Thanks Todd. We always need more quick "pinball tech fixes" when things get oversighted in design, even if simple like electrical insulation protection due to lack of interrupting fuse protection. Bulletproofing games for long term protection = less frustrated people and less technical calls, especially for the latest generation of new owners unfamiliar with the board systems and voltages. You should put up a video detailed adding external fuse breakers to the GB Premium/LE models "magna-slings" to prevent future lock ons and overheating like TAF "Feel the Power", even though the SPIKE system "pulses" the high voltage in PCB design, versus tradition power means. All MET games definitely need to have them installed for the SAM system, especially if not updated to the new magnet board.
Yes...TNT Amusements has ALWAYS tried to bulletproof the games before we sell them...and thousands of games later, we continue to try to keep these older games playing!!
Nice. After TWO blown node boards, I was really upset. I was especially upset because I'm an operator in France and I have to wait for the boards to cross the Atlantic - fortunately for me, my machine is still under warranty and the importer isn't bothering me with this. I will install these foam pads at once. Thanks!
Hey Todd. I have just picked up a Pro that was manufactured in October 2016. Do you know whether Stern rectified this issue by then or should I go out and buy some foam tape etc. Cheers, all the best
Thanks for the video Todd! I checked mine last night, and it appears the factory already covered that area with a clear, rubberized tape of some sort. My build date was July if that helps anyone.
The engineers behind this machine doesn't seem to have a whole lot of experience in designing Pinball Machines because you should be well aware of historic _"board-busting"_ design-flaws. BTW Did you contacted Stern over this serious problem or are they already aware of it?
When our showroom display Ghostbusters failed, we started looking into what happened and realized that a board had smoked and called Stern to get a replacement. That new board got part of the machine running, but then we needed the trough opto boards too as they had holes in the chips after further inspection. But after replacing them, we still had many lights and coils not working. At that point (perhaps 3 weeks ago, Chas in Tech Support told us they thought they knew what was happening and told me to look at that flash lamp...and sure enough, the metal VUK assembly was very close to that flash lamp. He told me they were doing a service bulletin on it and we got all the other boards in a few days ago which solved the issue (of course we did the mod). The double sided foam tape was my idea, since its very thick. I did ask if I could do this video too, to prevent further board blowups from so many Ghostbusters out there. However, the 6 upgrades we have now done, show that metal assembly a good half inch away from the light...so its possible that maybe only a HANDFUL were assembled slightly off...but that foam will at least insure safety for all the others. Its also possible the metal bent a little from the heavy use our display model gets and that the average home play wouldn't get that to happen. But better safe than sorry!
How to fix Ghostbusters and future Stern Pinball machines: Step 1) Take your wallet and close it. Step 2) Wait until Stern stops cutting cost on everything and builds a decent, reliable machine again. Step 3) Profit?
Thanks Todd. We always need more quick "pinball tech fixes" when things get oversighted in design, even if simple like electrical insulation protection due to lack of interrupting fuse protection. Bulletproofing games for long term protection = less frustrated people and less technical calls, especially for the latest generation of new owners unfamiliar with the board systems and voltages. You should put up a video detailed adding external fuse breakers to the GB Premium/LE models "magna-slings" to prevent future lock ons and overheating like TAF "Feel the Power", even though the SPIKE system "pulses" the high voltage in PCB design, versus tradition power means. All MET games definitely need to have them installed for the SAM system, especially if not updated to the new magnet board.
Yes...TNT Amusements has ALWAYS tried to bulletproof the games before we sell them...and thousands of games later, we continue to try to keep these older games playing!!
Nice. After TWO blown node boards, I was really upset. I was especially upset because I'm an operator in France and I have to wait for the boards to cross the Atlantic - fortunately for me, my machine is still under warranty and the importer isn't bothering me with this. I will install these foam pads at once. Thanks!
Glad it helped!!
Thanks Todd- I did the fix last night- Love my GB!
:-)
Neat tip! Who would thumbs down this???? Hmmmm.... suspicions abound.
Someone who HATES helpful videos!
CUURRTTTT
Those 2 had boards blow on them before they found your vid.
I wanna see a Bone Busters Inc. pin review sometime.
Hey Todd. I have just picked up a Pro that was manufactured in October 2016. Do you know whether Stern rectified this issue by then or should I go out and buy some foam tape etc. Cheers, all the best
The machines we open now were "corrected" with a thin clear piece of mylar...NOT enough protection for sure...so fix yours!
TNT Amusements Inc thank you! Great machine, keen not to wreck half its boards
Thanks for the video Todd! I checked mine last night, and it appears the factory already covered that area with a clear, rubberized tape of some sort. My build date was July if that helps anyone.
As long as it was thicker than just tape thickness!!
TNT Amusements Inc it seemed to be, but I covered it with doublesided foam tape anyways.
Great Video! Thank you. Stern should send you a check ;-)
Thanks!!
I hope John from johns arcade sees this, he's got a ghostbusters in his collection and I'm pretty sure he hasn't done this to his yet.
I hope john didn´t the 1.11 update yet....
Send him this video!
The engineers behind this machine doesn't seem to have a whole lot of experience in designing Pinball Machines because you should be well aware of historic _"board-busting"_ design-flaws.
BTW Did you contacted Stern over this serious problem or are they already aware of it?
When our showroom display Ghostbusters failed, we started looking into what happened and realized that a board had smoked and called Stern to get a replacement. That new board got part of the machine running, but then we needed the trough opto boards too as they had holes in the chips after further inspection. But after replacing them, we still had many lights and coils not working. At that point (perhaps 3 weeks ago, Chas in Tech Support told us they thought they knew what was happening and told me to look at that flash lamp...and sure enough, the metal VUK assembly was very close to that flash lamp. He told me they were doing a service bulletin on it and we got all the other boards in a few days ago which solved the issue (of course we did the mod). The double sided foam tape was my idea, since its very thick. I did ask if I could do this video too, to prevent further board blowups from so many Ghostbusters out there. However, the 6 upgrades we have now done, show that metal assembly a good half inch away from the light...so its possible that maybe only a HANDFUL were assembled slightly off...but that foam will at least insure safety for all the others. Its also possible the metal bent a little from the heavy use our display model gets and that the average home play wouldn't get that to happen. But better safe than sorry!
Instructions unclear. Zuul stuck in ecto-containment unit.
How to fix Ghostbusters and future Stern Pinball machines: Step 1) Take your wallet and close it. Step 2) Wait until Stern stops cutting cost on everything and builds a decent, reliable machine again. Step 3) Profit?
but, but, but......
i.imgur.com/4rrRnI3.gif