Ring Made switch #47 getting stuck closed

Had a connection problem (don't really want to call it an opto problem) where game was seeing "ring made" switch #47 close during a game, even though no ball was in the ring.  Symptom in a game was having mode start without shooting the spinner/ring shot also the magnet could not grab the ball correctly.

Normally the opto transmitter shines bright red LED light into the opto receiver.  Through some transistors on the opto amplifier board (and logic gates) the CPU "sees" this as an open switch.  If the transmitter LED fails (or the light is blocked by the ball), the receiver changes voltage and the switch is detected as closed.

The opto went on / off during a switch test when the ring was banged or the glass slid back in place sharply.  Looking at the opto amplifier board mounted to the right of the backboard there was a 2-pin connector that had been bent right over, probably the transmitter opto to the ring.  Turned off game, bent the pins up straight and plugged back in connector.  Switch test showed the "ring made" working only when it should again (stick finger in the ring).

At least that fault was fairly easy to diagnose and fix.

Gandalf the White

Tired of the "surfing Gandalf the Grey", which just doesn't look right, I decided to open up my AOME Gandalf the White which has sat on a shelf for some time.  I waited to be able to defeat the Balrog by winning FOTR MB, latest time was yesterday before Gandalf could return in White on Shadowfax.

Looking it over and checking with a test fit, it looks like fixing the base to the Pinbits plastic with epoxy will be the best solution.  So out comes the Gorrila Glue expoxy, and a few minutes later it is mounted in the game.  Will let it dry for 24 hours before playing, meanwhile here's a pic:

Here is the link of my Gandalf on Shadowfax in case you want to save it or see higher resolution.

Getting to the point where the "mods" to this game are done, and I just want to "play LOTR pinball".

Lane Secret Skill Shot

Lane Secret S.S. is counted by Audit #26, and on my game the Lane secret skill shot has been made 35 times!  It could be awarded for hitting the Lane Skill Shot without flipping, which would make sense.  Need to test that out.  Update:  Tested and confirmed.

Have also heard of a Flipper Secret Skill Shot, but couldn't find it in the audits.
Tried looping the Flipper Skill Shot a few times, but that doesn't seem to award any extra points.
Someone (Korn on RGP) suggests you can hold up the left flipper while plunging, feed the ball to the right flipper and hit the right lane Flipper Skill Shot from there.  I call that a "chip shot", or a slice.

Chip shot isn't a good use of the golf term, but pinball isn't golf.  Slice is more a more correct decscription  also borrowed from the golf term for a ball that moves right.  A Hook (or Fade) goes left.

I need to test out the Flipper Secret S. S. to see if it scores more points or gives a different graphic.

POTD Lane Diverter (by Pinwest) Added

OK. On my POTD the ball almost always goes down lane 2.  I figured out you can nudge fairly hard to sometimes get to lane 1, but I have another solution I'm ready to try.

Pinwest (David Eisner, CA) made a plastic diverter and this was sold for a while by BAA.  See: LOTR parts tab.  This has nothing to do with the ball falling off the end of the POTD.   This mod is designed to help "even out" the selection of lanes 1 and 2.

The parts used:

Defector and longer screw are for the top of the POTD
Clear post goes at the bottom of the POTD to replace a metal post  previously installed, which bumps the ball into the wireform some of the time.  This means the "Shire Hole" VUK switch and wood get hammered less.  See: LOTR Blog from 13th April 2010

POTD Lane Deflector Installed 

You can see the ball will hit at an angle, and doesn't actually touch the 3 posts.  Once it is adjusted tot he right angle, the selection of lanes 1 and 2 are more even.

Here is a link to the installation instructions which contains some extra pictures.  This could be useful if you decide to try and make one yourself:
POTD Lane Defector Installation Instructions

LOTR Eye Flasher Kit Added

Played no pinball for a month in the USA, had planned a visit to an arcade but didn't get there in the end.  The only game even seen (at a small Pizza place) was Indiana Jones (the newish Stern).  That game didn't get my money.  Last time there, perhaps a year ago, they had a POTC which I played.

Didn't want to reinvent the wheel this time, so bought the Pinbits "Lord of the Rings Backbox Flasher Kit"  With LED Color : Yellow for $22.50 while in the USA.  Installed it which was very easy and it's a fun mod.  Added my own "reflector" and lens from a flashlight to increase and concentrate the flash effect.  It's mounted to the base of the LED with a rubber ring.  The Eye Flasher and my backbox warming filter is in the picture.  Right click and save the image to your computer if you want to zoom up to a higher resolution.

There is also a DIY flasher mod I found at: Habos Arcade LOTR

The  real source is at Bob's Pinball Mods.  Bob Frysztak has published some nice LOTR Mods including the  LOTR DIY Flasher  This one suggests to connect the flasher to J6 pin 3 which is Coil #27, the Back Panel flasher (Eye) hiding behind the Barad-Dur tower.  This makes sense to me.

Be aware that following the instructions which comes with the Flasher Kit will connect the flasher to J6 pin 2 which is Coil #26 the Ring flasher!  This means the Backbox Eye and the Ring both flash each time you hit the spinner.  I put an amber flash lamp behind the ring which looks cool, and coil is probably used more often during the game.