Yes, resolder the pins and such on the relay board. Worked for me.

I've not done a WCS94, but have done Funhouse, JD, TFTC, TSPP, and POTC. I found LOTR to be about average generally, but there seemed to be more fluff and trim and shields to deal with than average.

Biggest PITA regards the lights and flashers on the return lanes / ball guides. Impossible to remove without unsoldering. (huh?!?) I added a couple connecters to make the future easier.

Here's a few pix from my recent shop job. Have fun!

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Personally, and FWIW, I'm not a big shaker fan and I've not added one to my LOTR. So if I may, don't forget about: ColorDMD, LED's, Cliffys, Jay's Palantir mod, and the Path of the Dead (POTD) mods. (I listed those in no particular order, and no I do not have all of them on my LOTR.)

Yes, I gave you ZERO help in your shaker questions... So sue me. Have fun, buddy!

(If nothing else, I gave you a bump.)

Must be some interesting settings. I've destroyed the ring dozens of times but gotten all the characters over maybe 2 or 3 times.

Great game!

Zora, DO buy and install the upgraded coils. http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1112

I (and many others) have. No issues. I'm surprised the old ones don't burst into flames they get so hot.

Do it. You'll be glad you did.

Mode-wise, I find Witch King the most challenging by far. I've only completed it once so far. But when I did, the animations and sounds were a cool surprise. Hope to see/hear them again soon...

New high! Er, low. Destroyed the ring in under 40 sec!

image.jpg

Cave Troll On. Been on 1 ball DTR, but just changed it to 2 ball to try it out. Then, my next 3 games sucked of course and didn't get to DTR! Perhaps tomorrow I'll experience what the 2-ball is like...

Yes! I did it!

GC score at 1.1B ?!? Love the topper btw.

Topper aside... (Cool as it is.) A ColorDMD is what it needs!

Indeed. And welcome to the club. It's where the cool kids hang out.

Witch King is the toughest mode by far. I've completed it only twice. The animations/sounds are the best!

Wow, the eject from that hole shouldn't even come CLOSE to hitting the wireform. It's not even *really* a VUK. More of a kickout. WTH you got under there?!?

And of course... make sure the machine is level and at proper pitch. Best wishes.

Any ball drop into the left tower will VUK the ball into the POTD.

Also, the right return lane will "light the POTD." Meaning, the left orbit shot will get diverted into the tower and hence the POTD.

Not sure, it's either a short period or stays available until you hit *something*. Be it the left orbit or something else. I'd have to test.

Maybe Gomez doesn't like Liv Tyler.

More likely not the motor IMO. a) Check switches via diagnostics. b) Reflow solder on the relay board.

Indeed. Reflow (and add) some solder and I'll wager it will solve your Balrog issues.

It's not supposed to. In normal settings, mode start is lit at the start of each ball. Once a mode ends, mode start is relit by collecting 3 elf (white) rings. Also, you cannot start a mode while any of the 3 movie multiballs are running. Hope this helps.

I disagree, and that's not been my experience.

I've seen this solution. Strapping on fans? Really? Worst case last resort "problem-solving" IMO.

comment23 Welcome to the club! Here are a couple threads re #LOTR mods.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/best-mods-for-lotr

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lotr-mods-2

Those forked VUK switches are to be kept on hand for sure. Nothing else LOTR-specific comes to my mind.

If my Balrog motor makes any noise, it must be getting drowned out by the "roar" sound effect. Never noticed much motor sound. FWIW.

Now that we're on the subject of TABA... anyone else notice... when screen says "Shoot a lit shot" the ring is lit? And when it says "Shoot the ring" all the shots are lit? Like, it's backwards.

Are you sure it's not registering? Looking at screen or listening to call-outs? The call-out doesn't always happen if there's other speech going on.

You need to put a nut there behind Palantir to hold the wireform down. Having no nut allows the wireform to raise slightly when the ball is launched upward. Thereby letting the ball get trapped. Just theory of course, but seems solid.

FWIW, I have no washer and no problem.

Mine's like this.

lotr (resized).jpg

Yes, curious.

If bending the actuator doesn't help, just replace the switch. Notoriously flaky.

jsm172 -- You'll love it! I'm playing some of my last games on her, and she's she's still solid as a rock. Is it too late to raise my price?

Bend/adjust the spinner so it's leaning forward a bit -- rather than leaning backward. Make a big diff.

@jsm172 -- This thread should have the answers you seek. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/lotr-projected-eye-palantir-mod

I'm glad you got one!

If not registering and therefore going into ball search, then it's the switch. Bend or replace.

If the VUK "can't get it up," then you need to clean, check, etc the VUK coil/assembly.

From your description, it sounds like you have both problems.

red-line, your sister is talented and quite creative. Nice gift!