Lord of the Rings
Stern, 2003Hey everyone,
Today, my roommate was playing a game of LOTR when the ball dropped out of the magnet, and then he could no longer complete Destroy the ring.
I opened it up to find that the magnet did not work at all. So I replaced F20. Nothing.
What should I check next? Is my magnet shot? How do I confirm or verify this?
Ohm out the magnet. If that's fine check the driving transistor. But I think they fail hot so it will stay locked on. Did your fuse a second time?
So if you replaced the fuse with what is listed in the manual that may be the problem. The manual has the wrong value. I don't remember exactly but I think that manual has a 3AMP or 4AMP listed when a 5AMP is required.
Quoted from Hougie:Mine blew the transistor replaced with beefier transistor and no problem since.
Same thing with me. Once I replaced the transistor all was fine and haven't had any ring issues for 6 years now.
Quoted from Hougie:Mine blew the transistor replaced with beefier transistor and no problem since.
Quoted from Buckman:Same thing with me. Once I replaced the transistor all was fine and haven't had any ring issues for 6 years now.
What # transistor did you use to replace?
edit- my magnet is a little finicky, I also blew the fuse and put a 5amp in and its worked since then, but doesnt function the same every shot, doesnt always catch and throw the same, wonder if I change out the transistor if it would smooth it out a little?
Quoted from centerflank:What # transistor did you use to replace?
Not at home right now so I can't check my LOTR file to see what I used, but I'm pretty sure it was this one:
http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/STP20N10L
I remember reading a thread on RGP about how this transistor was a replacement for the STP20N10L at Q6.
How did you determine the magnet was not working?
Are you testing using the test mode or by activating the spinner?
Could it be the spinner switch? That switch can get hit.
Yup, the IRL540. I suggest buying 3-4, as there's a good probability that the flipper transistors will also blow someday. For example, it can happen just by holding up a flipper for a while, like during multiball or when explaining rules to a friend. Happened to both flippers on my LOTR LE (made just over 3 years ago) within the first 6-8 months.
I don't know if Stern has upgraded this component, but if not they definitely should!
Quoted from centerflank:What # transistor did you use to replace?
edit- my magnet is a little finicky, I also blew the fuse and put a 5amp in and its worked since then, but doesnt function the same every shot, doesnt always catch and throw the same, wonder if I change out the transistor if it would smooth it out a little?
it's not suppose to throw the same. Depending on what is going on in the game, it will throw it out the front or around the back. that's how it's suppose to work. Even if it wasn't, it would have nothing to do with the transistor. Transistor either works or it doesn't. THe CPU tells it when to let go and when to grab.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:it's not suppose to throw the same. Depending on what is going on in the game, it will throw it out the front or around the back. that's how it's suppose to work. Even if it wasn't, it would have nothing to do with the transistor. Transistor either works or it doesn't. THe CPU tells it when to let go and when to grab.
Interesting, quite an odd way to have in function, I like it when it shoots around and feeds the right flipper, Ill have to tweak the code 
Quoted from centerflank:Interesting, quite an odd way to have in function, I like it when it shoots around and feeds the right flipper, Ill have to tweak the code
No, it's part of the game rules and makes sense. If you start a ring mode, etc., the ball gets thrown back and around the right ramp to the flipper. If you make the ring shot with no mode activated, it just drops the ball in front, at the top of the pf (where it may go to the Orthanc vuk or the top rollovers).
Quoted from StevenP:If you make the ring shot with no mode activated, it just drops the ball in front, at the top of the pf (where it may go to the Orthanc vuk or the top rollovers).
See, now Ive started modes where it was holding the ball, then dropped it out the front like a fumble, thats a bit off right?
Quoted from CaptainNeo:no, depends on what mode your in. Different modes react differently. your game is working fine.
Gotcha, Ive never played anyone elses LOTR so didnt know if it was all normal or not.
Mine does the same thing, centerflank. I've only seen a couple LOTRs other than mine, but they all do it. Working as intended!
Quoted from CaptainNeo:no, depends on what mode your in. Different modes react differently. your game is working fine.
Correct. I misstated it. sry
Cory, I thought you were coming over to play Oribitor 1 anyway? You can play my LOTR if you want to compare.
Quoted from CaptainNeo:Cory, I thought you were coming over to play Oribitor 1 anyway? You can play my LOTR if you want to compare.
I actually got to play one at Bangers. Im off friday though, Ill pop over if you are free. Id really like to play some ac/dc!!!! Even though TRON is better 
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lotr-magnet and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.
Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.
Round Lake Beach, IL
Vancouver, BC