Thanks Everyone.

Yeah. FW=Firmware or Code, sorry.

I will give this all a shot. Like I said, the more ideas I have to try to systematically trouble shoot this the better so if anyone else reads this and thinks of anything, please let me know.

I will report back later this week. I think I have a few SD cards lying around that I can try as well, they should all be quality Sandisk ones.

Curious though, does anyone know if you can go back levels in "code" or have they tried it? I did see a guy who loaded the wrong code on a game so I am thinking it probably doesn't matter if you go up or down in versions.

The gate at the mystery shot has been giving me hell, the ball manages to get caught there regularly sitting on the gate and against the left wall where it can't roll anymore without some heavy nudging. In an attempt to bend the wireform to sit a bit more flush I broke it. Guessing I need to get a wire jig to rebuild this or is there on available on Marco or Pinball Life? If I get the jig to build my own what gauge piano wire do I need to get?

That looks fantastic!!
Not sure what to think of the Palpatine Sith looking guy at the end though.

not sure if you mean #11 or #12 but neither look to be in stock at marco or pinball life, unfortunately, nor does any advanced google-fu turn up anything using the part number

Screenshot 2022-04-12 125956 (resized).png

Yeah 11 is the one I'm looking at. 12 broke pretty soon after I got the machine but really doesn't affect gameplay. If I had a pair of calipers I could check the size of the gate as I still have the broken one but without it not sure what gauge I need to buy to repair.

I would check with Stern, either direct or through your favorite distributor. Many times they will happily replace things like that, even if you are out of warranty. At least, they used to. Not sure what things are like their these days. Results may vary, but it's worth asking.

Did you change balls? Premium or pro?

Good idea, I just hate relying on them since the wait time is usually measured in weeks/months and the game is on location.

It's a pro, but what would new balls do to fix the situation? The gap between the gate and the wall seemed more like something had been bent out of place but now that the gate is broken I need to solve that first and foremost.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/one-way-ball-gate-wire-gauge-question-stern-x-men-pro

does that help?

Saw that but no one mentions the gauge of the wire and just links to a preformed piece. I don't mind making my own with the jig but don't want to buy something too thick. I guess worst case I can go buy a set of digital calipers before I order the wire.

the 2nd post talked about hobby/craft shops selling the different gauges of wire, is what i was specifically hoping would be helpful. you might have to shop at retail though

Yeah I might try that route and just take the broken gate with me, use needle nose pliers to bend. The Marco site measures piano wire in 100s of an inch, an odd measurement, so not sure what size I would buy but the jig they sell for bending looks super useful longterm.

I finally got to play a Stranger Things Pro recently and really enjoyed it. I can imagine that the Premium / LE is even better. Now that these are out of production…too soon if you asked me especially with new season coming out, I know it will be hard to find one. If anyone is looking to move one out, I would consider trading my Cactus Canyon LE when it arrives that is on order for one. Please let me know if there is any interest!

Does anyone know if you can use a micro SD card in a SD adapter in the game? I am thinking it shouldn't be an issue but I was wondering if anyone has tried it? Also the SD image for ST Pre is 3.8GB, ok to use a 16GB card? It is the only one I could locate that I had on hand without ordering one.

I looked and all my extra SD cards and they are all class 4, Stern says you need to use a class 10 so I need to order one.

Stranger Things Premium Code is 3.8GBs, ok to use a 16GB one? What size do you usually use? I currently don't have access to my machine until Friday or I would look to see what was already installed.

So since I've gotten my machine NIB, I've noticed the rollover inlane and outlane for the mystery on the right side lights backwards to what the left side does. For example, the unlit lanes on the left will light appropriately (unlit light becomes lit when switch is activated) and the right side will light when the roller over switch with the light on is activated but won't count if it rolls over the unlit lane if that makes sense. During a switch test, the lanes read appropriately. Strange issue if anyone has an idea what to do. Only other issue I have is the "D" demodog target stays faintly lit at all times, but becomes brighter when it would be lit in game. Both issues have been there since I got it new. Thanks guys.

I'll try the swap, thanks Chuck. The Demodog light is for sure not experiencing bleed over, it's the first light that comes on during power-up, like it's getting too much power or something.

Some were asking about the recent discontinuation of the DarkStar 9 product. I ordered the new StarBright 9 sample to help investigate, and it seems to confirm that it's just a name change, as DarkStar 9 showed up.

Thread for anyone that missed it before (must have upgrade IMO):

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/diy-stranger-things-prem-le-darkstar-9-screen-details

Thanks! I just placed an order.

D17EA425-439E-48C4-A70F-4305F98AC579 (resized).jpeg

I love how the show keeps evolving so excited for May 27!!!

Does anyone sell this stuff precut to fit the screen and ramps?

IndieWire has a good article out about what to expect:

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/stranger-things-season-4-trailer-1234716022/

My pro from the December run had the exact same issue with the left most D light. It was always faintly lit. New led pcb from Stern was the fix.

Apparently you and I ended up with the same game with faulty Demogorgon optos and lit D's I appreciate the info!

It needs to be larger than 8. I bought a bunch of 32 gig since they were cheap

Ok. So as long as it is larger than 8GB, it should be good?

I bought a 16GB off of Amazon which was only about 1 dollar less than the 32GB but I figured it was all I needed since the code was less than 4GBs.

Code is actually 8GB and barely fits on an 8GB sd card. It's just compressed on the website. Newer machines like rush are over 10GB. But yeah, anything over 8 and a class 10 is good

Oh yeah, I didn't unzip it or anything yet. Makes sense.

Well, I desoldiered and swapped the switch wires. Now the roll over lights function as they should, but it acts as if there's a ball save as it believes the inlane was a drain on the outlane so I swapped it back to the way it was. Unless you were referring to different connections to swap? Thanks

You read it correctly. Right outlane lights when it rolls over the inlane. I haven't added any custom codes or anything just the most updated code from Stern since it arrived new. Certainly an odd issue lol I didn't see any connectors to swap.

after looking at it, that's the easiest fix known to man. Fixed the issue. Thanks buddy.

Edit: for anyone who has the same issue. Just had to desoldier and swap wires between LED boards.

Someone had an issue on Rush where 2 switches were reversed. Are you sure that wasn’t the problem?

If you post a pic of those switches under the playfield I can verify wire colors for you

This is what I first assumed when he brought it up. I had switches put in the wrong place once on a walking dead. No soldering, just moved the switches.

not sure why it looks so blue in the picture but i replaced the 'I survived '85' blanket i've been using to keep dust off the game with a pinshield and i'm really happy with it!

PXL_20220414_221711323 (resized).jpg

Looks like a giant sheet of shelf liner that is used for tool boxes.

Feels like it too

Here's a cheap alternative you can get at Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLiner-Solid-Grip-20-in-x-6-ft-Black-Shelf-Liner-with-Clorox/45743467

I bought a yoga mat at the suggestion of a pinside thread. I don't use it to keep dust off though. I use it to lay on a game next to whichever game I'm working on, so my tools and parts don't slide down the glass.

What are people's thoughts about the topper?
Was it worth it?

I can't say I like the plastic inserts inside it, but I really like the lights and the mirror effect.

Lmfao!

mine is mostly so that i can stop cleaning cat fooptrints off the glass and also since the game is in the living room, i need it to look buttoned up