# American Pinball Computer Swap **Source:** American Pinball **Type:** video **Published:** 2023-05-02 **Duration:** 5m 27s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi2KcOIzn9Q --- ## Analysis Dave Brennan, Tech Service Manager for American Pinball, provides a detailed instructional guide for swapping the computer (CPU) in a Hot Wheels pinball machine. The video walks through the complete process: powering down, removing the back glass, disconnecting the monitor and its cables, removing the old computer, installing the new computer with proper alignment, reconnecting all peripherals, reinstalling the monitor, and closing the back glass. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] American Pinball machines use removable computer modules in the backbox with standardized bracket mounting systems — _Dave Brennan demonstrates the physical mounting and connector standards used across American Pinball machines_ - [HIGH] Hot Wheels pinball machine uses HDMI and USB connectivity for monitor and audio peripherals — _Dave Brennan explicitly identifies and demonstrates HDMI cord, USB connections, and audio connections during the swap procedure_ - [HIGH] Computer replacement is a field-serviceable procedure intended for operators and technicians — _American Pinball published this instructional video as part of their Tech Tips series with contact information for support_ ### Notable Quotes > "It always helps, I always tell people to take pictures of any connectors before you remove them so you know how they go back." > — **Dave Brennan**, ~3:20 > _Best practice advice for technicians performing computer swaps; indicates standard service recommendations_ > "You notice that it has holes in there in the back of it that match up with the bracket in there in your back box. So what you would need to do is line that up with the center holes and it will slide down at a downward angle." > — **Dave Brennan**, ~4:45 > _Describes standardized mechanical alignment system for computer installation, indicating modular design_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Dave Brennan | person | Tech Service Manager for American Pinball; primary speaker providing instruction in this video | | American Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; source of this educational tech tips video series | | Hot Wheels | game | American Pinball machine used as demonstration subject for computer swap procedure | ### Topics - **Primary:** Field service and maintenance, Computer hardware replacement - **Secondary:** American Pinball technical design, Operator education and support ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Educational/instructional content delivered in professional manner; no subjective commentary or emotional content ### Signals - **[community_signal]** American Pinball producing educational tech tutorial content demonstrates ongoing commitment to operator and owner education/support (confidence: high) — Publication of detailed instructional video covering common field service procedure with support contact information provided - **[technology_signal]** American Pinball machines use modular computer architecture with standardized mounting and HDMI/USB connectivity, enabling field-level replacement without factory service (confidence: high) — Video demonstrates removable computer module with standardized bracket alignment, HDMI monitor connection, USB peripherals, and designed-in accessibility for technicians --- ## Transcript Hello and welcome to American Pinball Tech Tips. I'm Dave Jeff Brenner, the Tech Service Manager for American Pinball. Today we're going to be doing a computer swap on this Hot Wheels pinball machine. So first thing you want to do is turn the power off on your game. Next thing you want to do is locate the keys that are located inside your bat your coin door for the backbox. Unlatch the lock, take your palm, push in and up on the back glass, put your fingers underneath the left channel, pivot the glass out and set it someplace safe so it doesn't get scratched. Now with the back glass removed you'll have to get at the monitor and remove the cables on the underside. So there's the power and the HDMI cord. All you have to do is pull down on those to disconnect them. To release the monitor there's a bracket with two Phillips head screws on the left and right Just loosen the screws and once they loosened you can lift up on the monitor and pull it out And then set this off to the side so it doesn't get scratched. Now that your monitor is removed you can see the computer in the backbox. At the side of the computer you'll see all the connections you have your power connection, HDMI cord, some USB connections, and then the amplifier connection for your sound. It always helps, I always tell people to take pictures of any connectors before you remove them so you know how they go back. So once you've taken a picture go ahead ahead and unplug the connections. At the top of the computer is a plastic post with the rubber. You want to unscrew the post and remove that. Now that that's done you need to slide the computer at an upward angle and find the center point to remove the computer from the bracket Now take your new computer you notice that it has holes in the back of it that match up with the bracket in your backbox So what you would need to do is line that up with the center holes and it will slide down at a downward angle. So just place it in, you'll have to find the center point and then just slide the computer down to its resting position. From here, take the plastic post with the rubber on it and screw this into the top. That secures it for when you're supposed to be moving the game around. Now you can plug your connectors back in. You have your power cord, your HDMI cord, audio cord goes in the green slot at the top, your USB connections, and you're all plugged back in. Now take your monitor you see that it has the keyhole slots on the right and left of the monitor Make sure that your connections for the cords is facing down and you have to line up the brackets with the screws on the sides and then tighten it up screws on each side. Once you're tightened all those up Now take the power cord that you unplugged earlier as well as the HDMI cord. The easiest way to do this is to just feel underneath, find the plug for the power and the HDMI and plug those in. Now take your back glass and pivot it into the channel, drop it down in the slot and latch it closed. If you have any questions as you go through this process, feel free to reach out to the email or phone number listed at the bottom of the screen. Thanks for watching. _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 2a5e36ae-4d91-48c6-9c2d-106597bd3117*