LE 202. Hard to see due to lighting but def have pooling occurring by our Lair shot and down by the drain. Apron is too tight down there and digging in. With further inspection we now have chipping in the lair area. Not significant but def frustrating....

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Perfect pics. This is exactly what’s happening to my jp2 from June 2020. Unreal.

I had something similar with my bm66. It never chipped but did eventually by the penguin shot. Told myself I’ll never buy a nib again but I ended up with an Tmnt Le. Luckily it’s just the diverter issue for me that I fixed. I’m sure we will see more with pooling big and small

Thanks very much for sharing. Bad news but at least we know what to expect. That is just shit.

Anyone heard what they are half ass building this week? Pro or premium?

This is why this sh*t will never change.

Sorry man, no offence, but people are walking into this with eyes wide open at this point.

It’s a shit show man. My JP2 LE and NST LE don’t have this so why do they keep regressing on this? Have you emailed Stern?

I’ve been lucky - last ten LEs have had none of this chipping or pooling. My GB had the ghosting stern swapped though playfield. I just don’t understand why after appearing to have it resolved we see it again. Who runs manufacturing? time we had his head as a bash toy!

I really think the environmental angle of what the heat/humidity is when the playfields are made may be the key since there's no climate-controlled enviroment for the playfields to cure.

How do other guys make playfields? Like CGC, same conditions as STERN.

Maybe they allow more cure time? Dunno.

CGC are still using the same method. They are still silk screening their playfields. No problems there!

It could be as simple as adjusting the mix of the clear coat. If it is a 2-part auto clear, they sell different activators for different ambient temperature ranges. But it really seems to me that the high humidity is being soaked in and not allowing the clear to cure. It may be dry to the touch, but it is still elastic enough to deform from pressing playfield hardware against it. At a bare minimum, they need to climate control wherever the playfields are being sprayed at, and wherever the raw/finished playfields are being stored. This is not exactly a life-altering expenditure for a company like Stern.

CGC do not have climate control and they do not have these issues. GCG are also located in the same city as Stern.

But again, perhaps they are allowing more time to cure.

Very true...CGC isn't pushing 4 or more titles a year out. I am wondering if these playfields are run through any kind of curing oven, or is it just an air cure? Obviously the companies that have it figured out have a vested interest in NOT showing Stern how they do it. I still maintain that whatever clear system Stern uses is not compatible with their environmental conditions, or is not being adjusted to those conditions at the time of application. I am going to talk to a friend of mine who is in the automotive paint sales biz to see what his take on it is.

It is a different process as far as I as m aware. GCG make their playfields the same way they have always made them. Remember when we used to buy Sterns before 2016 and the playfields were great?. that is where they came from, Chirchill.

I am no expert on the clear or the clear process or playfield manufacture. You guys are way more switched on than I am with that. I only know what I saw in the factory.and what we have at home. The CGC playfields are very nice.

Pros ship this week. Probably all have issues too if JodyG is right about heat and humidity in factory. It’s been hot and humid for weeks. I am two hours away from canceling my pro and not happy about my JP.

If those are the servos they’re using for the glider, you guys better stock up on some spares - they used those on Spookys AMH, and I burnt through a couple in the first month. Mind you it was on the ghost and it got a lot of work. Not sure how much work the glider gets, but it looks heavy for that servo.

And those Playfields......

Ffs Stern. Really?

Imagine a location game. That button is active most of the time so players will just sit there and hit it over and over again. It will get lots of work for sure.

No worries, my tmnt is good so it was worth the gamble. They definitely have a lot to work on to get defects down

Probably a good choice. Looking back, any pin I had clear issues with were summer builds.

There are other standard size servos out there that would be better replacements. But you need to be careful with some of them, as they may draw too much power and burn out whatever is powering them. I would determine what the actual failure is- gears or the internal motor. If it is the gears, just finding a standard metal gear servo isn't going to cost much money. If it is the motor stalling and burning out, well...that is more expensive and you really have to watch current draw if you go to a brushless model. My guess is they have this servo set up working against the endpoints, and the servo is constantly trying to push its way to the full endpoint and burning itself out. In the RC world, you have settings to dial the endpoints back...not an option here unless they can code that in somehow.

But every LE is already made? So if you try to find one you're taking a gamble?

Lol Turtles is the #1 pinball game of all time now apparently

So, trying to follow these instructions. Two pictures. First picture is with plastic removed to see area. I put temporary foam until I can get a more permanent solution. Like others, I had scratched ramp in my LE before even playing. Second picture is back of playfield backboard. See my picture of the back of the playfield. I assume you have to remove the coil assembly to get to the nut to tighten? Anyone else do this and had success? Any other tips on how to do this? Thanks.

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LE #349 reporting in with a build date of July 14th. The pizza spinner is very loud even with the glass on so something needs to be done with it. The goody bag seems sparse of content just like my EHOH.

Rob

Who posted the link to those upgraded servos? I can’t seem to spot the post although I do have my kids demanding my attention so there’s a good chance I’ve glanced past it half a dozen times.

So...

There's a pandemic

Locations aren't seeing much play

Operators aren't buying much lately

Collectors are losing confidence in Stern

The line was shut down for months

I won't pretend I know Stern's business or be all doom & gloom but I sure wouldn't want all the above factors in my shop.

You can tell a lot of the employees @ Stern love pinball. They probably aren't a fan of what's happening right now. I bet they worry a bit.

TMNT looks cool. I'm still following the game's progress with excitement. But I'm not gonna buy one. No more drama is needed in my life.

Good luck to those moving FW with their order knowing the risk of issues & lack of respectful resolutions.

Here you go..

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU7TQV8

I can deal with the mechanical issues... even the nodes failing. But, after seeing the playfields, I'm really leaning to cancelling my premium. I went through this shit with my Ghostbusters and it sucked. Don't need to deal with that again. I thought this was resolved.

Oh well, looks like JJP will get this sale instead.

Sucks cause I really wanted this title. I think my kid wanted it even more than me.

Yep my premium will probably b a nice used huo one down the road as I don't feel like taking a gamble.

Most new pins hit #1 it will fall to its appropriate place before long.

Every disti I've spoken with is sold out of almost everything and backordered on everything else. Stern can't make enough to meet demand currently. I've been debating cancelling my order but the truth is there is a line of people waiting behind me hoping I do.

I mean if I remember correctly none of these hit the top 10: STh, Munsters, GotG, BKSOR, or Elvira. If it ships with really bad code it will take forever to move up.

If it has decent code with great art and theme then it will start in the Top 10 until a bunch of people rate it 1/10 because they own something else in the Top 10.

Rinse, Repeat.

Yep, 3 distros i talked to has said the same that stern is back ordered on any popular pin and used sterns are selling at an all time high very quick. I got offered more for my Deadpool than I paid NIB. I love DP and didn’t sell because you can’t get another one nib for a while. If you want a Munsters or black knight you can get those nib but Deadpool, tmnt and JP are on back order from what I was told.

Regarding the playfield issues without knowing exactly what is happening in the manufacturing process none of us can know for sure what the causes are and Stern (or any company) will not be transparent about their failures or short comings.

I'm not in the Stern fan club although I do like many of their games. I also own a TMNT Pro.

I am familiar with manufacturing in general from conception to production, the upstream and downstream dependancies, and what gets affected by even the most minuscule of changes. Not to mention the after production support and warranty side. So sometimes reading suggestions and what it would cost to make improvements doesn't really mean that is the total expense considering how widespread that minor change may have effects.

Regardless, if they haven't made changes already they should and if the changes they have made are yielding these results than they are insufficient and more is needed.

I think the majority of members assumptions on temp/humidity as well as clear coat properties (type, activator, etc.) are definitely in the right ball park and are supported by the data. If what we have gathered as a group is accurate and the Pro playfields where made for an anticipated March release when the factory was closed than the time the factory sat idle allowed those playfields enough time to cure and is why we see so few problems with pros. Now that the factory is open and they're churning these machines out at a high rate is perhaps why we are seeing playfields that haven't had a chance to adequately cure before they are populated.

If this is true and the culprit is the sheer volume of machines being produced without proper time for things to cure then no matter what changes are required to remedy this it will incur costs. Not to mention manufacturing and workflow process changes (which equates to costs).

Maybe more time in a curing oven (if they have one), a different clear coat formulation, maybe adopting a different manufacturing technique more like the liquor industry where the products being packaged for sale are from the batch made "x" amount of time ago and has had a designated amount of time to cure? Not sure and I'm not sure how that will affect the bottom line at Stern.

The reality of all this is however that no matter how much everyone complains here if everyone keeps buying the machines there is no incentive for the manufacturer to change anything. Why change, they'll just buy it and complain.

If we are to affect change then we must stop buying, convey our concerns to Stern's distributors, and THEY have to tell Stern I will not carry or sell your products unless something is done because I can't sell them. Which also means, we can't buy new machines when they're announced, we have to be patient. If the money is affected then that's what gets people's attention.

Otherwise, we're all going to continue to get these pooling playfield issues, which by the way, from a metrics perspective might not actually be a "problem" to the manufacturer. This sort of a thing could be an acceptable margin in their manufacturing process.

I don't think Stern is an evil company, they're just a for profit organization trying to remain a profitable organization which is currently, at least by volume, the leader in the industry.

I appreciate these companies being here in the US and employing people in the US to build these machines. I will continue to support our domestic products as long as I can just like I keep using the post office because everyone needs a job to provide for their families.

I would like to see Stern not only be the largest in the industry but the best.

Sorry for the rant.

They are also putting out the best games (by far) they they ever have...

Are premiums trickling out yet? Pretty please?

Here's the reality. A large portion of the home buyers aren't on Pinside. They have no idea about playfield and quality control issues or what the real value of these games are worth. They will call a distro, ask whats available, and buy something from that list. For people on Pinside these issues have been well documented but we keep running to buy every game, and accessory they sell to us. Honestly speaking i don't know how people can spin the NIB lottery, get burned and think the next purchase will be any different.

can anyone tell me how to get the krang max combo ? this was the only thing that i need.

for pro modell: is the use of the button on the lockbar only for ball launch and pizza eating ? i see it sometimes flashing during multiball, but not sure if it do something ?

To max the Krang combo you have to hit the inner loop three times before hitting the collect on the middle ramp all within a time limit.

Yes on the pro model, the button on the lock bar just does what you describe.

You need to hit the Krang loop 3 times and then hit the center ramp to collect the max krang combo. It does not have to be in one combo. I have not timed it out but you have a few seconds to hit the loops before it restarts.

I finally took some time to open my turtle pro.
I have levelled the pizza, as it was not perfectly aligned. Two bolts are there for that purpose.
That's really better now.
I've also added a piece of mylar to the launch entry as some marks appeared.
Game is fast, brutal but it's getting better.
The only things I did not succeed was to move the post on the right outlane, I was able to remove the bolt, but after that, it was too tight to unscrew from playfield..
I think the pinball is saying to continue my training and not choose the easy way

I hear ya loud & clear

Just wondering if the removal of many operators from the buying pool, a shut down line & disgruntled home buyers may reach uncomfortable levels.

Time will tell

All Stern has to do is fix their QC and I'm in. My whole line up is Stern. FOMO does not overpower my QC concerns at the moment.

Agreed. That's why I'm so bummed. I want new cool shit. JP looks so damn good. TMNT really speaks to me. Rumors of James Bond & Bill n Ted really get me fired up too.

so, I contacted Stern about the van diverter issue. They said engineering is working on a fix and to check back next week. So, it sounds like a more formal fix is coming for LE/Prem folks.