Hi folks! I'm new to this forum (member since '13, been hanging out in Hurricane Club and elsewhere a bit), but decided to start lurking/reading here as I now have a NIB LE on order from a dealer in NE, should be here in about 2 weeks. I can't wait to get started! I'd love to read through this entire forum to get as up to speed as possible before it arrives. With over 8,400 posts here and averaging about 10 seconds to read each, I figure I can be all caught up in about 130 hours! Wonder if I can do it in one sitting...LOL...! I know I'll likely have overnight sessions playing. Anyway, I'm looking forward to being an official "owner"...with all the rights and bennies thereof...!

I'm about 6 months late to this party and forum with a lot of catching up to do...but the saga begins tomorrow! Carrier called me a bit ago to arrange a drop-off time; N.I.B. #879 should be up and running...and probably confounding the hell outta me...in less than 24 hours...!

Thanks. I already ordered the Ninja scoop, VUK, and spinner protector mods about a week ago...but then got the notice that the Ninja staff is currently impaired by the wife's medical emergency with no projected delivery date. I'll fire Rush up immediately of course and keep a very close eye out for any potential damage in those areas.

Thanks for the recommendations! Lots to learn for sure...

Hi folks - getting a bit off recent topics here. How long have you waited for a warranty replacement Node 8 (or 9) board from Stern? They told me "e-mail back if you haven't received it in 3 weeks"; I've heard it can take months! I did an end-around and bought a replacement board from Nitro Pinball, had it in 48-hours! I paid twice the Stern list price ($99) but for me it was worth it to get back in business that fast. Most online retailers are simply out of stock for this item, typically at ~$130. Given that these node boards are a known weak link, I believe having a spare is essential to "operations" so I would probably have bought one at some point. And of course there's always that Murphy's Law corollary to help guide us: "If you have a spare on the shelf you'll never need it...!"

BTW - Stern's support thus far has been prompt, detailed, and valuable. The tech. support rep. worked me through a couple of issues successfully. There might be a comment to be made about the reliability of that node board, QC, etc. Underdesigned, perhaps? Or cheap components used? But the supply chain issue I might be experiencing is probably completlely out of their hands. I realize they can't stop production to send me a board.

UPDATE: Two interesting happenings yesterday. First I received the replacement node board from Stern! That was just 1 week from when it was ordered. I suppose I should install it to make sure it works. I'm giving Stern props for the quick service! Then I received notice from Nitro Pinball that they refunded $70 to my account making the price of the node board I ordered from them $129 which is what most other places are charging for it. I have no idea what prompted that refund…but I’ll take it! See post #9619. Nitro is on the (pin)ball...! Thanks Stern and Nitro...!

Hi Rush fans! Quick ? re: drum lights. I am a noob who owns an LE running 0.98. On my drum, the hour light and hand move around as expected (I still don't know what any of that means!) but nothing else. Friday evening I played a Premium and the drum on that machine had lights that were quite animated, apparently in sync with the playfield lighting of the moment. How can I get my drum lights to do the same thing? I looked through the settings and couldn't find anything related. Tks for any advice.

BTW - I will not be installing the V3 scoop protector system p/n 502-8020-00 that my distributor sent me. It looks too klugey and I have the NinjaCamp device to install when I'm ready. And at the same time I will install the "Rush Trough Kit", p/n 502-8018-00 that was sent with the V3 kit. The trough kit is apparently a new mechanical switch for the lower scoop that's on a beefed-up mounting plate. Looks important...!

Thanks! Like I said, I have a LOT to learn on this machine...it will probably take the rest of my lucid years...!

Hi again. I would like to obtain a list of all settings in the firmware that gives some description of what each does. I can't find any such information on Stern's site. If such a thing is available would you please point me to it?

I also find Stern's game rules rather inadequate for a noob lilke me. I hate to show my ignorance, but for instance what do I have to shoot to collect records so I can progress through the modes, and at the end of Working Man, how do I "clock out"? Where can I find more descriptive rules to answer questions like that?

Thanks again...?

Perfect re: "expanded rules", thank-you very much! My on-line search did not turn up anything like this!

Any additional help re: details of all the settings would be appreciated as well...!

Great reply...Thanks! I did receive a more detailed list of "Standard Adjustments 1-63" from Stern that closely matches the Adjustments Menu that appears on pg 6 in the manual. It's generic, not specific to Rush. It provides in depth details about what an adjustment does and its impact on the game. It's a Word document - if someone can tell me how to attach it to a post I will. Stern told me no such document exists specifically for Rush.

Another noob question: I seem to have lost the end-of-game score match function, where the owl flies out at you and the match digits appear. The action immediately jumps to the after game screens with past score results, etc. What setting did I screw up to cause this?

Yeah, I figured that out right after I made the post and corrected it. I "drained" the post almost immediately but obviously you got to it first. A mystery for sure. I found a number of settings that were changed and I know I certainly did not make those changes intentionally. That's in part why I have been asking for a list of settings with more detail. Some are obvious, others not so much...

Tks about "drain"...didn't know that.

I'm definitelty abnormal here (and probably elsewhere as well!) as I do not use the "Home"/Free Play modes! I like to drop the coins. All of my machines are set up to require quarters (or in one case, SBAs) to play. If I press Start with no credits remaining I get a chuckle out of hearing Geddy say "Hey, put in a loonie!" or Alex (I think) say "You have to pay to play"...! I might even install a DBA at some point if I can find one cheap enough. I grew up dropping coins - it's part of the overall experience for me! When friends are coming over to play I always remind them to bring a roll of quarters! Sometimes I accept a 6-pack in lieu, LOL. And I also like that replay "knock", real or simulated; there's something very satisfying about that sound even on an unearned match...

I'm with you on the V3 protector! My dealer sent me one and the first impression I had was that it was klugey and likely to impact game play negatively. There is no way an off-center shot could enter the scoop, and I envisioned those massive rubber bumpers causing even more SDTMs than I already have! I'm still living with the V2 "fix" that was there when I took my machine out of the box. I also have the NC device ready to go for when I decide to make the switch. At the same time I will install the beefed-up bottom scoop mechanical switch I also received...

As I was troubleshooting a Node 9 failure in my LE I found 3 separate instances of improperly inserted leads in Molex connector bodies in various places. One was in the wires from one of the lower scoop optos, another nearby (can't remember which circuit) and the 3rd was what was causing the green LED on the top of my Time Machine to be intermittent. Since then I have spot-checked dozens of connectors without finding any more instances but since this problem has been reported before by others I think it is likely wider spread than we may know. I suspect sometimes improperly inserted pins make connection long enough for the machine to pass QC but then over time through vibtation and thermal cycling they work their way loose. Shame on me for not doing it myself already but I intend to take the time needed to inspect EVERY connector in my machine - starting with those associated with Node 10 - to ensure I don't have any further "time bombs" that could cost me a board down the road. (Incidentally, there is no evidence that my Node 9 board was damaged by an intermittent connection; it has no 6-volt supply so something in that on-board circuit is defective without providing visual evidence other than the fact that the 6-volt supply LED does not light. The 48-volt LED is the only one that lights on that board.) These improperly-inserted pins are clearly a workmanship issue, whether they are manually- or auto-inserted. IMHO, Stern should be looking into this and issuing a Service Bulletin if they haven't already. I found my loose connectors by chance. How are others faring...?

I'd like to see an animated stage scene with all 3 members and Neil's rotating drum set. On queue Neil stands up and the set rotates, controlled by the playfield action. THAT I would pay $2K for. I already have >$13K invested in my LE including shipping and upgrades, what's another 15% LOL...

"You gotta pay to play" so "Put in a loonie...!"

Pins are just one of my expensive high tech hobbies. Add to that scuba, motorcycling, shooting, and flying (although that last one hasn't happened for me since when 100 LL avgas was under $5/gallon..!)

Not to get too far off topic, strictly handguns with training for personal defense...but some fun allowed! I recently spent the better part of of what the Rush topper will cost me on a Colt Python. I also own several Sig Legions. I always duck when Geddy shouts out "Shoot the ramp...!"

Sign me up...! Do you need another beta tester...? LOL... Actually, I'm qualified; I just had to build a topper for my 31-year old Hurricane! Check that forum for details...

Lemme guess - Tommy...??

Hi folks - I've been out of the loop for quite a while, time to re-engage! I got my topper installed the day after it arrived from Pinball Pro, looks and works great! Took all of 14 minutes to install and part of that time was finding a bolt I dropped on the floor, LOL. Now I have to figure out what makes the gears and pointer turn – any hints on that? (Mine move, I just don’t know what makes that happen in game play. I'm still quite a noob with this machine and know it will take me years to learn it all...LOL!) I'm now in the process of downloading V 1.11.0 so I have the latest SW enhancements to the topper operation.

I couldn’t part with the Rush bobbleheads my daughter got me that I had on top of my machine before…so I made them a “stage” that rests atop the topper! I’m going to come up with a way to provide more realistic lighting so they’re…you know…“Living on a lighted stage”…! If anyone has any idea where I could get some "model stage parts" I'm all ears...!

Rush Topper with Bobbleheads (resized).jpg

I ordered mine from my dealer, Pinball Pro. I assume many dealers, if not all, are giving preference to those who bought their Rush machine from them. I missed the boat on his first batch, but I didn't have to wait long after I expressed interest, maybe 2 weeks...

Thanks for the links! The quest begins...

LOL...! I'm more worried about them taking a faceplant on the glass. I think I have them anchored well enough but time will tell. Gameplay gets pretty aggressive here, although I do have all the tilts active...

Interesting point I asked my dealer to pass along to Stern: I think they should develop a clear dust cover for this topper, maybe removable for play. This thing will be a b*tch to clean...!

Mine is in my man cave...which because I now live alone is wherever I say it is!...but currently that's my living room. I'm not the best housekeeper but dust on my high-tech stuff gets my attention. So the environment for my machines is fairly controlled. But I have cats...LOL...!

I had seen the first one before but only a poor copy like someone recorded it at the concert, complete with lousy audio. This VH1 version is a lot better - I heard stuff I missed before. I played the poor copy I had several times for friends who were about to play my machine to explain the "Gefilter". I had never seen the second one...thanks dabear007 for posting both!

I got my lighted dice from Gameroom Mods as well as a set of their deluxe Gefilter "tubes" for on top of the time machine. Ironic that they recommended buying an extra die for the (inevitable?) failure. I did not take them up on that at the time. Maybe I should reconsider? (I actually defied my own practice of buying spares when economically feasible. There is a Murphy's Law corollary out there somewhere that says "If you have a spare on the shelf you'll never need it!") So far, so good with both of my dice...I guess it's only a matter of time...!

I'm guessing most of us allow the automatic update downloads over Wi-Fi. AFAIK that eliminates D/L'ing the wrong file. I'm working on my update now. Since I play infrequently I don't leave my machine on after I complete a session. Today as soon as I turned it on and went to Update Software I saw that it was already in the process...

Hey, any of you who have installed back box back lights, would you please post a photo of where you mounted them? Where did you route the wiring into the back box? Did you use clips or Velcro, or what? Any hints or caveats would be appreciated!

I just received my speaker and under-cabinet lighting kits from Myth Pinball. I got their "Advanced" under-cabinet kit which includes 4 light bars. I'm thinking I'll install just 2 strips under the cabinet (like their standard model has) and place the other 2 on the back box. It came with an extra (but short) wiring harness and the control box has an available separate outlet for the back box lights.

Thanks for that idea! I have some small magnets that should work perfectly for that. I assumed I would run the wiring through the topper harness hole...there's plenty of room for both. I'll have to get creative with the harness I'll have to use - the "extra" one I have is intended to extend the bottom lights, not nearly long enough for back-of-panel options. As for the bottom light strips, what you said is the plan per their instructions. They provided suitable clips for mounting.

Tks again...!

Some of us recall the days when audio was recorded on magnetic tape (reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassette) and we had "bulk magnetic erasers" used to clear a tape quickly and completely. I wonder if one of those would work to demagnetize steel pinballs?

ebay.com link: itm

Probably the same technique one had to use erasing a tape: start in close, move the demagnetizer around, then pull it away slowly with it on. If it was switched off while still close to the tape it could leave it magnetized.

Glad I could (possibly) reciprocate! You have given me some good leads as well...thanks again for those...!

I'm with you! Everytime I hear a Rush song on the radio that's also in the game I think of what was happening on the playfield last time I was hearing that song...LOL...! The real twist for me is a couple of very memorable dreams about Rush and the game...!

Echo that! I had great service from both when I had a node 8/9 board crash, and Greg got me my topper with great speed...

You made a funny...LOL...!

Hey guys - sorry to "Shanghai" the Rush forum with a question on a different machine but I need some help. Aside from my fabulous Rush LE I also own a Hurricane, so my question is directed to any of you Rush owners who also own a Hurricane. I posted my issue in the Hurricane forum but I doubt anyone will see that anytime soon. So if you also have a Hurricane or have some experience with one, please check that Hurricane forum and let me know there if you have any ideas for me. Thanks!

Returning you now to our regularly-scheduled program...!

Thanks for replying! This one...still the latest post.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/hurricane-club-comet-and-cyclone-owners-are-also-welcome/page/7#post-7679500

Just did and replied - thanks. What was described in that first link is exactly what I'm seeing. I'll check the others shortly. You da man...!