Are My Pinball Machines Even Level?

Cary Hardy·video·12m 31s·analyzed·Oct 7, 2018

Analysis

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TL;DR

Cary Hardy tests leveling methods on his pinball collection, finding the ball-drop test more reliable than phone apps.

Summary

Cary Hardy demonstrates the process of leveling pinball machines using both a ball-drop visual test and a smartphone leveling app (Pin Leveler for Android). He tests his entire collection and discovers that while the app is helpful, it should not be trusted as gospel—the ball-drop test is more reliable. He highlights that carpet surfaces create additional challenges since machines settle and shift over time, unlike hardwood or concrete floors.

Key Claims

Machines placed on carpet will shift and become unlevel within 12 hours due to cushion and carpet compression
high confidence · Cary describes personal experience with machines at pinball festivals settling overnight
The Pin Leveler app should be used as an assistant, not as gospel truth for leveling
high confidence · Cary's conclusion after testing all machines: 'the application via your phone is not gospel okay it is a mere assistant'
Arnold's playfield may have manufacturing defects causing discrepancies between app readings and actual ball behavior
medium confidence · Cary notes 'I'm pretty sure this is on a manufacturing level when it comes to how the play field was mounted'
The ball-drop test from the center of the playfield is more reliable than app readings
high confidence · Cary's final conclusion: 'If anything else, I would only trust the ball drop test'
Ideal tilt angle is approximately 6-7 percent for proper playfield operation
medium confidence · Cary states 'typically i think i like to run at least six percent or better uh totan was no problem at seven percent'

Notable Quotes

“One of the many things that can annoy me is playing a pinball machine that is not level.”
Cary Hardy@ 0:00 — Establishes the motivation for the video and relevance to both casual and serious players
“whenever you actually level your machine when you first place it on the carpet, in a matter of 12 hours that machine will take a dip on either leg depending on the cushion and the carpet below”
Cary Hardy@ 0:38 — Explains a critical challenge for home collectors with carpet installations
“the application via your phone is not gospel okay it is a mere assistant in the leveling process do not judge it solely”
Cary Hardy@ 11:27 — Key takeaway warning against over-relying on technology; emphasizes the importance of practical testing
“If anything else, I would only trust the ball drop test.”
Cary Hardy@ 11:35 — Final recommendation prioritizing mechanical/visual verification over digital measurement
“For those of us on carpet, trust me, we envy you.”
Cary Hardy@ 11:47 — Humorous acknowledgment that carpet creates ongoing maintenance challenges not faced by hardwood/concrete users

Entities

Cary HardypersonPin Leveler appproductTales of the Arabian NightsgameArnoldgameTotangame Swords of FurygameWorld Cup Soccer 94gameBack to the FuturegameJackBotgame

Signals

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product_concern: Manufacturing defects on Arnold playfield causing app/reality mismatch in levelness readings, suggesting possible quality control issues with how playfields are mounted in cabinet
medium · Cary observes 'massive different readings between what the application reads as being level and what the machine actually is' and attributes it to 'manufacturing level when it comes to how the play field was mounted'
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technology_signal: Smartphone leveling apps may provide misleading readings and should not be relied upon as primary leveling tools; practical ball-drop test is more trustworthy
high · Cary's systematic testing reveals discrepancies on multiple machines and concludes 'do not judge it solely' and 'I would only trust the ball drop test'

Transcript

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0:00

What's up guys? One of the many things that can annoy me is playing a pinball machine that is not level.

0:19

Now people have their own methods on making sure their game is level, or as level as they can make it, in the type of environment that they live in or even the type of material that they are aligning on. And one of the tricky parts about aligning on carpet is that you cannot align it in one state. Meaning once you actually level your machine when you first place it on the carpet, in a matter of 12 hours that machine will take a dip on either leg depending on the cushion and the carpet below. On hardwood or any other solid surface like that, you're not going to have to worry about that. I, on the other hand, have carpet. And this tends to happen whenever I go to pinball festivals, is that whenever the machines are set up, they are starting out as level when I first place them, but by the next day, they can be completely off and play completely different. There are a couple of ways that you can verify the integrity of your sway of the machine by either using the simple place the ball on top of the play field and let it fall directly down the middle if it does your machine is level enough or you can download the app available on the android market store and there's also a different app that you can download on your ios device since i swear against ios devices i will be using the pin leveler app on my android device Now here's the thing guys, is that I actually don't know for sure 100% if my machines are level. I'm going to place a pinball at the top of the playfield and let it fall. And I'm going to judge just by visual means if I believe the game is level. Then I will use the app to deter if it's level or not. For all I know, my machines are way off. The only machine that I'm pretty much going to guarantee should be level is Totan over here. Since that was my most recent install and I can tell you right now when that ball was on that top magnet in front of the Genie and it releases, it can drop just straight down the middle without issue. Okay, so when you're using this application, the first thing you want to do is calibrate the device. so you want to make sure that you don't have a weird case where it's completely just misshapen and you can't lay it flat directly on the floor or you know for 100% sure level surface that is your zero point guys this is what you're going to be judging the angle of your machine on is what you're calibrating to so you don't want to calibrate it on the plate field or on the glass because it's not level. Find a flat surface in your home and lay your phone down and hit that calibrate button Now your app is calibrated at zero and you should be able to adjust accordingly to that So are my games level I sure as hell hope so but we about to find out Perfect.