Forgive me if somebody already brought this up, but are most of the splitting cabinets on newer sterns that have the stand off protectors? From an engineering point of view, it would seem that the old style (or old style with plastic protectors underneath) would be flush up against the cabinet and provide more structure or help to prevent movement of the corners by locking everything together (even if only slightly). I realize the bolts are further down, but with a gap between the legs and the cabinet face, doesn't it make more sense that flex would be more likely to occur?

This thread started about 4 1/2 weeks ago. Seems too close to comfort for me. I know what I'd do. Wait til I know for sure that Stern has addressed the cabinet issues, hopefully with updated miters in the corner but at a minimum with updated leg brackets.

Sounds like another great reason (among many) for me to become one of Les's friends!!

Great video (even if a bit poor quality). I'm guessing someone at Stern saw this and said to themselves... "Now we have video proof that there is plenty of margin for cost savings, since cabinets are clearly being over-built these days."

Well, I'm closer to St Cloud... and I don't have a cabinet to switch out, but I do have an IJ (Wms) I'd like to restore and start with new decals for the cabinet. When is good for you and what do you like on your pizza?

Wow. This is a pinball machine. Not a delicate piece of china. This just floors me that any pinball machine would need to be treated with kid gloves. Don’t get me wrong. If any of my friends were to rage tilt on one of my pins, they’d be asked to leave immediately. But a little nudging and slapping, even with rubber feet (or on carpet like my basement) should not be a problem we should be working around.

I can’t blame you for being out on NIB Stern for now. I’m hoping they get their act together for GOTG.

Please let me be clear... I have ZERO issue with you taking these precautions. I just am sad that the quality of machines has gotten to the point where we must do this.

My first pin I acquired 12 years ago was a routed Fish Tales and built like a tank. You could drop it 3 feet from the back of a pickup (ask me how I know) and it would show zero signs that anything had happened. Try that with sparechange1974 recent AS cabinet and you would have kindling.