My FT LE is on route from CoinTaker, will be here Monday. I hope to have it setup Monday night and will see that I post pics.
This seems to be one of many that arrived via container, but I may be wrong.

I got my parts ordered an modded the lights on my LE.
I am still waiting on my black chrome, right now I have standard chrome, but I trust that CoinTaker will send it to me soon.

First thing I did was remove the white back light strip and replace it with red. Furthermore I added two orange 2*3s at the flippers and a red 2*3 at the shooter.

Added two orange spotlights on the slings, those are 12V and always on

Other items to notice: removed the thin bolt that hinged the bike, replaced it with an M5, removed the spring and replaced it with a kevlar line catch. Before the bike only hopped low and short, now a) the hinge no longer locks up and b) the spring does not limit the height - The bike now wheelies like mad

Replaced the flipper buttons with LED reds, now shown

Replaced most rings with either clear or fitting colors, really brightened it up and helped the LED light show to shine

20160730_184539_(resized).jpg

Now the fun part. I ordered RGB LEDs from adafruit, Spotlights from Pinballbulbs and went to work.I have two LEDs in each spot, they are tied into the LEDwires. Two sets sit left and right of the playfield, one is spotting the bike. That toy sat in the dark otherwise.

20160730_184309_(resized).jpg

20160730_164453_(resized).jpg

20160730_184457_(resized).jpg

20160730_184502_(resized).jpg

20160730_184523_(resized).jpg

20160730_184528_(resized).jpg

Don't update, don't even think about it.
I updated mine and the new software is not stable. It keeps bricking my FT after a few games after which I have to rewrite the SD card. Terrible.

I was in contact with everyone there, tried everything they and I could think of.

I feel like I exhausted what they can do for me at this point.

Here is the deal: I flash the SD card and have a fresh 1.41

Game runs PERFECT. Tons of fun. Then at some point it craps out. And then this happens

All reports, switches etc check out 100% fine.
It is software that gets dizzy.

It seems related to me opening the coin door while the machine is on. It always happened right after I opened the door, made adjustments (most likely volume) and then closed it. The software somehow took a hit every time after that.

I will re-install 1.41 again, NOT open the door while the machine is on from now on and report back to you guys.
And I will follow a friendly pinsider's advice and exchange the USB cables as there seems to be a known issue with a certain early batch of said cables.

It is a shame, as you can tell by the video I modded the crap out of mine, added 3 interactive color-changing LED towers at the slings and the wheelie bike, added center drain light, shooter lane light and bike, external volume control, lit flipper buttons, bikes exchanged and added on playfield, improved the broken wheelie mechanism, exchanged the back light from harsh white to red, exchanged rings and rubbers and and and. And replaced the speaker amp.

I have the LE version which has chrome hardware. Said hardware oxidized like you have never seen where the hands rest. Heighway were kind enough to send me a second set or armor and should I be able to fix software I will powder-coat to racing orange.

Everything was fine until I got greedy and installed 1.41

Thank you for pointing out the card, I will exchange brand there as well, good pointer. I will try everything one can think of.

See - this pin is NOT broken. The fact that it works after a fresh install shows that, but something goes bad along the line.

Utilite most likely.

THAT makes sense, and it is the only thing that makes sense. Finally an answer that clears.

I already had the on-board amp go bad due to vibration, the locking tabs for the speaker wires simply fell apart, beyond repair. Good thing that their "High-End" amp is only $13.85 shipped.

https://www.amazon.com/ELEGIANT-Amplifier-Booster-Stereo-Motorcycle/dp/B018QKX8E0/ref=pd_sim_23_2

But I wish they had spend 5 bucks more on an amp that is suited for it's application. That the utilite dies the same cause of death, meaning not fit to be used in it's environment, the shacking does it in does not surprise me anymore. I already had both flipper assemblies fall apart and down into the cabinet floor due to vibration. That clear plastic on top of the main board saved the pin from shooting itself in the foot.

So, to those who know: can I simply buy a replacement one from Amazon etc? And install the SD card that I have or the image that Heighway send me? Or is there more to it and I am screwed?

I disagree. It shakes for seconds on end at the beginning of a ball, like a giant vibration mode on your cell phone.

The shaker is supposed to add effects, not simulate a 10 second earthquake at the beginning of every ball.

I have cointakers shaker in my GB, no issue. Its poorly written code, no other game does that, not even close. Instead of rewriting code the solution is to not use a shaker......great.

Wickerman and I actually own FTh, why argue with us.

Does not help us owners much, does it. And yes, I have installed a brake on the shaker on my FTh....not much help when due to the shaker being used on my machine:

both flippers fell into the cabinet
the amp fell apart
plugs unseated