Leveling your pinball

KidVidiot

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This is still somewhat of a mystery to me. Every table I've bought I haven't adjusted the legs or anything, just assumed they were good from the previous owner. But how do I *know* what the right height for the back and front legs is? Does the manual say? And is the manual always accurate, or are there revised "agreed upon" height/level mods for different tables? Is it more a matter of preference on if I want the game to play faster or be harder? Does it depend on how powerful my flipper coils are?
 
6.5 degree slope back to front is the "accepted" standard for most manufacturers. Adjust from there to taste. Level side to side obviously also.

If you have a smart phone there are many free level/inclinometer apps to use. Remove the glass, start the app and place the phone directly on your playfield, slightly above the flippers. Adjust leg levelers as necessary. Otherwise, you'll need to use a small carpenters level, unless your machine has one built in (some do).
 
6.5 degree slope back to front is the "accepted" standard for most manufacturers. Adjust from there to taste. Level side to side obviously also.

If you have a smart phone there are many free level/inclinometer apps to use. Remove the glass, start the app and place the phone directly on your playfield, slightly above the flippers. Adjust leg levelers as necessary. Otherwise, you'll need to use a small carpenters level, unless your machine has one built in (some do).

^^^ what he said
 
6.5 degree slope back to front is the "accepted" standard for most manufacturers. Adjust from there to taste. Level side to side obviously also.

If you have a smart phone there are many free level/inclinometer apps to use. Remove the glass, start the app and place the phone directly on your playfield, slightly above the flippers. Adjust leg levelers as necessary. Otherwise, you'll need to use a small carpenters level, unless your machine has one built in (some do).

To add to this, I level the front legs (side to side) as low as they can go, and get the 6-7 degree slope by raising the back legs. I also try to find a spot near the back of the playfield to level the back legs side to side. On some games with a lot of ramps, its tough to find a spot back there!
 
This is a great question. I have my BK2K set at 6.5 degrees. I just got my Bally BMX finished and went to level it and can't get close to 6.5 degrees. I have 3.5" leg levelers with the fronts all the way down and the back's all the way up and I'm still only at about 3.5 degrees. Were the earlier games made to play at a more "level" setting?

Murph
 
EM's were designed for less slope, but that era Bally you should be able to get close to 6-6.5 i would think. (cool rare game btw...).

Stock legs that are all the same length? (simplistic question, but you never know..some other Bally models have longer legs on back than front). Slope on the floor you can't overcome? Playfield seated properly into the cabinet?
 
when i run out of back legs i just use a small even piece of wood to prop the machine up just a bit more;)
cheap ghetto fix ;)
u got money get new legs lol
 
I just had to lower the angle on my Time Warp bc it was impossible to hit the bullseye target. Don't just set up the game on numbers alone. Test the playfield.
 
EM's were designed for less slope, but that era Bally you should be able to get close to 6-6.5 i would think. (cool rare game btw...).

Stock legs that are all the same length? (simplistic question, but you never know..some other Bally models have longer legs on back than front). Slope on the floor you can't overcome? Playfield seated properly into the cabinet?

When I got the game it had no legs. So I purchased new repro Bally grey legs. 28.5" all around. Th machine is on the slab in my lower level now but I also had it on the floor in my garage and could not get close in either location.

Playfield is seated in the cabinet correctly

Whilist I agree that I am not unhappy with the way it plays right now, I was curious if I have something wrong that is preventing me from getting the full 6.5 degrees

Murph
 
you cant trust that the previous owne has it set right either, especially if its coming off route. One of the old tricks is to set it at the steepest angle possible that still allows the flippers to get the ball to the top of the game. Makes the game faster and harder, = more quarters. Ive picked up a shitload of routed pins with the back fully extended, and even a couple system 11s with longer legs in the back
 
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