Orthanc Diverter Gate stuck open again.

Diverter gate in front of Orthanc tower stuck open, needs adjusting for the third (and hopefully last) time.  I don't like the flipper mech they used here.   Arrrggggh!  Game has only 1,126 plays since new, and a few of those were 'test games' and not completed.


Took the gate out of the pawl (5/32" Allen Key) to inspect the linkage, plastic flipper bushing and linkage to the plunger.  Everything looks as new.  


Gate needed more vertical "play" this time, as you would with a flipper. Gate seemed to be very tight to the nylon flipper bushing that goes through the playfield.  Grey link was too tight in the pawl.  Although it could move, it seemed much tighter than last time mech was adjusted.  Starting to  wonder if the pawl can tighten itself even more to the link , if set too close?  Won't let that happen again.


Fix: I set the pawl to link not more than 'finger tight' this time, with ample play between the link and pawl  (1/16" to 1/8") and between the gate and flipper bushing (1/8" or slightly less).  Re-adjusted the diverter gate as per inside cover of manual (Stern SB147).  Back to normal, plays fine.

LOTR LE Yellow Manual Pages

If you are following this blog, or happen across it and own an LOTR LE then I have a treat for you:

You can print out the LE I/O Power Driver Board Schematics in 17"x11" which I posted previously, if you have access to a large format printer.

If you want the standard manual page sizes, here are the schematics edited to replace Pgs 99-150, the whole Yellow section of the LE Manual, which was a mess as supplied.

The I/O board theory had to be edited to match the schematics and although it may not be perfect,  it took a lot of work to finish the Yellow section.  You get colour diagrams and a corrected I/O Power Board connector layout on page 127.

Shop-out Matrix for LOTR LE Cabinet and documentation

Well you probably know if you follow this Blog or own the LOTR LE , that the manual Stern included with the LE wasn't very good.  My pet hate about the LE has nothing at all to do with the game!
Begin mode:=/Documentation Rant/
Stern just couldn't be bothered to do a decent job on the documentation, and don't seem to be focused on the pinball collector.  It's clear to me that pinball coin op alone won't keep them in business for much longer.
Recently discovered that the 17" x 11" Page stapled in to the cabinet had mistakes,  as it was the one used on the  original LOTR.  This is what a pinball tech or you might refer to when fault finding.  On my LE at least, wire colors and 2 solenoids positions were changed.  The updated LE matrix I did shows a different Solenoid table and correct wiring colours for the Lamp Matrix.

LE Examples: I have shown coil #12 as the opt. shaker motor, #14 is unused on the LE, #28 is the Helms Deep Right flasher.  Print it in colour and laminate it:  LE Cabinet-Matrix 11" x 17"  Better than what came in the game from Stern.

The Matrix files for LOTR and LOTR LE are marked *new* here:  My LOTR Main Site
I plan to host a LOTR LE Manual which is fairly complete.  If you download these files:

• "LOTR LE Manual 2009 Find it in Front"  (Goes Between Front Cover and Table of Contents) 
• "LOTR LE Manual 2009 Complete to Pg102"   and the  
• "LOTR LE I/O Driver Board Schematic"  (Sam 520-5249-00 in 17" x 11" format)

Then you are close to having an updated LOTR LE manual, for now some pages are edited B/W scans.
I'm still working on finishing Section 5 and the last of the schematic pages.  I need to include the correct version for the I/O Driver board that came installed in the LE, and update some descriptions.

The main board that changed in the LE compared to the original 2003/2005 LOTR was the I/O Power Driver Board which is a Stern 520-5249-00 (Sam).  I also don't like using a "Z" connector used between the playfield and the I/O Driver board to convert J10 to the new positions.  Why not just make the harness terminate correctly in the first place?

The CPU Sound II Board is a Stern 520-5300-00 Rev A (Whitestar).

End mode:=/Documentation Rant/

-Richard

Back Alley Creations LOTR Siderail Art

Here is a link from a Blog I follow.  Some amazing siderails, although like many others I don't like the choice of colour for the powdercoat on the lockbar, siderails and legs.  If you go to all that trouble you, why not take the time to remove the horrible plastic plug from the lockbar!?!  I don't agree with everything they do, but the gold script is fantastic.

My Precious!  Lol.  That's what my daughter says the iPad owners  are currently  saying.  She imagines someone in the corner of a  marketing department  drooling over their new iPrecious (TM).

LOTR "One Ring" Shooter Mod

Decided to order the LOTR Custom Ring Shooter made by Tom Wible.  $64.99 + $5 ship.  He does some amazing stuff, and announced on RGP that he was doing 20 more LOTR shooters. Having the One Ring suspended in the shooter is one of the nicer looking mods available for LOTR, and especially on the gold themed LE.   Tom's website is:   Tom's Twilight Zone PB Machine Accessories

He also made a cool Rolling (pin)Ball Sculpture.  There's a link at the bottom of the page. Been thinking lately doing a similar thing, some kind of kinetic pinball sculpture.  There is a musical one that still works at Logan Airport in Boston, MA.  I think terminal C (or now in E), anyway it's in international arrivals.  I remember watching it when younger, it's called Exercise in Frugality by George Rhoads you can find his work all over the place in the USA.  You probably have one near you.

LOTR LE Shaker Motor

I have heard recently that someone blew up their CPU (and maybe I/O Driver board too) trying to add a (non kit) Shaker Motor to their LOTR LE.  A replacement CPU part number 520-5300-00 will run you $350-400 (US dollars).  Maybe less to fix, but it may not be an economic repair.


BTW - Do not be frightened of buying the right kit (Stern rev B) and doing the install.  The LOTR LE was designed to allow you to add this feature.  Ask questions if you are unsure of something!  The Shaker Motor is a great addition , maybe the best $170 I've spent so far.


So although I covered a few things about my Shaker Motor install here, I'm going to revisit the main points.   A link to the Scan of Shaker Rev B. Install Instructions

You will have to take the measurements from the instructions and create a template.  I think printing the template example scaled to double size would be very close.  e.g.  the 2” distance measures almost exactly 1” at actual size in the PDF.

Some IMPORTANT points to note:

Wiring Harness
The BRN/GRY wire 72” it talks about on a male connector.  This connects to a BLU/YEL female connector  coming from the head that can be found at the back of the cabinet on an LOTR LE.  It has a single BLU/YEL wire in the same place as the BRN/GRY wire in the 72” harness. 
  

The RED/WHT connector is short and will exactly match another RED/WHT connector found in the wire harness on the LOTR LE around the plumb-bob tilt area..

Motor installation
Tape the bottom of the cabinet with masking tape where you expect the holes will exit, and use a sharp 7/32” wood bit.  Let the drill do the work, don’t push hard. Clean up the bottom of cabinet to your liking and tape the 4 “T-nuts” into place, but don’t hammer them in.  Then as you screw down the motor tighter from the top, make sure the T-nuts are sinking in to the cab bottom and not spinning.

If I could do it again, I would move the template for the shaker mounting holes about another .5” (half inch) away from the left edge of the cabinet and towards the coin box.  Only .812” was indicated on the template. Hole position away from front of cab at 4.375” is perfect.  Doing that would let you take the cover off the shaker motor (for adjustments or oil, in future) without having to remove the Shaker Motor PCB above.