So happy to join the club today and booted up the game and have an issue with Smaug! Gah. It was shipped to me with everything working supposedly, but seems like the limits aren't kicking it so it will rotate to the end and then just bind up and get stuck then finally rotate the other way and do the same thing.

I checked all wires coming out from it none are noticeable broken, binded or unplugged. I even went through all the ones I could follow and unplug replug them in.

Anyone know what cord controls that? Should I take Smaug apart and see if it's something in there?

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Seems like its the wires that go up through Smaug causing the issue as it's binding in there. How do I keep that braided hose in the same place? I've tried pushing most of it back up in there as seen in another post, but doesn't work or stay.

Works fine when the playfield is up, then when it's down it doesn't work probably because that wiring sags through the hole.

So pulled the wire harness through all the way as far as I could, tighten up some loose nuts that secured the mech to the playfield underneath still nothing. Only way it works is if the playfield is up. Once I put it down onto the cabient stops working and starts locking up. Is this a motor issue? Is it too tight on top of the playfield?

I just took my Smaug apart and removed one of the wire harness braid coverings to see if that was adding too much drag and that didn't work. Def something around the weight of the mech it doesn't like, it does move more smoothly when I hold Smaug upside down and spin him. I guess I have to wait to play mine! Let me know that they say please.

Added a Video of my issue:

Ok I ended up getting it about 30 mins ago! Lol it was that metal rod that holds the motor in place. I ended up pulling it down and re-tightened it back in a good place. It was pushed down too much so the guide that goes inbetween the sensors wasn't making it past them.

On to the next issues:

1. Audio is getting some interference like fuzziness once in awhile. Guessing maybe a ground or something is off?

2. Some of the drop targets are grinding as the fire up. I think I read that's a pitch issue? About to level out the game soon.

Thanks for the current help and ongoing help I'm sure!

You wanna PM and I can call ya? Prob be best so I can tell you exactly what I did.

There is a metal rod the connects to the gears on the motor on the bottom and then slides into a metal bushing inbetween those circle plates. Forgive me I have no idea what some of these things are called.

They're 2 allen set screws that hold that rod in place, mine was loose and bouncing around. Thus why when it was upside down it worked, but when it was down on the playfield it sat too low and the metal bracket that's supposed to go inbetween the sensor was hitting it not allowing it to pass. I moved the rod down to a better spot so it cleared everything. Now it works and hopefully it stays in the position.

Been reading so my Wrag shouldn't pop up for 2 secs and go back in? Haha I thought it was just a harder quick shot.

I have to bend the leaf switch?

And just to confirm my MAN drop targets are supposed to make a loud grinding noise correct? Lol

Ok yeah it's registering it as a hit immediately so something much be getting hit on the way up. I'll see if it's his face, ha.

Been loving my game so far so close to my first Wizard mode! Lol

Have a few more tweaks I need to do and could use some help.

Aftermarket ruby ring shooter rod was already installed on my machine, but is so weak I can barely even get any force on the ball. Do I need to adjust the rod at all? Is this normal of this shooter rod? If I was going to get a new spring what tension matches what this game should be at stock? I've seen some different kinds don't know exactly what one is for a JJP machine. Bally/Williams fit? High or low or medium tension?

I've seen these on PinballLife and Marco Specialties.

Yep I was curious about that barrel spring also def is too long and keeps it away from the ball. I might try to get a smaller one first and go from there! Thanks for all the info!