Quoted from TractorDoc:That is an easy one. Sell me the Big Game, then you can start the Lightning.
Trade you for the Nine Ball 
(Topic ID: 151481)
Linked Games
Lightning
Stern Electronics, 1981
Topic Gallery
3 weeks later
Laval, QC
7 months later
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Can someone measure their small triangles I forgot to measure before I left and trying to place an order on lunch
1 week later
I yanked all the small triangle inserts to straighten them out, all 20 were warped where both ends were poking up significantly. The ball was even sometimes getting hung up and stuck behind the yellow one by the right lock hole. And the ball going 'rat-tat-tat-tat' when it rolled over a row of them, finally got fed up with it. Had the game 20+ years and it has gradually progressed from not noticeable to bad.
Pushed them out after heating from underneath with hair dryer for 20 seconds. Then with gloves on I used the dryer for 30 seconds on high on each one and then carefully flexed them to straighten them out by eye, then tested for fit. If they were still a little high anywhere I sanded the bottom a bit and reglued them making sure while pushing down the edges that they were flush with the pf all around before letting the glue set. The round ones are cupped a little so I will probably flatten them later but they aren't poking up like the arrows were.
162823691_453423005939585_1669062095341611706_n (resized).jpg
1 week later
3 months later
I just joined the lightning club, it’s in pretty good shape but I’m still gonna do a full restore
The triangle inserts are lifting but very very little playfield wear
I’ve got a question, once I get the inserts sorted and the playfield touched up
Do I remove the plastic piece that covers the bonus counter and clear coat the field or do I leave in place and clear coat over it?
New to the restorations but did a baby Pac-Man and really enjoyed it
Quoted from Templewd:I just joined the lightning club, it’s in pretty good shape but I’m still gonna do a full restore
The triangle inserts are lifting but very very little playfield wear
I’ve got a question, once I get the inserts sorted and the playfield touched up
Do I remove the plastic piece that covers the bonus counter and clear coat the field or do I leave in place and clear coat over it?
New to the restorations but did a baby Pac-Man and really enjoyed it
The previous poster shows the window removed, that definitely looks like the way to go. You can raise the window up a bit afterwards to be at same level as the playfield (since now the clear would make it a little bit higher) by shimming it up with more foam or felt, similar to how Black Hole uses little soft round washers at each screw hole, under the window.
Quoted from frenchmarky:The previous poster shows the window removed, that definitely looks like the way to go. You can raise the window up a bit afterwards to be at same level as the playfield (since now the clear would make it a little bit higher) by shimming it up with more foam or felt, similar to how Black Hole uses little soft round washers at each screw hole, under the window.
I’ll go that route
I wasn’t to comfortable with clear coating the window
But I haven’t done one of these yet I thought it better to ask
Thanks guys!
1 month later
Just got a Stern Lightning again after 8 years ago having a project game that I never got to play before selling down collection before moving. I made a set of blue triangle inserts by hand way back then and posted topic covering it… now refreshed. So I took out all my tools and materials and made a second set today. Enjoy
0F11E58E-D6A4-47C7-91CB-A06544FAC7FE (resized).jpeg473E2C31-6AB5-4ACD-8BBB-4BB0321F0D8E (resized).jpeg66CE2283-E701-4947-A368-82E2750B5CCE (resized).jpeg68ABBD86-08B9-414E-9ADC-D120CC9F1D88 (resized).jpeg6ECA7009-66C4-4067-92C7-EA61E2806299 (resized).jpeg92FDB877-876D-4EF3-AE7C-4F8D5A84F466 (resized).jpegB88E32CC-1266-4BAE-AB6F-8E2512F4EDF5 (resized).jpegBC397D0F-DA7E-426F-96A7-615F9450C7B5 (resized).jpegBF813495-4BCB-494A-9EF1-A00AB9BB19CC (resized).jpegC7267EAF-FB59-488B-B9B6-CF54A6115EDC (resized).jpegF3090973-80D9-486F-9144-35D2973518FD (resized).jpegF474C009-3DDB-4E02-AC0F-14DFE10393BD (resized).jpegNice job. I'm going to draw up a dfx file for the panel cutter at work when I get around to restoring mine. I was thinking of engraving some flutes on the underside also to see who it looks.
That's some nice work there Hyperion and Steam. My winter project is to work on the inserts on mine. The blues are really bad right now. I just got mine Lightning in July so right now just enjoying the summer playing it like crazy (I had one 30 years ago). Thanks for the inspiration...
That cabinet looks terrific btw. Don't think I have ever seen such a good looking cabinet on a Lightning before. I am jealous....
-jeff
Ok so another pinsider has asked me to cut them 2 inserts and I’ve agreed. I did this once 8 yrs ago for another pinsider. Anyone who needs a set it’ll be $20 plus 5 shipping for a set. I’ll cut close to my outline but leave it to be finish sanded by you as I’ve found each game is different slightly. Message me to order
I was going through the packet inside my Lightning, and found two interesting items pertaining to the game.
The game card (warranty card?) that came with the machine:
SEI Game Card - Lightning.pdf
And an early edition manual. The game had test game reports in it too, so it must have been an early one before the manual was released.
Lightning Early Manual.pdf
Note: Click on the image (pdf) to see all the pages of it.
Quoted from djblouw:I was going through the packet inside my Lightning, and found two interesting items pertaining to the game.
The game card (warranty card?) that came with the machine:
[quoted image]
And an early edition manual. The game had test game reports in it too, so it must have been an early one before the manual was released.
[quoted image]
Note: Click on the image (pdf) to see all the pages of it.
Sweet!!! Can't wait to get it!! 
)))
3 weeks later
Link to video of Lightning lighting mod walk thru https://www.facebook.com/groups/BallySternPinball/permalink/924682658230708/
959FC91E-5BA4-470F-A12A-922F0BB70DB7 (resized).jpegGood to know: slochar is busy tweaking the software for Lightning. The game will finally be relieved of the annoyance of balls re-locking immediately. That and other tweaks.
Follow the progress and send your suggestions here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/software-mods-for-classic-stern-games
4 weeks later
Clear coated
QUESTION THOUGH: can anyone send me pictures of the metal guides/placement underneath the top right hand corner of the pf? That is, where you plunge and it goes to the upper pf. I'm not sure how to assemble the metal peices as I mistakenly forgot to take pictures..
20211101_214855 (resized).jpg20211101_214900 (resized).jpgNice work on that playfield. I need to do mine at some point.
Wasn't sure what exactly would help you so here are some that I got for you:
IMG_20211102_174619829 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_174627346 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_174634616 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_175150351 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_175200289 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_175204896 (resized).jpgIMG_20211102_175218786 (resized).jpg
jwalrath This does help thank you!
I now made a mistake. The end of stroke tabs on the left flipper were all touching together (not sure how) and when I flipped the left for the first time it blew the fuse, sparked the cabinet switch and smoke came off of the cabinet switch. I then unbent the tabs so they aren't touching, replaced the fuse and I flip and smoke came off the cabinet switch again. The cabinet switch looks white and black so im getting it replaced. The right flipper works amazing. New flipper rebuilds on all 4 of them. Was my mistake shorting them out.
So my theory,
I think I shorted the switch, or it was already f'd and I f'd it even harder cause the tabs were all shorted together, current goes back up to the switch and causes it to smoke and spark and blow fuse ?
Also, can someone send me a pic of the wiring for the lower left flipper coil wiring? Just want to triple check my work now. Thank you!
Added over 2 years ago:-fixed issue
Quoted from SMP14:Finished
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Wow, that looks amazing. You did a great job, and fast too!
Keep up the good work.
2 weeks later
Quoted from djblouw:Wow, that looks amazing. You did a great job, and fast too!
Keep up the good work.
Thank you! Onto the next one....Gorgar
2 weeks later
Do playfield protectors happen to be available for Lightning? I've already checked www.playfield-protectors.com but wasn't sure if there was another source for these.
1 month later
I bought my Lightning in 2015, but didn’t officially join the club here until this weekend. It took me that long to move it up to the front of the project queue and finish it. I was originally planning to sell it, but after a few days of playing it I think it might be a keeper. I’ve put about 40 hours into it, so that also motivates me to hang onto it. Such a fast, fun game.
2 weeks later
2 weeks later
Quoted from hockeymutt:8 coats of clear, all new inserts. Touch ups and airbrushed inserts
[quoted image]
[quoted image][quoted image]
What did you use for clear??
Is anyone using a Wolfpac LED for the playfield display? I am having a problem where the #5 and #6 digits are ghosting but no issue when plugged into the harness without the interface board wanted to see if anyone else has run into this problem.
1 week later
I'm finishing up not one but TWO Lightning restorations, and the first is fully reassembled and flipping (huzzah!)
Only problem is, I got no speech. The primary sound board is working, and it has the jumper modification called for in PinWiki. The speech board is the new Glodstone one, and it works when I use its built in self test. But when I start a game, nothing. I'm stumped! Would welcome input.
Quoted from sethbenjamin:Download these if you want a set for your machine:
[quoted image][quoted image]
Nice! I like how the style compliments/matches that of the machine itself.
Is it an idea to add a drop shadow to the font? A con of a busy background like this one is that it makes the instructions quite hard to read.
Quoted from Jappie:Is it an idea to add a drop shadow to the font?
You're reading my mind. Here ya go:
Apron card (resized).jpgrule card 1 (resized).jpgQuoted from sethbenjamin:I'm finishing up not one but TWO Lightning restorations, and the first is fully reassembled and flipping (huzzah!)
Only problem is, I got no speech. The primary sound board is working, and it has the jumper modification called for in PinWiki. The speech board is the new Glodstone one, and it works when I use its built in self test. But when I start a game, nothing. I'm stumped! Would welcome input.
This was from an old RGP post maybe it will help.
If you have regular sound, it's not the J5 ribbon cable to the sound
board. The sb-300 sound is programmed completely differently from the
speech board - there's only analog sound going from the speech board to
the sb-300, no digital data stream. The speech board is activated by
the game storing data in the lamp registers and toggling the lamp strobe
#2 (which is why the data cable for the speech board comes from the lamp
board)
If your speech board data cable is the IDC variety, build a new one with
.100 housings instead. Also, if there's any black crud on the chips on
the speech board, pull the chips and scrape it off.
Quoted from sethbenjamin:I'm finishing up not one but TWO Lightning restorations, and the first is fully reassembled and flipping (huzzah!)
Only problem is, I got no speech. The primary sound board is working, and it has the jumper modification called for in PinWiki. The speech board is the new Glodstone one, and it works when I use its built in self test. But when I start a game, nothing. I'm stumped! Would welcome input.
Another possibility would be the fuse. The original speech board shares a fuse with the General Illumination, however strange that may sound.
So, something else to look at is: does your GI work?
Update:
The MPU in the machine with no speech is a 2017 Weebly. I swapped in a 2021 Weebly board I had in the shop, and now it seems to work fine.
I’m hoping Barankandl has some insight/a workaround for it. The owner has a big collection and can probably swap out an Alltek from one of his other machines, so not a big problem, but it’s weird. And knowing that the speech is triggered from the lamp board further muddies the picture, but I guess all that stuff is still process by the MPU…at any rate, got it working!!
Quoted from sethbenjamin:The MPU in the machine with no speech is a 2017 Weebly.
Check the back of the Weebly 2017 MPU board where pin 11 of the J4 pin header is. Likely it's missing the Speech Busy Interrupt signal trace. If so, on the back of the board jumper a wire from it to pin 18 of U11. This missing signal trace was resolved sometime in 2018.
Quoted from Quench:This missing signal trace was resolved sometime in 2018.
Oh wow - thanks!! Will give that a look today!!
I have some board experience, but it's limited...I'm totally fine running a jumper wire but am not able to identify which pin is #18 on U11. Are those counted form the "indented" side? and am I using the top or bottom pin?
Quoted from sethbenjamin:I have some board experience, but it's limited...I'm totally fine running a jumper wire but am not able to identify which pin is #18 on U11. Are those counted form the "indented" side? and am I using the top or bottom pin?
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