LotR LE mods?

stevenp61

New member
Joined
Jun 24, 2009
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
5
Location
Florida
Any suggestions for mods for the LotR LE pin? Already ordered the shaker motor and am considering the flasher kit for the eye on the backglass. I will probably get the plastic diverter for balls coming out of the Path of the Dead area (into the habitrail) so the plastics and sidewall don't get dinged. I suspect the post next to the center ramp has been improved, and don't think the new run (with updated s/w) needs different flipper coils to prevent weakening. Anything else? (Besides various figurines, of course.) Thx.
 
Ya see if they will get you the gold ring topper for it, The mini-golf place had it with a gold ring topper. I would do LED lighting in some locations on the PF tohighlight certain things. What was your cost on the pre-order and total for delivery to your door, etc. That will be an exciting day for you when you open up that pinball NIB. Is this your first pinball machine purchase?
 
I like the looks of the undercab lighting kit you can get...

The neon light kits? Wouldn't rope light secured under the cab give same effects? Just have to tap into a power source or just plug it in it's own receptacle in the wall,etc. I was gonna do rope light on the backside of my MAME cab so when it's up against the wall it would give off a blue glow from the rope lights, which I believe are LED lights. Just thoughts I had with use of rope lights. Also from experimenting with rope lights is that you can cut them down to size and they will still work, example was I was using a strain of blue rope lights to highlight an area up on the wall and half the rope lights went out for some reason, so instead of throwing it away I cut it where the last light was burnt. I just took scissors and just cut it, so either I use this piece or buy some more and cut it to size. The downfall (if you call it that) would be you can't plug another rope light strain to it as you have cut that piece off.
 
Ya see if they will get you the gold ring topper for it, The mini-golf place had it with a gold ring topper. I would do LED lighting in some locations on the PF to highlight certain things. What was your cost on the pre-order and total for delivery to your door, etc. That will be an exciting day for you when you open up that pinball NIB. Is this your first pinball machine purchase?

Thx. Haven't seen the topper. Reminds me that I'd like to get the clear ball plunger with the ring, if more are made this year. After eBay rebates (eBay bucks and Bing cashback--both available immediately), shipped-to-door cost was $5250, just paid for (not pre-ordered). I used some rebate money for the shaker motor (only $165 at pinballlife) and a set of target decals.

This is my third NIB pin (I got the last 2 over 10 years ago-won one at PAPA)--and my third ss machine ever. (Never owned a used modern machine!) Have owned several EMs over the years, still have 2. (One is at a friend's house.) Unboxing and setting up is very cool. Been a while, tho!
 
I also bought a LotR LE last month.
Like you did, I am also considering making some additions.
Can you tell me where you got your shaker motor, plastic diverter and backlight flash kit?

Also, I am wondering if its either my flippers that are weak or my playing abilities that need to be worked on.
I have very hard time getting the ball into the ring hole. Most of the time (about 90% of my attempts) it will roll back down the center ramp. Like it need an extra push every single time.
Any ideas?
 
Just got the shaker motor kit (Stern rev B) in the mail today for only $165 (plus shipping) from pinballlife.com. Best price I found by far, and great service. Pinballlife also has the bg eye flasher kit for $22.

Orbit pinball has the plastic PotD diverter for $10; I may opt instead for the full set of plastic protectors from pinbits for $30--besides slings, etc., it includes protectors for top and bottom of the Arwen plastic and the VUK hole below the PotD. Doesn't affect gameplay--although edges of the hole might get dinged a bit. The pf should hold up better from the occasional ball drop because of the extra clearcoat.

Check out this webpage for one LE owner's log of his mods:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alienpoker/lotr/lotr-change-log.html

(I'm still waiting for my LotR to arrive! Keeping busy replacing bulbs on my Lost World: JP, which is taking quite a while as I discover more GI burnt out that I tend not to notice.)
 
Thanks for the tip.
Look like the Flasher Kit is back order or something, I can't find it on pinballlife.com.

The link you posted is very interesting.
I guess you can expect some adjustments too when you get your machine.
I had my lot of problems with mine.
I had to replace a switch (Shire) and a coil (sword Lock).
The magnet had to be connected (took me a while to realize it).
Soldering from one flipper connections failed after a few games.

I also had to add a dozen of tie-wrap under the play-field because the wires were hagging out. One of them was eventually sliced by the Gollum's cave coil mechanism.

Now things work fine, except maybe the presumed flippers weakness... Still not sure if I am the one to be blamed on that one.

Did you manage to fin all the missing toys from the LE version?
I am still missing 5 of them.
 
I'm going to 'freestyle' my toys. Got a huge lot of LotR figures on eBay, many NIB. I may buy 1 or 2 AoME sets for specific characters if they're not in the lot (which hasn't arrived yet). I'm going to "do my own thing" with choice/location of the figurines, which I'll attach directly to a spare set of plastics. (After I play it for a while, of course.)

PS: Just checked and the eye flasher kit is indeed out of stock at pinballlife. I imagine they'll make more soon!

Not sure about the flipper weakness. Are they weak right away, or after playing for a long time?
 
Are they weak right away, or after playing for a long time?

Now that you ask, I tend to believe the problem get worse the longer I play.
It may be just an impression though...

Why are you asking? Did you ever had that problem?
 
You want to do an extreme mod? I've seen guys install Williams/Bally light panels in place of the fluorescent bulb in the backbox. It takes a decent amount of work but it looks better.
 
Look like I was not dreaming, there is a known coil issue with LotR flippers.

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1112&parent=0


Also, Steven,before you go and purchase the Orbit's pinball plastic PotD diverter.
Once the diverter in place, the ball will always be thrown onto the left ramp.
Be aware that the player normally gets bonus souls if the ball falls from the Paths of the Dead into the Shire. It will no longer happen if that diverter is installed.


Anyone has issues with F7 fuse (Magnet)?
Mine blew twice in the last 24 hours.
I have bought 4A slow blow 250V as it is stated in the owner's manual.
 
Yes, I know you can get a few extra souls when the ball drops into the Shire hole. But it only does so from the PotD maybe once out of each 4-5 times. And when it does, I hate how the ball slams onto the plastic and hole, or against the sidewall and bounces on the pf. I can easily make the orbit shot from the right inlane/flipper to get more souls when I want, so I'll gladly give up the few extra ones to avoid the random ball bouncing (which really seems to be an unfinished part of the game, imo).

As for the F7 magnet fuse, it has been pretty well established that this needs a 5A slo blo--it won't burn out and it won't hurt the game. I put one after my fuse blew while I was just adjusting/tweaking things, no marathon games being played. Been fine since. The 4A spec in the manual (and from the factory) is wrong--when the magnet holds the ball and tosses it, the 4A fuse will blow with normal play.
 
You want to do an extreme mod? I've seen guys install Williams/Bally light panels in place of the fluorescent bulb in the backbox. It takes a decent amount of work but it looks better.

+1 Hugh

I definitely miss the "dynamic" lighting of all previous games. Even on my lowly Street Fighter 2 pin it had an awesome light show on the backbox. How in depth is a mod like this? I would imagine you couldn't do anything that advanced with it. Nevertheless it would definitely look better with nicely placed incandescent bulbs or even LEDs.
 
+1 Hugh

I definitely miss the "dynamic" lighting of all previous games. Even on my lowly Street Fighter 2 pin it had an awesome light show on the backbox. How in depth is a mod like this? I would imagine you couldn't do anything that advanced with it. Nevertheless it would definitely look better with nicely placed incandescent bulbs or even LEDs.

Unfortunately there is no logic associated with the lights since LOTR doesn't have code for it :( It basically just makes the backbox lighting much more even in appearance.

You could though tie flashers and other feature lights into certain locations on the light board. It would take a bit of wiring but nothing too impossible.
 
Anyone has issues with F7 fuse (Magnet)?
Mine blew twice in the last 24 hours.
I have bought 4A slow blow 250V as it is stated in the owner's manual.

Lots of people are having this issue, actually. They're putting a 5V fuse in there. I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do or not, but so far nobody has come back claiming that it has caused any problems.
 
Lots of people are having this issue, actually. They're putting a 5V fuse in there. I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do or not, but so far nobody has come back claiming that it has caused any problems.

I hear you.
My F7 fuse blew for a third time yesterday.
I went with your advise and replaced it with a 5A. Hopefully it is the last time I have to change it.

As for the PotD diverter, I saw some people doing some neat things.
One that really look great is the addition of Soldiers of the Dead figures and the close end of the upper playfield. I may try that one out, I just love the look.

A very funny mod that could fit on any pinball:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Decal-part-for-n...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20af981f92
 
Back
Top Bottom