - just haven't been able to match that with an actual part that I can buy. Appreciate you looking it up though.
1 month later
Quoted from chiefbrody:does anyone in this prestigious club know what the the little doohicky is called in the shooter lane that keeps the ball from coming back down the lane that is positioned just outboard of the right side spinner?
I must have been on sabbatical when you first posted this, or might have got it to you much sooner.
Anyway, glad to get word that the one I sent you made it safe and sound.
1 week later
Quoted from desertT1:It’s set to free play though and in the few seconds I looked at it nothing stood out. Will resolve that later.
The only way it's set to free play is if it has an aftermarket board like an Altek I believe. Easy dipswitch setting to take it off free play.
Quoted from TheLaw:Yup, otherwise you just set the replay as low as you can.
Or go the old fashioned method and drop quarters in it.
On mine, somebody added a little red button on one of the plastic 25 cent things that does the same thing. It's going away though.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:No- an alltek will NOT do free play on old sterns. Low replay only option or install a doorbell.
I was wondering how long the original Stars super promoter would take to get here! Welcome!
I think though the Altek I recently put in my Stars does actually do free play. At least I think it does.
Nope, Alltek free play is only for the Bally games.
Classic Stern gets the high hard one when it comes to the free play setting O-Dizzle.
Quoted from NimblePin:Nope, Alltek free play is only for the Bally games.
Then how come I haven't had to add any credits to my Stars since I put that board in a month ago, you button pushing cowboy?
Quoted from o-din:Then how come I haven't had to add any credits to my Stars since I put that board in a month ago, you button pushing cowboy?
I don't understand this myself.
There is a new free-play ROM for stars, but it's not in the alltek.
Maybe you are just so damn good you get replays every game?
Stars rules! It has awesome code with so many nice touches that complement the addictive playfield.
I need to service mine, the drops are falling on reset. I think I'm on my 4th Stars now.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:I don't understand this myself.
To help understand, when Nimble comes over, he instantly maxes out the credits on any game I have that's easily accessible to do so. No wonder I didn't realize it wasn't on free play without looking at it a little closer. I'll leave that button on there for now.
I'm not that great as high score isn't lingering very high, but it pleases me to no end watching my kid try to beat it.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:There is a new free-play ROM for stars, but it's not in the alltek.
Yes, Nvram.weebly.com is a much better choice if you need a new MPU board and want to use the new or homebrew ROMs for your classic Bally/Sterns and not want to rely on what was already coded in the Alltek board.
Cheaper to boot too!
Quoted from o-din:you button pushing cowboy?
Yes, I did dern pushem ‘dem buttuns on dat dern Stdars. 
Quoted from NimblePin:Yes, I did dern pushem ‘dem buttuns on dat dern Stdars.
Galaxy was not immune either. I didn't take any pics the short time I had it, but it sure was lovely.
Technically speaking your wiring looks fine to that switch (pending continuity check on wire of course) so I’d start moving back to the board and check the wire associated in the molex connector and any cold soldering joint to those pins on the board.
Now on to the medium ramble for other visitors:
More often than not, a reflow of ALL header pins on EVERY board is a good habit to get into when purchasing these old solid states.
(New caps don’t hurt either.)
I’m guessing your game doesn’t desertT1 due to the free play comment but, if it also has the old battery still attached, clip it off, neutralize any acid that might have leaked and inspect board for any further damage due to the dead battery.
Good replacements:
Cheap.
1. a SuperCap memory capacitor rated at 1 or 1.5 Farads.
Not so cheap.
2. The 5101 NVRAM replacement that Rob Anthony sells here: http://www.lockwhenlit.com/products.htm
I’ve also seen some .100 connectors where each hole was completely filled with aqua green “goop” due to the expired battery.
Not too good when you’re trying to make a solid electrical connection.
Hope that helps.
I measured continuity, and that was there through the switch. I wanted to play a game, and now the switch is working. Ok, I’ll take it.
There is a phantom 10 points happening sometimes when you flip, and sometimes just because. All switches look like they are properly gapped, so still searching.
1 week later
Looking to add a nice Stars. Where is a good price to pick one up in nice shape with replacement MPU? Thx
1 month later
2 weeks later
Got a Stars for $150. Had to repair the boards, alkaline damage from the battery. Got a decent backglass from a Pinside member in Atlanta. Put in led's.
And then made my own playfield protector.
First buy the plastic :
https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-pack-PETG-CLEAR-PLASTIC-SHEET-020-24-X-48/911517885
Then I used transparency sheets to make a template.
You lay them on the playfield. Use a marker to mark where they need to be trimmed. Cut them with scissors and when happy with the fit , lay them on the playfield and tape them together.
Then trace the template onto the plastic.
Cut it out with scissors, spade drill bits, and an exacto knife.
Install and enjoy.
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I don’t own one of these machines but I thought you guys would like to know there is a Stars on display in a retro AirBnB on episode 2 of Instant Hotel on Netflix.
2 weeks later
1 month later
I just picked this game up yesterday after a pretty long search. There's some adjustments to be made, but its playing strong.
My BG is poor, and it doesnt look like there are many options for replacement.
2 weeks later
This is one of my favorite games!! I've owned mine for awhile and it is one machine that isn't going anywhere soon.
Does anyone else have a center post that was placed off center? It adds some difficulty to an already difficult machine. I watched PAPA's video of Stars and I can't do the ball transfer bouncing off of the center post because of its position.
I haven't measured mine.. maybe that's my problem. Should you be able to do that on demand from either flipper? I can bounce from left to right, but right to left seems to get hung up, even with a good nudge and some flipper adjustments.
I'm guessing each machine is different, but my post is obviously off as it isn't close to the center of the star. I doubt that Kirk planned it that way, but maybe...
Quoted from La4s:screening on the playfield is not perfectly centered.
visually, the paint looks good, the post looks off. I'd have to measure to be sure though.
Quoted from Methos:wasn't challenging enough
WoW! and I mean WoW!!
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