Fault Summary 2010 (from NIB).
Things you can do from day one: Replace Flashers with LEDs, Order spare switches (VUK / Balrog), Order Protectors: cabinet (legs and buttons), both Cliffy's, Pinbits plastic protectors and figure mounting kit (if adding AOME figures to your LE).
Things you can do from day one: Replace Flashers with LEDs, Order spare switches (VUK / Balrog), Order Protectors: cabinet (legs and buttons), both Cliffy's, Pinbits plastic protectors and figure mounting kit (if adding AOME figures to your LE).
1.Problem: 4A SB fuse in F7 for Ring Magnet.
Fix: Replaced with 5A SB, confirmed OK with Stern.
2.Problem: Switch #21 (Merry Orbit) not connected from factory.
Fix: Re-connected it with 2 x .156" header pins.
Fix: Replaced with 5A SB, confirmed OK with Stern.
2.Problem: Switch #21 (Merry Orbit) not connected from factory.
Fix: Re-connected it with 2 x .156" header pins.
3.Problem: Vibration makes #906 Flashers in Pop Bumpers fail.
Fix: Red LED Flashers used in the 3 x Pop Bumpers.
4.Problem: Screw in plastic ring funnel fell out.
Fix: Screw replaced tightly.
5.Problem: Balrog Switch problems.
Fix: Bent blade outward slightly.
Fix: Red LED Flashers used in the 3 x Pop Bumpers.
4.Problem: Screw in plastic ring funnel fell out.
Fix: Screw replaced tightly.
5.Problem: Balrog Switch problems.
Fix: Bent blade outward slightly.
6.Problem: Ball catching on plastic above shire hole VUK.
Fix: Added two 6/32 flat nuts on top of hex posts to raise the plastic above the wire ramp.
Fix: Added two 6/32 flat nuts on top of hex posts to raise the plastic above the wire ramp.
7.Problem: Orthanc Diverter Gate (#8) stuck open.
Fix: Adjusted as per service bulletin #147 on 12 Mar, 23 Jun, 7 Nov.
Fix: Adjusted as per service bulletin #147 on 12 Mar, 23 Jun, 7 Nov.
8.Problem: Orbit Pin Diverter (#13) sticks (or is weak).
Fix: Playfield cables foul coil plunger from below.
9.Problem: Orbit Pin Diverter (#13) won't divert ball.
Fix: On 9 Apr, added washers under coil bracket below playfield.
10.Problem: Blew transistor Q7 (COL 7 of switch matrix). Entirely my fault. I grounded a coil voltage on plumb-bob tilt switch.Fix: Playfield cables foul coil plunger from below.
9.Problem: Orbit Pin Diverter (#13) won't divert ball.
Fix: On 9 Apr, added washers under coil bracket below playfield.
Fix: Replaced transistor Q7 with 2n3904 on I/O Driver Board.
11. Problem: Left VUK (Shire) switch issues. Causing ball search. First trouble was 17th Mar.
Fix: Replaced switch 25 Mar, needed adjustment again 17 Aug.
12. Problem: #906 Flasher Bulb behind ring (#26) blown
Fix: Replaced with Amber LED #906 Flasher.
13. Problem: Path of the Dead (PoTD) ball drop into VUK. Possibly cracking Arwen plastic (very rare to find a replacement part).
Fix: Add post to divert ball, Pinbits 9-piece plastic protectors.
14. Problem: Factory Shaker Motor not installed, supported on LE.
Fix: Install one, should have been factory installed on the LOTR LE. One of the best additions you can make to the game.
15. Problem: Gold Trim tarnishing on LOTR LE. Cosmetic but is still a serious issue.
Fix: Wipe down lockbar/siderails after use, seal 'gold trim'?
16. Problem: Stern Manual has bad/missing information for my LE.
Fix: Have tried to document my game and publish the changes.
17. Probelm: Ring Magnet Fuse 5A SB Blew, during 2-ball DTR.
Fix: Replaced Fuse with same value, set back to 1-ball DTR. OK.
Click date for link to original Blog post and the full information.
21 Jan 2010 LOTR LE Arrives NIB.
23 Jan 2010 #906 Flasher fell out from behind Barad-Dur tower during shipping? Cosmetic: Colour changing #44 LED added under Palantir.
24 Jan 2010 Factory installed 4A SB Ring Magnet fuse blows.
28 Jan 2010 Ring Magnet works fine with 5A SB fuse.
Switch #21 'Merry' orbit not connected from factory. No Z connector! Fixed.
Cosmetic: Added cabinet leg and button protectors.
03 Feb 2010 Cosmetic: Replaced 4 x metal washers under slingshot plastics with petg plastic washers. Also one behind Palantir and left of Barad-dur.
05 Feb 2010 Cosmetic: Replaced spacer for the 'helms deep' RH Flasher with 1" size. Acorn nuts added to sword hilt.
09 Feb 2010 Called Stern about the Magnet fuse problem. Had tried a 4A SB again and it would blow. Magnet coil reads 3.3 ohms, Stern quoted ~2.9 ohms as normal. Solution TBA from Stern.
16 Feb 2010 Top Right Pop Bumper blows #906 bulb for second time. Put RED LED Flashers in the Pop Bumpers, problem solved if due to vibration.
Cosmetic: Added 2 x UV 4+1 LEDs to upper left of backboard above POTD.
Cosmetic: Added a real knocker, insert your own 'men prefer real knockers' joke here.
17 Feb 2010 Screw (black) from plastic funnel fell into game during play. 326 total plays so far- some of them were 'test games'.
19 Feb 2010 Balrog switch problems. Wouldn't always score clean hits.
21 Feb 2010 Coil Pulse Power and Flipper adjustments. Reached TABA for 1st time.
27 Feb 2010 Ball snags on clear plastic above VUK from shire hole. Added pinbits 9 piece plastic protectors. (Not considered merely cosmetic, provides Arwen plastic protection)
04 Mar 2010 Cosmetic: Replaced Hooded 'Sword Ball Lock' with original LOTR 2003 one. Tweeked 10th and 17th March by adding a second guide on the other side (LH). Update from 5 Apr 2010: Removed the second guide (LH). Bending the ball lock coil bracket slightly left makes it work better, thanks to Steve Marsh.
08 Mar 2010 Cliffy Protector Set installed to 'Gimli VUK' and 'Orthanc Tower' hole. (Not considered merely cosmetic)
09 Mar 2010 Answer from Stern: Ring Magnet fuse at F7 should be 5A SB for LOTR LE.
11 Mar 2010 Cosmetic: AOME plastic figures installed using Pinbits LE mounting kit. Warning about slingshot washers. Only Surfing Gandalf the Grey fitted at this time.
12 Mar 2010 3 Faults: Diverter in front of the Orthanc tower stuck open. Found out that my diverter orbit pin had never worked as designed. Blew transistor Q7 for COL 7 of switch matrix (Luckily I had a 2n3904 in spares).
13 Mar 2010 Game is working for my birthday! Yay!
17 Mar 2010 Left VUK (Shire) switch issues, hard to fix so replacements ordered.
20 Mar 2010 #906 Flasher Bulb behind ring (#26) blown. Vibration? Ordered Amber LED Flasher to replace that bulb.
Cosmetic: Installed real 30mm glass globe for Palantir. Fitted PinballPal backbox warming filter, LE backglass looks way better.
23 Mar 2010 Cosmetic: Installed 10 x yellow bulbs along shooter lane.
A "How To" on making your own colored glass bulbs. Thanks to modding-Stan.
25 Mar 2010 Shire VUK Switch replaced (Stern part # 180-5116-01. Directions and tools needed.
26 Mar 2010 Cosmetic: Installed 9 #44 green bulbs I made in GI along left side and 4 under slingshots. Replaced Left Apron Decal (Eowyn) with a picture of Ringwraiths (Dark Riders). Other apron pictures available from Habo's Arcade page (5th down on left).
31 Mar 2010 Cosmetic: Removed the 4 x green #44 bulbs under the slings, and the once under Arewen plastic on Left. Put a #906 Red LED Flasher behind Ringwraith- instead of #906 Red Bulb.
09 Apr 2010 Complete fix to Orbit Pin problem mentioned 12 Mar. Remember to test the orbit pin is not binding with coil test #13 each time the playfield is lowered.
11 Apr 2010 Cosmetic: Made a Shire Protector for the wood siderail. This is needed over time, from what I hear.
11 Apr 2010 Notes on rules for TTT MB (The Two Towers Multiball).
13 Apr 2010 Path of the Dead (PoTD) Post Diverter. Diverts most balls to the habitrail. Some fall into Shire VUK.
18 Apr 2010 Balrog defeated today. Gandalf ready to return as Gandalf the White on Shadowfax.
Cosmetic: Replaced metal PoTD diverter post installed 13 Apr with a matching clear plastic post, I'm keeping this mod on my game.
20 May 2010 Back from the USA. I fitted a Stern Shaker Motor kit 502-5027-00 rev B, and provided fitting notes. More information on Shaker Kit for LE is on 30 Sep 2010.
Cosmetic: Tried Amber 4+1 HP (high power) flasher LEDs in the Helms Deep RH and LH positions. Too bright! Put them instead in the Ring Flasher (#26) and under Sword Lock (#21).
23 May 2010 Problems with Gold Trim tarnishing on LOTR LE. I consider it a manufacturing defect, not cosmetic 'wear and tear'.
8 Jun 2010 Been fixing my AFM lately, some notes. LOTR is stable.
25 Jun 2010 Diverter gate in front of Orthanc tower stuck open, needs adjusting for the second time, happened before 12 Mar.
12 Aug 2010 Cosmetic: Installed Backbox Eye Flasher Kit, bought from Pinbits.
13 Aug 2010 POTD Lane Diverter (by Pinwest) added, this mod doesn't do much and is NLA. Can help even out the selection of lanes 1 and 2, but a rubber ring between the top 3 posts will do the same thing, IMHO.
14 Aug 2010 Cosmetic: Installed AOME 3" Gandalf the White on Shadowfax.
17 Aug 2010 Shire VUK switch flaky for a second time. Bending the switch blade up very slightly helped (for now). Switch was replaced on 25 Mar 2010.
6 Oct 2010 Cosmetic: Ordered the LOTR Custom 'One Ring' Shooter made by Tom Wible.
29 Oct 2010 Created a tech matrix for LOTR LE that goes in bottom of cabinet. As shipped it had errors and was for the original LOTR. Other documentation updates are published.
1 Nov 2010 Yellow pages from the manual updated for LOTR LE.
6 Nov 2010 Diverter gate in front of Orthanc tower stuck open, needs adjusting for the third (and hopefully last) time. Set ample play between the link and pawl, and vertical play between the gate and bushing as for a flipper. 1,126 plays since new
7 Nov 2010 Leg Protector Template. Make your own leg protectors for any game using thick felt, foam (like a yoga mat) or plastic.
13 Nov 2010 Ring Magnet Fuse 5A SB Blew. During long 2-ball DTR.
Cosmetic: Added color inserts to fellowship character inserts. Update: Went back to #555 bulbs almost right away due to strobing effect. Avoid!
18 Dec 2010 Cosmetic: Added Lit Flipper Buttons. Transparent buttons lit with Red LEDs.
2 Jan 2011 Reached DTR and TABA on the same game. Destroyed the Ring, but didn't make all the TABA shots, only about 4. Game ended at 149,390,000. Not a bad score for me.
