Palmetto - seeing your location, who is your distro? Just curious...

Cool - thanks!!

#126 is in the house! Just got it set up last night and unfortunately had to spend most of my time under the hood. Had an overcurrent protection error on Node 8 (found it...a solder blob was intermittently shorting a GI socket). Also have a loose wire on a connector that needs to be reworked (looks like the terminal tab is broken so it won't stay in the connector housing). Upper flipper was "walking" -- just from activating the flipper it was continually changing position and blocking the orbit shot. Tightened the bat in the crank, still bad. Finally got it to stop, but I've never had to tighten one this much. I thought the EOS activator was dragging on the bushing screw, but I think I ruled that out as the culprit. I was getting a trough error but it resolved once I fixed the overcurrent issue. Since both are tied to Node Board 8 I assume this was some sort of downstream effect.

Two things for this group:
1. My playfield seems slightly racked/warped -- when seated in the cabinet the right side is elevated. There isn't anything interfering with it, and I've reseated it several times. You can push down on it and it will go flush, but will pop right back up again. I've never encountered this -- anyone have suggestions?

2. I'm getting a lot of rejections from the center ramp. My assumption is that the ball is getting airborne and hitting the front of the shield covering the "U-Turn" which is behind the back panel. Anyone else having this issue? Thought I'd ask before I start messing with it.

I love the game. It is fast, tons of great shots, and just an all-out ruckus on the playfield when things get going. I'm looking forward to playing it a bunch today!!

Good thought -- I have been checking that regularly before each game per Mr. Ritchie's direction. So far it has been flush so I think I'm good there.

Good thought -- my level bubble is between the lines, but admittedly is edging toward the flatter side. I'll pop those back legs up a bit and see how things go. Thanks!

Anyone used the "Woofer Line Out" (Node 0, CN5, Pin 7) to connect a sub yet?

Anyone's upper control gate occasionally slow down/impede the ball slightly when shooting the right orbit? It's almost like the ball hits something and it slows it enough that it doesn't make it to the lock scoop. Since the coil opens the gate coming from that direction, I don't think it has anything to do with timing of gate activation. I've even theorized that the ball is getting slightly airborne on some shots and hitting the mechanism or bracket. Any thoughts/anyone else experiencing?

Love this game!

Just refreshing this - anyone having issues here?

I thought that too at first, even though it seemed clunky. However, it has happened to me at times when the lock is clearly qualified and that shot should be open (e.g. EM multiball when you are trying to lock additional balls before starting the multiball). Also, I can't figure out mechanically how it would offer resistance in that direction...if the coil activates it should open, and if the coilnisnt activated it should be free flowing that way.

Well that was fun! 26.1X Icarus with the EM raised and some good spinner rips. One question - I thought this happened while EM Frenzy was still running...but in the high scores EM Frenzy is still sitting at the stock 2,000,000. Anyone else seeing any glitches with EM Frenzy getting recorded? I'm loving this game!

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I've experienced that a few times. Haven't been able to figure out the sequence of events that causes it. Have also successfully started EM multiball so it isn't consistent.

Haven't figured out the cause yet. I've looked at it several times and don't see an issue. I cleaned and waxed the area, ensured the gate mechanism is working freely, and sent a bunch of balls through by hand. All was good. First shot in normal play it hung up. I took video but couldn't see anything obvious. The ball guide looks slightly bent at the top, but I don't think the ball should ride that high. My latest theory is that some shots are getting a bit airborne and hitting the gate bracket. I don't know....frustrating.

Anyone notice that the default audio setting for the backbox speakers is 8 ohm, but the Kenwoods in the LE are 4 ohm speakers? Thoughts?

Just loaded 1.02 today. Was a bit confused because my action button goes blue instead of red for the super..but then I found this. Yep, that would do it!

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Probably...but certainly not a priority!

I do, and am a huge fan of both games. While I can appreciate the question, the games play much differently. The rules structures differ significantly, in my opinion. The horseshoe loop and fork ramp in SW are a must for completing modes and posting large scores. The side ramp and IcarusX structure provide that challenge for LZ. The Steve Ritchie flow is evident in both games, and there is a similar smooth feel when you get some combos going. Both of these games are keepers for me, and playing one doesn't make me avoid the other.

Anyone notice the feature lights "freeze" periodically? This started for me after 1.02. Sometimes the flashing sequences freeze solid, sometimes unlit. Nothing else is affected -- sounds continue, gameplay is fine, it's just a hesitation on the feature lamps.

I've been fighting this since day one. There is some sort of interference right around the control gate and the ball doesn't make it to the upper eject scoop. I removed the gate assembly altogether and it seemed much better. However, there doesn't appear to be any issue with the gate mechanism or operation, so I'm not sure if that is actually the issue. I've been focusing a lot on the ball guide lately, as it seemed twisted/bent (see photo). I removed it to straighten things and reinstalled. I now get some rejections off of the scoop...ugh.

While I had the ball guide out I noticed the wear pattern on it. It looks like some shots are getting high on the guide as they go around the turn (see photo). This leads me to think that these shots are riding high and colliding with the control gate bracket. This would explain the interference, as well as why it seemed better when I had the control gate out.

What isn't explained is why some shots are getting high on the ball guide. I checked the playfield to make sure everything is flat. The inserts are not raised, and there do not seem to be any high spots on the playfield that would cause the ball to get air. Maybe turn down the left flipper power? I haven't tried that yet but am considering it.

Stern support is aware. We were eyeing the control gate but now are focusing on the ball guide in case my adjustments weren't correct (I'm waiting to hear). I also traded a message with RayDay and he suggested a slight bend to the ball guide as well.

I'm going to keep tweaking things and see if I get anywhere. It would be great to hear other owner stories around this one. Anyone else out there with this issue?

Cheers!

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Likely a short somewhere. Node 9 handles the mid-upper playfield. Do you see any GI that isn't lit in that area? A shorted socket could be your culprit. I had this issue with Node 8. The trough error was just a downstream effect - once I fixed the short it cleared.

Just noticed Node 9 also has the GI for the back panel. Be sure to take a look there as well.

In my case there was too much solder on one of the sockets, causing it to short. I removed the excess and cleaned up the connections.

In your case, I would put a meter on the different color GI strings. If you find one (or more) shorted, visually inspect all.of the sockets in that chain to see if any have a solder blob anywhere.

New wear item alert! The o-ring on the EM housing post. Reference the pic in post #5405. During play this afternoon, this dropped onto the playfield after an especially brutal brick-fest multiball. Not stocked at Marco, but the LZ manual has the McMaster Carr part number referenced. I know, I should play better and not brick shots!

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For anyone having issues with right orbit shots getting fouled around the control gate - I may have found a fix. After a lot of analysis it looks like the ball is getting airborne and riding high on the ball guide (noted by the wear pattern on the ball guide - see post #4862). I'm theorizing it is colliding with the gate bracket and getting deflected. I cannot find any high spots on the playfield, but I have to assume the ball is somehow getting air off of the switch.

I mocked up a lexan cover and tested for a while. Results were great, so I refined the design and had a friend cut it on a CNC. The installed finished product is shown in the attached photos. It is installed directly on top of the game plastics using the existing screws.

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Chalkey asks a good question about whether your shots are getting rejected at the gate or saucer. Take a look at my post #5714 - it may help.

Okay, I made a video...I shot the right orbit repeatedly, and edited out all the dead space, so I have a video that just shows a series of shots up the right orbit. Most get rejected. The first two and a half minutes show approximately 22 shots at regular speed, and then the video shows the same shots at half speed. The half speed video is revealing. Although the rejects vary, there is one thing that seems to happen consistently: a solid right orbit shot skates across the rubber along the top of the playfield, and then strikes the metal guide just above the saucer...from there, the ball ricochets downwards into the gate for the reject (examples at 7:07, 8:20 and 9:24). Even some of the balls that don't get rejected seem to bounce off the ball guide above the saucer and then ricochet off the gate, but the gate sometimes bounces them into the saucer.
Based on this, I see two possible fixes: bend the ball guide above the saucer upwards to reduce the angle of downward ricochet, or bend the gate wireform to try and get the ball to bounce upwards into the saucer instead of away from the saucer.
But, I'm open to better ideas...I'm not sure "bending" metal is the best

I would suggest examining the ball guide in the right orbit to see if it reveals any clues as to what the ball is doing. For example, it may not look like the ball is getting airborne, but the ball guide may suggest otherwise. It could also indicate if the ball is bouncing at a consistent spot that may give you an idea how to shape, bend, or otherwise adjust. Take a look at my post #4862.

I would suggest examining the ball guide in the right orbit to see if it reveals any clues as to what the ball is doing. For example, it may not look like the ball is getting airborne, but the ball guide may suggest otherwise. It could also indicate if the ball is bouncing at a consistent spot that may give you an idea how to shape, bend, or otherwise adjust. Take a look at my post #4862.

Take a look to see if you've got any GI lamps out -- I had an issue with a solder blob shorting a lamp socket. Once I cleaned it up, the node board overcurrent error went away, as did the trough error (a downstream effect of the node board error). Node Board 9 is for the mid-upper playfield. Good luck!

Check out my post #5714 -- it may help