New stern pinball problems

[pinball god]

Seeing the newest game I have is now 12 years old and I know how much maintenance these require, I was wondering whether the newer sterns say 2005 vintage onwards have similar problems. Are they possibly more reliable than the last Williams etc or are they starting to breakdown more and more. Or do they tend to fail quite early in their life?

[pinnies4me]

Going to be hard to judge - most mid-90's B/W games saw arcade life, so much higher risk of abuse and potential number of games making them more "used". More and more Sterns are sold new to home use, so it'll be easier probably to find nice examples down the track, and we may not see much in the way of Sterns from arcade type use. Interesting question.

[pinball god]

Yep agree but maybe nib owners might give us an indication of how much trouble free time they have had. I'd love to have one game that i could have confidence that it will work perfectly every time I turn it on.

[Dirty daz]

most of mine are trouble free,  the lotr gold had issues straight from the box  all good now home use machines have way less use = less problems
What are u looking at??

[Greg]

Going to be hard to judge - most mid-90's B/W games saw arcade life, so much higher risk of abuse and potential number of games making them more "used". More and more Sterns are sold new to home use, so it'll be easier probably to find nice examples down the track, and we may not see much in the way of Sterns from arcade type use. Interesting question.

Ive had my T3 about 8 years NIB
lifted the PF once to do work on it,  resolder a coil

IM worked one it one  pop bumper issue

CSI   worked on it twice  skull ramp and a opto problem

Spidey  never worked on it

TSPP (gone) worked on a flipper problem once

compared to myWms bally games-   the sterns are almost problem free
(keep in mind all but the csi  were NIB)

so as Nick said they wern't beaten to death in a arcade

[pinnies4me]

Ive had my T3 about 8 years NIB
lifted the PF once to do work on it,  resolder a coil
IM worked one it one  pop bumper issue
CSI   worked on it twice  skull ramp and a opto problem

Hmm, Greg has worked on these, guess i can cross them off the list of games I might one day buy from him!! ;)

[Pop Bumper Pete]

the only problems I have are ramp flaps going rusty

and the nature of how they are wired, the wires are pushed into a V shape, rather than being soldered, this has been an issue once
also the lamp holders are cheap, have stuffed up a few inserting bulbs

but I would say the Sterns are no more or less hassle than other games

[Greg]

Ive had my T3 about 8 years NIB
lifted the PF once to do work on it,  resolder a coil
IM worked one it one  pop bumper issue
CSI   worked on it twice  skull ramp and a opto problem

Hmm, Greg has worked on these, guess i can cross them off the list of games I might one day buy from him!! ;)

the reason you would never buy a pin from me is your a f@#&*! Ti%*+ #^&#@  BAsT@&#

[Greg]

oh and another thing Nick %$@# %^*# *%^ R&@#$% A #@ S$%&@ He@#&%


I think that enough said about that

[pinball god]

most of mine are trouble free,  the lotr gold had issues straight from the box  all good now home use machines have way less use = less problems
What are u looking at??

Not in the market but thought the next buy may be a nib or huo game

[pinball god]

oh and another thing Nick %$@# %^*# *%^ R&@#$% A #@ S$%&@ He@#&%


I think that enough said about that

Damn Greg my translation software is on the blink. Could you repeat what you said in English?

[pinball god]

To further the discussion.     

In your opinion if you own or have looked at the newer sterns, how do they compare quality wise both electronically and mechanically to say Williams/Bally? Interested in your thoughts about not just under the playfield but also on top.

[pinnies4me]

oh and another thing Nick %$@# %^*# *%^ R&@#$% A #@ S$%&@ He@#&%

Sadly, I agree Gregory.