So I noticed the balls in my LOTR were sticking together when locked. I figured the balls were magnetized, so I replaced them, twice now. I raised the playfield, emptied the trough, and placed a light weight washer on the trough and it sticks. The trough is obviously magnetized, which is magnetizing the balls. A new trough from Marco is $129, so I would like to demagnetize this trough if possible. I searched for help on google, and I have a monitor degausser, but it really isn't haven't an affect on the trough...the washer still sticks to it.

Has anybody come up with a quick and simple way to solve this?

I did remove the trough to degauss it. After playing with the degausser some more, I now have the trough to a point where the washer won't stick to it anywhere. I'm going to reinstall the trough, put new balls in the game, check all the grounds, and give it a go...unless there are any other suggestions???

I used a degaussing coil and demagnetized the trough. Haven't had a problem again since my original post 2 months ago.

I always buy my pinballs from Pinball Life.

Yes, I believe so.