At some point you're adding more points of failure which cancel out any improvements over the original failure. Revising Node 10 circuit board is really the best way forward. Just like this board being used in Godzilla, I'm sure Stern would like to have a reliable stepper motor controller board in their arsenal for future titles.

Can someone please post pics of what connector needs to be removed then soldered ?? Or should we still keep waiting for a Christmas Miracle?

Already posted last page or previous page. An entire walkthrough. Stop being so angry

In the latest Bond stream, Gomez actually took some time out from Bond to talk about the Rush issue. It is toward the end of the program. Basically, said that the issue is the bad pins in the motor area. I honestly believe that Peak-Pin is owed a huge thank you. Also, said to call Stern to get your replacement part.

It’s pretty bad that the best acknowledgment of the problem from Stern comes from Gomez on a stream. That I would have never seen if you had not mentioned it.

I'd bet this is a case by case fix, not a universal rollout of parts. I won't mess with mine unless I can get the parts here without showing I need them.

Some will not have a problem. I hope

True statement. I think the idea was that if you have this issue as in now, call Stern and have it formally addressed with a ticket number.

Curious... What is different about the connection on node 10 in Godzilla?

It probably has the correct size pins.

So for those of you that have removed the connected and joined the wires, how has the game held up? Anyone done this with a location game that might get a lot more plays than a home game? Curious about long term durability.

So far it’s been playing great on my end. It’s not on location, and it’s only about a week in but I’ve been trying to get a lot of plays on it. I’ve been encouraging my son to get plays in on it as well. If it’s going to fail again I would rather find out sooner or later.

Removable connectors are going to be WAY less reliable than a solidly soldered connection. I hope nobody is just twisting the wires together. Long term is going to be undefinable due to this was just suggested a few weeks ago.

Removing a pair of questionable connectors and a proper soldering job on the wires can only help.

Why would you be concerned about durability when the change is a connector to a soldered connection? If you are concerned 'is this the fix?' .. ok. But durability is not a concern, nor is durability of the motor+board.. as it's always doing it fine. It's the connectivity leading to failures.

We hope

Does anyone have a time stamp to George's comments about these issues in the recent stream? My replacement node is still on order, I wanted to follow up with my distro to see if my ticket with Stern will include whatever the new fix is that he references asking Stern for, or if we need to create a new ticket. I wanted to send him a timestamped link just in case he wasn't familiar with the interview/comments from George.

So far, so good here. While my machine is not on route, it got lots of play during league at my house about a week ago. No issues.

Jeff

Absolutely - I've sent Greg @ FnO an email asking if he knows anything about the additional fix and if he can see about getting it attached to my ticket, I'll update here if/when I receive it or not.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1726391965?t=00h54m22s

Sounds like you are going to have to prove you have the wrong pins....

YTMND, many thanks.

One would think node boards that lit themselves on fire would be evidence enough, but you're probably not wrong.

Can you tell the difference without extracting the pins? They look suspect on mine, right? Top crimp doesn’t touch insulation? Has solder sucked up under the insulation and made it bulge? I think I even see some solder on the black wire's pin.

Looks like surgery time tonight, one connectorectomy coming right up!

PXL_20230124_040257424 (resized).jpg

Longevity dates:

The first customer where I soldered the crimp pins was on 12/23, but we had to wait until 1/11 for the new node board. He and his son have put a lot of plays on it since then and no problems. Prior to me soldering the pins, he had blown two node boards.

Two other customers, one on 12/28 and the other on 1/6, I preemptively soldered their crimp pins. Neither had blown a node board and there haven't been any problems since. Two additional customers are scheduled in the next few weeks.

I contacted Stern twice, on 12/24 sharing my opinion of tinning (putting solder on) the wires prior to crimping the pins, and on 1/17 informing them that they are using the wrong sized crimp pins.

Gomez acknowledges pin issue on 2/2.

Photos of the difference in pins (without extracting them) is at the top of post #231. I have yet to see the correct pins being used in person or on any Pinside photo. I think all machines were made with the wrong pins.

Yes, perform connectorectomy.

Connectorectomy completed on my LE. Wires were pretty beat up on the stepper motor, so I replaced it, as well. Fingers crossed!

At 1 hour 21 minutes. He says only since machines have it. He says someone grabbed the wrong pins.

Iam being serious- Is there anyway that the Genius in this thread that has figured out the problem get a TWIPY Award ? He really went above and beyond to resolve this problem. Hopefully I will find time soon to bypass the connector this weekend and finally get Rush working %100 again. I’am still perplexed how Stern couldn’t figure this issue out sooner. Are the Techs at Stern clueless about pinball, kinda like AJ at Spooky? Gomez finally being transparent in that interview goes along way with me, I really appreciate his honesty. Fingers crossed hopefully it will work!!! Thank You all!!!

So, big lesson for those that will be receiving/have received a replacement board, fix your issues before installing/frying another board.

FUCK!!!!!!!!! My Life!!! iam sooo over this fucking pinball machine!!!! Blew another board!!!! I did exactly what I was told!!! Cut the connector out, solder the wires, removed all tie straps, checked EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Iam Done!!!!

I could hear the ramp motor make a pop noise,,, like I suspected from the beginning, I have a defective ramp motor!!!! I only got 25 plays when this BS happened back in September!!!

Iam going Insane!!!! Now my Family is making fun of me!!! They don’t get it!!

Please tell me this is just a personal message of retribution from the pinball Gods for something you did in a previous life.....NOT that the fix is fiction!!!
Also that F'n sucks for you brother.

I'd like some pics, curious

Likely bad wiring… removing tie wraps won’t fix wires already broken.

I don't think the fixes are fiction. They are definitely addressing proven problems. It doesn't mean there can't be a third problem for some people. And the elephant in the room is a lack of protection circuits on the node board.

Too bad MJK-911 is not in Colorado. I'd come over right now and look at it. But as flynnibus says, removing cable ties won't fix a broken wire. And one of the other connectors could have a poorly crimped pin. You don't need an extraction tool to look at the connector pins that connect to the node board. Just a sharp object, like a tip of an exacto knife. There are slots in the side of the connector housings and you gently push the sharp object down on the barb of the pin that holds it in, and pull out the pin.

Yes they are but they do have their best men working on it

download (resized).jpg

Photos would be good. You will probably get an answer to your problem much quicker on this thread than a reply from Stern. The positive is that you will be getting something from Stern. They are addressing the issue.