Stern Godzilla Premium bridge magnet holding ball too long and draining
The bridge magnet on my Stern Godzilla Premium has started misbehaving. During the Bridge Attack mode, the magnet grabs the ball (which is correct), but then holds it for way too long — sometimes 5-8 seconds — before releasing it. When it finally releases, the ball often drains straight down the middle because the timing is off. Previously it would grab, hold for about 1-2 seconds, then release with the ball directed toward a flipper.
The magnet seems to be working physically — it grabs the ball with full force and the release is clean. The timing just seems completely wrong. I've checked and I'm on the latest code version.
Is there a setting I'm missing, or is this a hardware problem with the magnet driver circuit? The game is about 18 months old.
yemons·3/21/2026★ 1 Answer
The bridge magnet timing on Stern Godzilla is software-controlled through the Spike 2 node board system, so the extended hold time you're experiencing is almost certainly a node board communication issue rather than a magnet hardware problem. When the CPU sends the release command but the node board doesn't process it promptly (or misses it entirely), the magnet stays energized until the watchdog timer finally forces a release — which explains the 5-8 second holds.
Start by checking the ribbon cable connections between the node boards in the cabinet. The magnet is controlled through a specific node board under the playfield, and a flaky ribbon cable connection can cause delayed or missed commands. Power down the game, open the cabinet, and reseat all ribbon cables connected to the node board nearest the magnet. Pay particular attention to the locking tabs — if they're not fully clicked in, the connection can be intermittent. Also check the wiring from the node board to the magnet assembly itself for any loose connectors. Replacement node board ribbon cables are available at Marco Specialties if any look damaged or kinked.
If the cables all check out, try a factory reset of the game settings (note your custom settings first) — occasionally corrupted settings data can cause timing issues with mechs. You can also try a full software reinstall using a USB drive from the Stern website. If the problem persists after software reinstall and cable reseating, the node board itself may have a marginal component. Contact Stern technical support — they can run remote diagnostics if your game is connected to Insider Connected, and they've been good about replacing node boards that exhibit intermittent communication issues. Pinball Life also stocks Stern node boards if you need a replacement outside of warranty.
yemons·3/21/2026