A whole new issue with this ST:TNG pin i bought so i figured i'd make a thread for it.

During game play, if I lose a ball in play, sometimes the pin does not register and it begins to do a ball check...it does this two times and then eventually spits out a locked ball to resume play but the game, during game play with this new ball STILL does ball checking.

For example, during "Asteroid Threat", I believe you have 30 seconds...i lost the ball 3 seconds in so you would think the simulation would end, game would end, and spit out a new ball. Well I lost the ball 3 seconds in and the game did not stop..so figured you have to wait the entire 30 seconds for the game to register the ball i just lost...doesn't seem right but I just assumed that was the normal operation...so im standing there and the 30 seconds are up....game doesn't end..it now starts doing the ball check i originally mentioned..does this twice...then spits out a locked ball..i begin playing it but the game still continues to do a ball check...and launching probes when no balls in the launcher....all of this while im playing the locked ball it spit out...then it puts a ball in the launcher for me to shoot....i shoot it...now im playing two balls...i lose them both THEN the game ends and starts a new ball......

I lose this new ball (which is ball 3), and again the game doesn't register I lost it and carries on like its still in play..im standing there doing nothing.....then it kicks back to the ball check routine...probe launching with no balls......it spits out a locked ball again..i let the ball go to the trough and then the game finally ends.

So what now?!?!?!?!....My original thread issue and this issue all went down within the first hour of me having the dang game! I'm disappointed and frustrated.

Just did the test for trough switches...1,2,3 are open...4,5,6 are closed....trough up is closed....i then stuck my hand under playfield by trough and with the tip of my finger i grabbed the ball in number 3 position and gently rolled it past each position, 4 thru 6...and had it on test for each postion and each one opened and closed accordingly.

I played another game after the test...i played for about 5 minutes on first ball then purposely lost the ball...same o same o...game did not recognize the ball was lost, it did ball check 2 times then unlocked a ball...i let that one drop too and the game STILL DID NOT RECOGNIZE ball was lost.

I'm getting highly pi$$ed off....the kind of money i dropped on this and from the first game i played when it was in my house it has been doing this and i cant return the game...i would if i could....its givng me nothing but heartache...if i wanted to put this on location, i couldnt...if i wanted to sell it id sell it at a loss because it doesnt function properly...not that i would do either...im just saying, thus far its a lemon....all that coin and i have to work on it the first minute i got it home and still do...im besides myself over this..i cant even think straight im so pi$$ed.

I think this fixed it....i located them and just pushed on them a little to make sure they are secure....played 8 games in a row and let the ball go at various points during each game and it registered lost each time.....whew!!....thank you and everyone for the guidance....hopefully this is a permanent fix.

Look..i have an arcade in my home...17 arcades (1977 to 1984) 5 pins (1979 to, now, 1993)....and every single game i bought i had to fix after purchase, which i didnt mind doing..i LOVE working on them....i have 2 pins (diamond lady, space shuttle) and 12 arcades that are all projects...i knew what i was getting into when i bought them......but this time i decided to treat myself with a good, clean solid game one time and something i did not have to work on immediately...i know in time things break down but this pin is immacualte and from a respectable source....i wanted something really nice and it is the crown jewel of my one car garage arcade..and by far the most expensive game i own..without question...(i actually feel guilty and stupid for spending that kind of money on a game)....and to get it home and IMMEDIATELY have issues with it just sent me over the edge...the whole purpose was to take a game home and NOT have to work on it in the first 5 minutes through my door.....it killed my morale, ya know....if i spent $500 on it, ok i can handle it...but i dont want to buy a ferrari and the next day have to bring it in for maintenance, know what i mean?

And btw...incase you were worried all issues are fixed, they r not.....heres another that just started this eveing after i (hopefully) fixed the ball not registering

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/star-trek-tng-left-probe-launcher-keeps-activating-after-launch#post-3974929