Just the one on the right.

Sorry you think that. Unfortunately, this belief will just make it harder for you to fix your game.

Cool. I'll start with that one. It's a lot easier to get to than the one on the left.

I swapped the opto driver board and all 4 transceivers in the magnet area between tx and rx and that seemed to help. one thing I noticed is the left flipper up to right ramp skill shot didn't seem to score every time, either that's a similar opto issue or the window on the shot is very small and you need to plunge a fast orbit to make the shot in time. anyone know the rules on that skill shot?

Are you referring to the skill shot when you hold the left flipper button before plunging? If so, this skill shot is not always the right ramp. I believe it's random between the left ramp, the drop target/Vengeance, and the right ramp. The shot is illuminated by a quickly blinking Enterprise insert. It's timed, and you have to hit it before the light goes out.

Update:

I replaced the lower right transceiver board with a new one. I was able to get to it by only removing the plastic above it and the Black Hole target (see photo). It was still a pain in the ass to swap, though, as there isn't enough room to maneuver a screw driver between the opto and the pop bumper. Unfortunately, the new opto did not make the problem go away. I then replaced the opto board under the playfield with a new one. This actually made the problem worse. The second ball now sticks to the first ball every time. I have to say, this whole situation is very frustrating indeed. I know some people's games are working perfectly, but I'm still convinced this problem is partly caused by a software glitch.

P1060464.JPG

Sorry to hear that. This is one very strange problem, indeed.

Has stern said anything to you guys about this? I just ordered one should be here next week getting worried now .

This is not a software problem. So what all have you done and why did you think to replace the opto?

My machine is totally fine. Rarehero's is fine. I've only played one machine that has an issue, there's no saying how widespread it is, I wouldn't worry until after you see a problem. If so I'm sure it's fixable.

I told Chas what my problem was, and this is how he suggested to fix it. Granted, I didn't try replacing the left board yet. It just seems like such a pain in the ass to get to that board.

Does the opto work in switch test? If they do I doubt changing out the boards will do anything.
I would take a closer look at the connectors to the opto boards under the playfield.
This is very strange how it happens to some but not all. So it can't be a software issue?

The opto works perfectly in switch test, always has.

Not surprising, the problem seems to be tied to the optos + the flippers. As has been tested, they nominally work, but with erratic behavior for some when the flipper is held up. So the defect may not manifest itself until the circuit is under load for instance. Did you verify that you have that same issue with the glass off?

When I got my NIB Pro after set up and everything was checked I started a game - when I hit the flippers it registered warp 1,2,3 etc without even hitting the ramps with the ball.. Traced down to opto on warp ramp rear - loosened screw a bit and problem gone. Was picking up vibration on ramp and triggering opto with flipper engagement

Yes. Just like before, it works almost 100% of the time if I throw the second ball up there with my hand or trigger the opto with my finger.

If thats the case… I wouldn't change out the opto's too much of a PITA for no reason.
Not really sure how, but I'm not eliminating software issue???
I know some machines don't have this problem and some do so it doesn't make sense.

If it was software they'd all have it. Something physical...board related, opto related, wiring related must be at play here.

Put into switch test & thump the playfield & see if any switches activate.

Diodes?

I am at a loss

Replaced opto's , boards
Ball two still gets stuck on magnet ?
Even a third ball if you put it there

Stern has no answer to this problem
I played several machines from others
Some had same issue some didn't

Send me to the twilight zone ??

I'm curious, did you try that glass off test, where you roll the balls up by hand or break the opto with a pencil or something, no flippers involved? Might help to verify your issue is tied to the flippers like other people's seem to be.

Try putting "new" balls in… maybe the old ones are magnetized now?
It really is a head scratcher.

I was experiencing the same problem with mine almost every time. I adjusted the pitch (raising the back legs). Now I've only had the two balls stick once in 50 or so plays. Hope this helps

I am going to increase incline on the pin and put a fresh set of PL Shiny pinballs in the ST

Let us know if this helps.

When this happens, does you game also score points when you flip? Mine does.

When you clip is it operating the warp ramp opto ??

I have been following your issue . Read every post. I really love pinball. Been collecting for almost 20 years. I am just not technically inclined period. I did all the The Avengers LE adjustments. BW ramp shim , BW ramp plastic shim. Stabled the shooter lane plastic. I did All the X-Men adjustments had all ramp post changed to have rubbers sleeves PITA. Wolverine Remount major PITA. I was planning on purchasing a ST Premium or LE if I can find one in Colorado. But I do not want to deal with this drama. I have never played the game as of yet. How bad is this issue as it pertains to the actual game play. I am a perfectionist . I know it would bother me. The Avengers HULK ball hang =ups I got over them . Ice Man ramp blocking my view dealing with it. Does this ST Vengeance muliball hang up affect the game play so much that it ruin's the game so much that it has to be fixed. Or is it more of an annoyance in the way that The HULK toy would cause ball searches. I just do not know a lot about ST . My point is can you live with it. If so I may still Purchase ST . Or does it ruin the game if not fixed. If that is the case. I do not want to roll the dice and will just not pursue the purchase of This title. Thanks for your input.

No. There are no animations or callouts. The score just goes up every time I flip. If it was activating the Warp Ramp opto, wouldn't it be saying, "Warp 1, Warp 2, etc ..."?

It only appears to affect the beginning of Vengeance multiball, but it affects it in a pretty major way. Normally, the first ball is captured by the magnet, and then you have a limited amount of time to shoot a second ball up the middle. If you do this before the timer expires, you are rewarded with a third ball. When the opto fails to trigger, the second ball sticks to the first one until it times out. Both balls then get released, but you get screwed out of the third ball. You don't have to be a perfectionist to find this unacceptable.

Yes - reason I ask is I had that problem and the rear warp ramp optos were picking up vibration and needed adjustment

Gweem- quoting myself from earlier in the thread. He had similar issues to what you are talking about. He had a tech come out and work on several things. Stern paid the invoice from the tech. (Or something along those lines) His ST has been working great ever since.

PM me and I'll give you my buddy's information.

It's not a magnetized ball issue on RVDV's game....it doesn't recognize that you hit the captured ball - that's why it gets stuck...because the captured ball is still captured.

RVDV - now that you've replaced all that stuff, what happens in switch test? Do those optos work normally in switch test?

Help me out. What is a RVDV's game ?

The game that belongs to rvdv aka Robert, which happens to be a Star Trek LE.

If no dots or sounds, I assume you can see the points being scored. How many points are being scored each flip? That's your clue.

Also, have you put the game in switch test and pounded on the playfield?

I'm out of town right now. When I get home, I'll do some experimenting.

Hi all

I have done some more follow up reading more tips

With the pencil test , game releases first ball and start 3 ball mutliball
No extra scoring when ball 1 is locked and flipper gets pressed before doing the pencil thing

Now in normal game play, shooting the ball in, 2nd ball gets stuck on magnet as well
ones ball search comes both balls are released and no 3 ball mutliball ( arrgggghhhhh)

Looks to me the timing needs to be faster between opto reading and magnet ball release

Hate to say it but its the speed of my balls going into it that they get stuck

any comments ?

I'm not sure what the fix is, but it's still abnormal. Mine will release the captured ball & give you the 3rd whether the ball goes in super fast or super slow.

It's a mystery for sure.
Yours is the only one I played so far that
Is playing correct

You lucky devil

Strange problem. Mine works as it it should so can't offer any further suggestions.

mine is working, I sometimes get a slight flicker off if the opto is interrupted and flippers are flipped. no false switch hits if the optos are not already interrupted... this is with a new opto driver board.. I noticed I scored vengeance points flipping before the drop target let go. confirmed in switch test

It couldn't have anything to do with installing a cliffy around the magnet could it? Mine worked fine until I installed the CLiffy, I'm sure it's just a conincident?

Just got my game today and it does it everytime so far

Does what? Work correctly or stickyballs?

Don't know if this is related to the problem I was having, but on a different board? -
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-star-trek-summary-of-fixes/page/2#post-1523924

Sticking everytime

Too many people are having this problem. Stern really needs to re-engineer SOMETHING so that this doesn't keep happening to people right out of the box.

How have they not addressed this yet? Are you guys just living with it or calling Stern?