I made my final payment to my distributer this week for a JP Premium and they told me just today that Stern has scheduled its next production run of JPP machines for the week of July 26th.

I sure hope so as I've had mine on order since May.

In the immortal words of Thomas Earl Petty, "The waiting is the hardest part."

My JP Premium shipped from my distributor (Hemispheres) this past Wednesday (Aug 11) and is scheduled to be delivered on Monday (Aug 16th).

Hi folks,

I have a week-old JP Premium and am having an issue with the t-rex jaw not opening.

I've gone through the Diagnostics menu and set the horizontal bias as needed to ensure the head/jaw is centered directly over the ramp. When I perform the vertical test, I press the '-' button (left flipper button) and the head moves down smoothly staying centered and not contacting the ramp. When I press 'select' (green Start button), it appears the jaw starts opening but quickly snaps shut again. I went as far as raising the head up using the right flipper button and then testing the jaw again using the Start button, but the same thing happens with the jaw briefly beginning to open but then snapping shut.

I followed the detailed t-rex diagnostic/adjustment document found earlier in this thread but all it says about the jaw not staying open is to adjust the t-rex so he's not hitting the ramp. Since mine is not, I'm not sure what else I need to look at.

Can anyone help?

It just started doing it tonight. I've searched this thread and found several posts referring to inoperative jaws. I'm guessing a mechanical issue of some sort so I guess I have to do some disassembly. Not looking too forward to that.

UPDATE: I figured out the problem! One of the wires going to the optical sensor on the lower jaw was broken off. Based on what the symptoms were, I figure the jaw was trying to open but then the 'open' optical sensor reported a ball capture and immediately closed the jaw again. I buttoned everything back up and ran through the horizontal and vertical tests and everything checked good.

@superNESjoe,

Here's something you can try while waiting for your replacement.

Assuming you have both the ball and shaft removed from the machine, clean off any and all glue residue that is on that newton ball shaft as well as in the ball. Use acetone or mineral spirits; you want those metal surfaces absolutely clean.

Put the ball in the oven at about 325 degrees for about twenty minutes. At the same time, put the shaft in the freezer. What will happen is that the ball will increase in size a miniscule amount. At the same time, the cold will cause the shaft to shrink by a very small amount. I'm talking microscopic amounts.

With gloved hands (duh!), very carefully insert the cold shaft into the hot ball. Use a small hammer to lightly tap the shaft and set it into the ball.

Now put the assembly aside for half-an-hour or so until it cools down. With luck, the shaft will be fixed tightly in the newton ball.

I'm pretty sure this post will work: #530-5332-01

Where can I find a copy of the factory 1.03 code for JP premium?

I dont want any of the newer versions.

It's very easy and simple to make some playfield jacks from a scrap 2x4.

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The shaker in my machine is causing a vibration rattle during game play. Unfortunately, testing the shaker does not run it up to the same speed / intensity as during the game and I cannot induce the rattle by testing. I've tried to hunt down the rattle to no avail.

I have my shaker set to moderate use; I think I'll lower the setting to minimal use. Maybe that will cut down the rattle.