Pinball 101

This page can be considered as the Pinball Machine FAQ, or Pinball 101. Answers a lot of questions one has when new in the hobby, thinking of buying a machine and looking for one, want help to get it home, or how to start maintenance. Everyone was a beginner once. I also had to learn everything I know now about pinball. These pages started with me writing down everything I learned myself, as there was almost no information to be found online back in 2000 when I started with my first machine.

If you have remarks, questions about things that are not clear or missing, please let me know. I'm reworking these pages and appreciate feedback.

Finding your first pinball machine and getting it home

Choosing a pinball machine
There are thousands of different models made. Which one to choose ?

Deep rules and easy games
What is a game with 'deep' rules ? Should you buy a difficult game or an easy one ?
What's the difference ? How good are Medieval Madness or Scared Stiff ??

Inspect a machine before buying it
What to look for when buying a pinball machine.

Buying a pinball machine
Where and how to buy a pinball machine ? What to keep in mind ? Will it increase in value ?

Moving a pinball machine
It's big and heavy.. how do you get it into your house ?

How to open a lock
OK so the machine you bought is closed and you do not have a key. What do you do now ?

Pinball dimensions
All dimensions, length and width of a pinball machine, so you can check if you can move it in your car or where to place it in your home.

Number of games played
How to find the number of games played on a pinball machine.

Opening a Stern pinball machine
Stern changed in 2016 how the backbox of their pinball machine opens.
It's easy to do, you just have to know how, and get used to it when you only have experience with older games.

How to open a pinball machine
OK.. there's a glass above the playfield so you cannot work on it.. or can you ?

How to remove the backbox of a pinball machine
Or: prepare to move a pinball machine on your own.

Remove the backbox on Williams System11
How to remove the backbox of a Williams System 11 pinball machine.

Unpacking a NIB Spooky pinball machine
How to unpack and set up a new in box Spooky (Alice Cooper Nightmare Castle) pinball machine.

Pinball machine information

Pinball Glossary
What is the correct name of all these weird parts on a pinball machine?

History of pinball in the USA
History of the american pinball manufacturing companies and the people behind them.

Pinballs
Everything about steel pinballs !

Promo plastics and pinball flyers
More information about promo plastics, pinball flyers, and what extras get delivered together with your game.

Bingo machines
Like a pinball machine without flippers ? Not at all ! Bingo machines are complex skill based gambling machines.

The evolution of flippers bats
Flippers are what make a pinball machine a pinball machine. How did they appear and evolve.

Pinball rubbers
Using rubber bands in pinball machines has changed over the years.

Coin mechanisms and free play
What are coin mechs, how do they work, what is free play ?

Pinball Leg Length
Different brands of pinball machines used different types and lengths of legs for their cabinets. An overview so you know what type of leg belongs with what machine.

General Illumination
What is it and what should you know about it ?

Stern Insider Connected
Connect your game to the internet, compare your score to the whole world and earn online badges.

Midnight Madness
At midnight your pinball machine goes crazy..

Pinball machine price guide
How much can you expect to pay/get for a machine ?

Price history of the Medieval Madness pinball machine
Medieval Madness is a pinball machine that always cost more than other similar machines. Many people do not undertand what makes MM so special. History and background information about Medieval Madness.

Interlock circuit
What is this weird yellow metal part for ?

Maintaining and repairing your pinball machine

Lamps and Leds in pinball machines
What are the most common used lamps and leds used in pinball machines ?

Tilt!
What is the tilt mechanism for ? How to adjust it ?

Testing a pinball machine
More detailed tests you can do to see if everything works.

Cleaning your pinball machine
Pinball machines need maintenance and a playfield needs to be cleaned. How to keep your pinball machine in great condition. A cleaned shiny playfield looks much better with bright colors.

Level a pinball machine
ow to level your pinball machines and set the playfield at the correct slope. With free playfield angle adjustment tool !

Adjusting your pinball machine
Don't like the gameplay ? There are some things you can change. How to tune the gameplay or 'dial in' your brand new machine.

Adjust switches and contacts
How to adjust switches to make them very sensitive and consistent.

Make a pinball machine more silent
A pinball machine makes a lot of noise.. what can you do to make it silent ?

Minimise reflections
The effect of anti-reflective glass and privacy filters. How to make the artwork of your playfield really stand out.

Damage caused by leaked batteries
Identify leaked battery damage and how to repair it yourself.

How the switch matrix works
How do electronic pinball machines read switches, how does their switch matrix work ?

Introduction to the WPC boardset
Overview of all boards used by Williams and Bally WPC-89 and WPC-95 games.

WPC country settings
Change the country to which your pinball machine is set, and not only the language but many more things suddenly change.

How electronic pinball machines work
What are the different circuits and boards that are involved in how an electronic pinball machine works.

IC pin one
How are the pins numbered on chips and connectors ? How to identify pin 1 of a chip ?

Pinball eproms
What are eproms ? How to program an eprom ? Update the software of your pinball machine.

Stern Spike2 software upgrade
How to install the latest software package on a Stern Spike2 pinball machine.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, .. about these pages, please email me. Also just email me if you like these pages and they have been helpful when looking for a pinball machine. It's feedback like that I need to make these pages better, and to be motivated to keep on updating them.

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