New Black Hole Owner - noob question(s)

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Just got a new to me Black Hole pinball. Needs some work, but is mostly working.

I'm embarrassed to ask this question, but when you open the upper playfield, how the heck do you support it like a normal pinball playfield?

There is one small thin support rod on the right side. When I put it up and put the playfield on it to hold it open, the playfield just kind of twists and won't stay there.

Thanks. I'm sure I'll have others later once I figure out how to keep this from smashing my head in while I'm working on the power supply.

Tom
 
The OEM support sucks. I made a support stick out of a 2x2 piece of lumber. I set it down in the bottom of the cabinet (by the coin door hole), and it has a notch on the top end that the lockdown bracket sits into.

I also put a towel on over the head, and lean it back against that when I want more access inside the cabinet, but don't need access to the top of the playfield.
 
As far as I know Black Hole does not have a playfield prop rod. The one thats in there is probably someones homemade attempt at one. To keep the playfield up you should lift it all the way up, so that the playfiled apron rests against the backbox. The playfield should stay put when it's in the FULL upright position.
-Mark

Oh and by the way....take the balls out first. You can do this by tricking the machine to keep spitting them out by closing the switches in the trough which are accesible underneath the playfield. Do this when you start up a game.
 
I should add that if the machine is in a basement with a low ceiling....you may not be able to lift the playfield all the way up....found that one out on house call....freakin sucked!!
 
Oh and by the way....take the balls out first. You can do this by tricking the machine to keep spitting them out by closing the switches in the trough which are accesible underneath the playfield. Do this when you start up a game.

Or take one of those magnetic devices shaped like a pen and grab them...That's how I do it.
 
Or take one of those magnetic devices shaped like a pen and grab them...That's how I do it.

I just stick my finger in by the shooter and push the cam that holds the ball in. Release and the ball comes right out. Repeat twice more.
 
Oh and by the way....take the balls out first. You can do this by tricking the machine to keep spitting them out by closing the switches in the trough which are accesible underneath the playfield. Do this when you start up a game.


I stuff a sock in the hole where the balls pop out. :)

That way I never forget to put the balls back in with the glass.. I just forget to take the sock out ;)
 
Or take one of those magnetic devices shaped like a pen and grab them...That's how I do it.


Holy crap, you just made my life a million times easier! I feel so DUMB right now! I've got a 20lb pickup and never thought of that, lol!
 
Thanks for the replies. I did print a pdf of the manual yesterday that was a xerox copy. The pictures are not very usable which is why I asked.

I'm not letting the playfield twist believe me!

I'll give it a try tonight.

Thx
Tom
 
Never use the prop rod on the inside of any pinball machine. Some one metioned before, it twists the playfield and can crack the paint and artwork. The best thing I've found is one of those cheap pool sticks that break apart into 3 sections and have those stupid removable ring weights. They work great since they are somewhat adjustable. Break the pool tip off and it gives you a nice small attachment point that I usually put against something like the flipper assembly.
 
Sorry a little late to this thread. My Black Hole has these playfield supports...not sure if it's a custom job or not.
 

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Yeah....you'll find those types of supports on a Black Hole machine, but what they are lacking is the typical prop rod that holds the playfield up at 45 degree angle. (aprox)
-Mark
 
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