Issue with 'tulip' on LOTR Pachinko

[Bencrest]

Hi all,

1st problem with one of my machines

Was playing LOTR last night, and noticed I didn't get any ball payout from getting a ball in the central tulip. Thought it must be an empty hopper, but noticed the hopper empty lights were off, and theres loads in there. I also noticed (eventually!) that I didn't get the spin added to the bank of 4 on the LCD.

Thought 'maybe it just didn't hit the sensor?!' and got a couple more balls in there - at which point they started backing up. Theres *something* stopping balls from passing through the 'tulip' entrance, and out to the spent balls tray at the back of the machine.

Only problem is, it looks pretty complex to get to.

I bought the machine from Steve at 777Heaven (UK) so am guessing he will sort it out, but if it is something really simple I'd rather have it sorted ASAP because I just know theres a FEVER round around the corner

Any ideas?

Cheers all!

Photo can be supplied if necessary but didn't really think it necessary as all you can see is balls in between the 2 green moving arms of the tulip, and that depresses me

[Sid]

95% you got something blocking the ball path.. and probably just before the sensor that registors the balls as entering...

Maybe if you flipped the machine upside down the balls and blockage would come out throught the tulip..

Just be gentle.....


I know from my spiderman machine that its not that difficult to get to the back of the cell and see clear whatever is blocking up the tracks..

[Bencrest]

Cheers Sid, will do that in a sec, emptied the hopper already so shouldn't cause too much mess!

I picked the machine up earlier and gave it a gentle 'up and down' shake, and it appeared to clear the blockage, but as soon as more balls went in there they backed up again.

[Lddrizzt]

Once you get it cleared I would still tear it down a little and get to that pocket to make sure there isn't something there that is still gonna block the balls, it could be a small piece of debris that is making the hole just a little too small and is jammed in there.
Take pics as you go so you can refer to them as you put it back together.

[drcrippen324]

or see if you can open the glass and get a pipe cleaner in there to clear the blocage

LOTR is an easy machine to tear down and get at the pockets if i had one left i would do it for you with pics dont forget most of the bords are held with clips not screws so go gental or risk breaking a clip

[luckydog]

you may have a ball a little oversize, I've pulled a few out that looked oversize.

compressed air may help to blow out the blockage too.