Pinball Leg Length: The Complete Guide by Machine (inches and cm)
The short answer: there is no single pinball leg size, but four standard lengths — 27 inches (68.5 cm), 28.5 inches (72 cm), 30.5 inches (77.5 cm) and 31 inches (78.8 cm). The right choice depends on the manufacturer and the year of your machine, never on personal preference. A Gottlieb System 80 takes 27-inch (68.5 cm) legs; a Williams WPC takes 28.5-inch (72 cm) legs; a modern Stern takes 30.5-inch (77.5 cm) legs. This guide covers every manufacturer, every era, the factory exceptions, the levelers, the bolts and how to measure properly.
New: this guide now includes an exhaustive machine-by-machine list — 158 titles sorted by system, with a clickable alphabetical index that takes you straight to the right row. It also covers, at the end of the guide, adjusting the leg levelers — the rotating foot that touches the floor — and the pitch to set on the playfield.
Quick answer: the 4 standard lengths
The four pinball leg lengths used across the industry:
- 27 inches = 68.5 cm — Gottlieb System 1, System 80/80A/80B, Williams 1966–1987, early Gottlieb DMD
- 28.5 inches = 72 cm — Williams/Bally System 11 and WPC, Bally 1968–1987, Stern 1977–1985, Zaccaria, Pinball 2000, early Data East
- 30.5 inches = 77.5 cm — late Data East, Sega, modern Stern
- 31 inches = 78.8 cm — Gottlieb single-player electromechanicals, late Gottlieb DMD
Source: flippers.be. These are general rules per system, not title-by-title datasheets.
The complete table: leg length by manufacturer and era
Here is the full summary of documented lengths. All conversions are given in inches and centimetres.
| Manufacturer | Period | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Type / finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gottlieb — single-player electromechanical | 1950s to mid-1970s | 31" | 78.8 cm | Flat chrome | The longest legs on the list, alongside late Gottlieb DMD. |
| Gottlieb — System 1 | 1977–1980 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Flat chrome | Cleopatra, Sinbad, Joker Poker, Charlie's Angels, Solar Ride, Genie, Buck Rogers… |
| Gottlieb — System 80 / 80A / 80B | 1980–1989 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Flat chrome | ⚠️ Major exception: Haunted House (see below). |
| Gottlieb — DMD | 1990–1995 | 27" then 31" | 68.5 cm then 78.8 cm | Chrome | Changed mid-generation: check your specific machine. |
| Williams | 1966–1987 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Flat chrome, later ribbed to half height | The shift from flat to half-ribbed was gradual. |
| Williams / Bally — System 11 and WPC | 1987–1998 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Ribbed chrome | Many factory colour variants (see dedicated section). |
| Williams — Pinball 2000 | 1999–2000 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Ribbed black | Revenge from Mars, Star Wars Episode I. |
| Bally | 1968–1983 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Flat dark grey (gun metal gray) | Marco ref. P-4052-8. ⚠️ Three titles require 34-3/4" rear legs (see below). |
| Bally | 1984–1987 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Ribbed chrome | Transition from grey to ribbed chrome. |
| Stern (original company) | 1977–1985 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Flat chrome | Not to be confused with modern Stern Pinball. |
| Zaccaria | entire period | 28.5" | 72 cm | Flat chrome | Italian manufacturer. |
| Data East — early | late 1980s | 28.5" | 72 cm | Chrome, then black | Data East started with chrome 28.5", then switched to black of the same length. |
| Data East / Sega / Stern — late and modern | 1990s to today | 30.5" | 77.5 cm | Ribbed black | See the 30-1/4" / 30-1/2" nuance below. |
If you are restoring a complete machine, read this table alongside our complete guide to restoring a vintage pinball machine, which covers the cabinet, the playfield and the electronics.
The exhaustive list: leg length, machine by machine
Here is the complete, title-by-title list of the machines covered by our replacement boards. Click a name in the alphabetical index below to jump straight to the matching row. 158 machines are listed.
⚠️ Read this before using the table
No source publishes leg length on a title-by-title basis. The values below are derived from each machine’s system and year, applying the rule documented by flippers.be (“The correct leg length for your pinball machines”) and the Pinball Leg Guide by Andrew MacBain on PinWiki. These are not manufacturer-published dimensions for each individual game.
The only genuinely documented exceptions (Haunted House, Dungeons & Dragons, Escape from the Lost World, Blackwater 100) are highlighted in orange and detailed in the “Factory exceptions and traps” section.
When in doubt, measure (method described below) and check that the lockdown bar sits roughly 90 cm (35 inches) off the floor. If you find a discrepancy on any of these machines, please tell us and we will correct this page.
Alphabetical index of machines
Click a title to jump straight to its row.
A — Algar · Alien Poker · Alien Star · Amazon Hunt · Amazon Hunt II · Arena · Asteroid Annie and the Aliens
B — Baby Pac-Man · Bad Girls · Barracora · Big House · Black Hole · Black Jack · Black Knight · Black Pyramid · Blackout · Blackwater 100 · BMX · Bone Busters Inc. · Bounty Hunter · Buck Rogers
C — Caveman · Centaur · Chicago Cubs Triple Play · Circus · Contact · Cosmic Gunfight · Counterforce · Cybernaut
D — Defender · Devil's Dare · Diamond Lady · Disco Fever · Dolly Parton · Dungeons & Dragons
E — Eclipse · Eight Ball · Eight Ball Deluxe · El Dorado City of Gold · Elektra · Embryon · Escape from the Lost World · Evel Knievel · Excalibur
F — Fathom · Fireball Classic · Fireball II · Firepower · Firepower II · Flash · Flash Gordon · Force II · Freedom · Frontier · Future Spa
G — Genesis · Genie · Goin' Nuts · Gold Ball · Gold Wings · Gorgar · Grand Slam
H — Harlem Globetrotters on Tour · Haunted House · Hollywood Heat · Hot Doggin' · Hot Shots · Hot Tip
I — Ice Fever
J — Jacks to Open · James Bond 007 · Joust · Jungle Lord
K — Kings of Steel · KISS · Krull
L — Laser Ball · Laser Cue · Lectronamo · Lost World · Lucky Seven
M — Mars God of War · Mata Hari · Medusa · Memory Lane · Monte Carlo · Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man · Mystic
N — Night Moves · Night Rider · Nitro Ground Shaker
P — Panthera · Paragon · Pharaoh · Phoenix · Pinball · Pink Panther · Playboy · Pokerino · Power Play · Punk!
Q — Q*Bert's Quest
R — Rack 'Em Up · Raven · Ready...Aim...Fire! · Robo-War · Rock · Rock Encore · Rocky · Roller Disco · Rolling Stones · Royal Flush Deluxe
S — Saturn 2 · Scorpion · Silverball Mania · Six Million Dollar Man · Skateball · Solar Fire · Space Invaders · Speakeasy · Spectrum · Spider-Man · Spirit · Spring Break · Spy Hunter · Star Light · Star Race · Star Trek · Stars · Stellar Wars · Stingray · Striker · Strikes and Spares · Super Orbit · Supersonic
T — Tag Team Pinball · The Games · The Incredible Hulk · Tiger Rag · Time Fantasy · Time Line · Time Warp · Torch · Totem · Touchdown · Tri Zone · TX-Sector
V — Varkon · Vector · Victory · Viking · Volcano · Voltan Escapes Cosmic Doom
W — Warlok · World Cup · World Defender
Gottlieb System 1 (7 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asteroid Annie and the Aliens | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Buck Rogers | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Genie | Gottlieb | 1979 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Roller Disco | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| The Incredible Hulk | Gottlieb | 1979 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Torch | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Totem | Gottlieb | 1979 | System 1 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
Gottlieb System 80 (15 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hole | Gottlieb | 1981 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
| Caveman | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Circus | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Counterforce | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Eclipse | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Force II | Gottlieb | 1981 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Haunted House | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80 | 27" (F) / 31" (R) | 68.5 cm (F) / 78.8 cm (R) | ⚠️ Documented factory exception: mismatched legs, 27" (68.5 cm) at the front and 31" (78.8 cm) at the rear. |
| James Bond 007 | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Timed Play and 3/5-Ball versions: same leg length. |
| Mars God of War | Gottlieb | 1981 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
| Panthera | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Pink Panther | Gottlieb | 1981 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Spider-Man | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Star Race | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Time Line | Gottlieb | 1980 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Volcano | Gottlieb | 1981 | System 80 | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
Gottlieb System 80A (19 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alien Star | Gottlieb | 1984 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Amazon Hunt | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Devil's Dare | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
| El Dorado City of Gold | Gottlieb | 1984 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Goin' Nuts | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Ice Fever | Gottlieb | 1985 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Jacks to Open | Gottlieb | 1984 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Krull | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Punk! | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Q*Bert's Quest | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Rack 'Em Up | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Ready...Aim...Fire! | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Rocky | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
| Royal Flush Deluxe | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Spirit | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Striker | Gottlieb | 1982 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | Speech and Sound-only versions: same leg length. |
| Super Orbit | Gottlieb | 1983 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| The Games | Gottlieb | 1984 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Touchdown | Gottlieb | 1984 | System 80A | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
Gottlieb System 80B (23 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Hunt II | Gottlieb | 1987 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Arena | Gottlieb | 1987 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Bad Girls | Gottlieb | 1988 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Big House | Gottlieb | 1989 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Bone Busters Inc. | Gottlieb | 1989 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Bounty Hunter | Gottlieb | 1985 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Chicago Cubs Triple Play | Gottlieb | 1985 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Diamond Lady | Gottlieb | 1988 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Excalibur | Gottlieb | 1988 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Genesis | Gottlieb | 1986 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Gold Wings | Gottlieb | 1986 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Hollywood Heat | Gottlieb | 1986 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Hot Shots | Gottlieb | 1989 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Monte Carlo | Gottlieb | 1987 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Night Moves | Gottlieb | 1989 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Raven | Gottlieb | 1986 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Robo-War | Gottlieb | 1988 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Rock | Gottlieb | 1985 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Rock Encore | Gottlieb | 1986 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Spring Break | Gottlieb | 1987 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Tag Team Pinball | Gottlieb | 1985 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| TX-Sector | Gottlieb | 1988 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Victory | Gottlieb | 1987 | System 80B | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
Williams System 3–7 (32 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algar | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Alien Poker | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Barracora | Williams | 1981 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Black Knight | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Blackout | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Contact | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Cosmic Gunfight | Williams | 1982 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Defender | Williams | 1982 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Disco Fever | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Firepower | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Firepower II | Williams | 1983 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Flash | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Gorgar | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Hot Tip | Williams | 1977 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Joust | Williams | 1983 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Jungle Lord | Williams | 1981 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Laser Ball | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Laser Cue | Williams | 1984 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Lucky Seven | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Pharaoh | Williams | 1981 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Phoenix | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Pokerino | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Scorpion | Williams | 1980 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Solar Fire | Williams | 1981 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Star Light | Williams | 1984 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Stellar Wars | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Time Fantasy | Williams | 1983 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Time Warp | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Tri Zone | Williams | 1979 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Varkon | Williams | 1982 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| Warlok | Williams | 1982 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
| World Cup | Williams | 1978 | System 3–7 | 27" | 68.5 cm | — |
Bally MPU-35 (AS-2518-17 / -35) (54 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Pac-Man | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Black Jack | Bally | 1977 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Black Pyramid | Bally | 1984 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Blackwater 100 | Bally | 1988 | MPU-35 | 28.5" (F) / 34-3/4" (R) | 72 cm (F) / 88.3 cm (R) | ⚠️ Documented factory exception: 34-3/4" (88.3 cm) rear legs, Marco part 0365-00220-00XF. |
| BMX | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Centaur | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Cybernaut | Bally | 1985 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Dolly Parton | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Dungeons & Dragons | Bally | 1987 | MPU-35 | 28.5" (F) / 34-3/4" (R) | 72 cm (F) / 88.3 cm (R) | ⚠️ Documented factory exception: 34-3/4" (88.3 cm) rear legs, Marco part 0365-00220-00XF. |
| Eight Ball | Bally | 1977 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Eight Ball Deluxe | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Elektra | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Embryon | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Escape from the Lost World | Bally | 1988 | MPU-35 | 28.5" (F) / 34-3/4" (R) | 72 cm (F) / 88.3 cm (R) | ⚠️ Documented factory exception: 34-3/4" (88.3 cm) rear legs, Marco part 0365-00220-00XF. |
| Evel Knievel | Bally | 1977 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Fathom | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Fireball Classic | Bally | 1985 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Fireball II | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Flash Gordon | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Freedom | Bally | 1976 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Frontier | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Future Spa | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Gold Ball | Bally | 1983 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Grand Slam | Bally | 1983 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Exists in 2-player and 4-player versions: same leg length. |
| Harlem Globetrotters on Tour | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Hot Doggin' | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Kings of Steel | Bally | 1984 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| KISS | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Lost World | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Mata Hari | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Medusa | Bally | 1981 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Mystic | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Night Rider | Bally | 1977 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Nitro Ground Shaker | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Paragon | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Playboy | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Power Play | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Rolling Stones | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Silverball Mania | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Six Million Dollar Man | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Skateball | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Space Invaders | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Speakeasy | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | Exists in 2-player and 4-player versions: same leg length. |
| Spectrum | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Spy Hunter | Bally | 1984 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Star Trek | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Strikes and Spares | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Supersonic | Bally | 1979 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Vector | Bally | 1982 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Viking | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Voltan Escapes Cosmic Doom | Bally | 1978 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| X's & O's | Bally | 1983 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Xenon | Bally | 1980 | MPU-35 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
Stern MPU-100 / MPU-200 (5 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectronamo | Stern | 1978 | MPU-100 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Memory Lane | Stern | 1978 | MPU-100 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Pinball | Stern | 1977 | MPU-100 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Stars | Stern | 1978 | MPU-100 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
| Stingray | Stern | 1977 | MPU-100 | 28.5" | 72 cm | — |
Bell Games / Nuova Bell Games (3 machines)
Length derived from the system rule.
| Title | Manufacturer | Year | System | Length (inches) | Length (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn 2 | Bell Games | 1985 | Bell | 28.5" | 72 cm | Length inferred (same mechanical basis as Bally/Stern of the same period). Not documented by flippers.be. |
| Tiger Rag | Bell Games | 1984 | Bell | 28.5" | 72 cm | Length inferred (same mechanical basis as Bally/Stern of the same period). Not documented by flippers.be. |
| World Defender | Nuova Bell Games | 1985 | Bell | 28.5" | 72 cm | Length inferred (same mechanical basis as Bally/Stern of the same period). Not documented by flippers.be. |
Why the lengths differ (and why you must never swap legs)
This is the point almost everyone gets wrong. Leg length varies because the cabinets vary: cabinets are not all the same height, and above all the leg-bolt mounting holes are not drilled in the same place depending on manufacturer and era.
The end result, however, is deliberately identical from one machine to the next: the lockdown bar and the flipper buttons end up roughly 90 cm (35 inches) off the floor on every correctly shod machine. This is a de facto ergonomic standard adopted across the industry: the player should place their hands at the same height whatever the machine.
The direct consequence: if you swap legs between two machines, you break that standard. One machine ends up too tall, the other too low. The author of flippers.be documents exactly this mistake with photographs: after restoring several machines in parallel, he had swapped the legs of a Gottlieb and a Bally — the Gottlieb sat noticeably too low and the Bally far too high, next to a correctly set Zaccaria.
This is not merely cosmetic. A machine on legs that are too long has a higher playfield, a higher centre of gravity and distorted playing geometry. A machine that is too low tires your back and changes your viewing angle on the playfield.
Factory exceptions and traps
Gottlieb Haunted House: the mismatched-leg case
Haunted House (Gottlieb, 1982) is the most famous case of mismatched legs straight from the factory. This System 80 machine uses:
- 27 inches (68.5 cm) at the FRONT
- 31 inches (78.8 cm) at the REAR
This is not a mistake, nor a previous owner's bodge: it is the original configuration. Haunted House is a three-level playfield machine, and the increased pitch is part of its design. If you buy a Haunted House sitting on four 27-inch (68.5 cm) legs, the machine is incorrectly assembled.
Bally: three titles with 34-3/4 inch rear legs
Here is a second case of factory mismatched legs, far less well known than Haunted House. According to the product page for the grey Bally leg P-4052-8 at Marco Specialties, this 28.5-inch (72 cm) leg cannot be used as a rear leg on three Bally machines:
- Dungeons & Dragons (Bally, 1987)
- Escape from the Lost World (Bally, 1988)
- Blackwater 100 (Bally, 1988)
These three games require rear legs of 34-3/4 inches (88.3 cm), listed at Marco under part number 0365-00220-00XF. They are steeply pitched or multi-level playfield machines, hence the need for much longer rear legs. If you own one of these three titles, this is a priority check.
Williams Twilight Zone: the three-hole trap
Twilight Zone (Bally/Williams, 1993) uses standard 28.5-inch (72 cm) chrome legs — nothing exotic there. The trap lies elsewhere: the cabinet has THREE bolt holes per leg instead of two.
The explanation is historical. Twilight Zone is a very heavy machine; during development, Williams tested a three-bolt leg fixing to spread the load better. The games were ultimately not shipped that way, but the cabinets kept all three holes.
⚠️ Practical consequence: when assembling, you must use the correct two holes. Get it wrong and the playfield will be far steeper than it needs to be — a classic mistake that makes the game unplayable, with balls draining constantly. If in doubt, fit the legs, measure the pitch with a digital level and compare against the manual before concluding your machine has a setup problem.
Factory coloured legs (Williams / Bally 1987–1998)
Across the System 11 / WPC period the standard is ribbed chrome at 28.5 inches (72 cm), but many machines left the factory with coloured legs. If you are restoring one of these and looking for the original finish:
- Grey (sometimes black): the first-generation Bally games of 1988–1990. Black Rose is the classic example with black legs.
- Blue: Road Show.
- Gold: Indiana Jones, World Cup Soccer, Judge Dredd and Addams Family Gold.
- Black: Corvette, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and some Creature from the Black Lagoon examples.
Note carefully: in every one of these cases, only the finish changes, not the length. They are all 28.5-inch (72 cm) legs.
Modern Stern: 30-1/4" or 30-1/2"?
An honest nuance worth flagging. The ribbed black Sega/Stern leg carries part number 500-5921-50 and fits all Sega machines and all modern Sterns, from Striker Xtreme (1999) through to the current Spike and Spike-2 platforms. But distributors do not entirely agree on the dimension: Pinball Life sells it as a 30.5-inch (77.5 cm) leg, while Suzohapp catalogues the same part number as “30 1/4"” (76.8 cm).
This is most likely a difference in measuring method (with or without the base) rather than two distinct parts, but we found no official Stern document settling the question. Order by part number 500-5921-50 rather than by dimension — that is the only reliable method. We also found no published official Stern specification giving a leg length per Spike or Spike-2 platform.
Jersey Jack: something we could not confirm
We found no official Jersey Jack Pinball specification stating the leg length of their machines. The only serious clue is indirect: Marco's 28.5-inch (72 cm) chrome leg listing (ref. A-19514) carries a cross-reference “Jersey Jack: 10-000001-02”, which strongly suggests JJP uses the 28.5-inch (72 cm) standard. We flag this as an inference, not a verified fact. For a JJP machine, contact Jersey Jack support directly before buying.
How to measure your legs correctly
A sloppy measurement will have you ordering the wrong part. Step by step:
- Remove one leg. Empty the machine if necessary (glass off, playfield raised), prop the cabinet on a stable support, then undo the two leg bolts. Never work alone on a machine that is down to one leg.
- Remove or fully retract the leveler. A leg's nominal length is measured without the leveler extended. This is error number one: a 27-inch (68.5 cm) leg with a 3-inch (7.6 cm) leveler wound halfway out measures roughly 28.5 inches (72 cm) overall, and you will order the wrong size.
- Measure the leg body alone, from the top of the leg to the lower base, excluding the leveler. Use a rigid tape measure or a folding rule.
- Round to the nearest standard value among 27" (68.5 cm), 28.5" (72 cm), 30.5" (77.5 cm) and 31" (78.8 cm). A few millimetres of variance is normal: period legs are worn, sometimes repainted, sometimes slightly bent.
- Cross-check against the table above. If your measurement does not match what the table predicts for your machine, there are two possibilities: either you have legs carried over from another machine, or you have hit a factory exception.
- Check all four legs separately. That is the only way to spot a correctly shod Haunted House — or a Bally whose 34-3/4 inch (88.3 cm) rear legs have been replaced with 28.5-inch (72 cm) ones.
- Final check: the lockdown bar should sit roughly 90 cm (35 inches) off the floor. That is the test which validates everything else, regardless of manufacturer.
Adjusting the leg levelers (the rotating foot on the floor)
At the bottom of every leg sits a leg leveler: a threaded rod that comes out through the base of the leg and ends in a rotating foot — the only part of the machine that actually touches the floor. That foot is what you turn to sit the machine square and to give the playfield its playing pitch. It is the most important mechanical adjustment on a pinball machine: it changes ball behaviour far more than any software setting.
Anatomy of a leveler: what is under your legs
- The threaded rod — 3/8"-16 thread, meaning 9.5 mm diameter and 16 threads per inch (a pitch of roughly 1.59 mm). It is the same thread as the leg bolts.
- The rotating foot (the adjustable pad) — the flat, usually chromed or nickel-plated disc that rests on the floor. This is the part you turn: as it turns it travels up or down the thread inside the leg.
- The jam nut — the nut fitted on the rod between the foot and the bottom of the leg. It is not used for adjusting: it is there to lock the setting once you have found it, so that play vibration cannot shift it. Marco part number: LLN (3/8"-16, 9.5 mm).
Two rod lengths exist:
- Short leveler: 2 inches (5 cm) — Marco part number LL2.
- Long leveler: 3 inches (7.6 cm) — Marco part number LL3, original cross-references 08-7377 and 237-2130-152.
Which leveler goes on which leg?
- Electromechanical machines: short 2-inch (5 cm) levelers on all four legs. The target pitch is lower on these games, so a short rod is enough.
- Solid state machines: short 2-inch (5 cm) levelers at the front and long 3-inch (7.6 cm) levelers at the rear — or long levelers on all four legs, which gives you more adjustment range.
Which way do you turn the foot?
This is the question that wastes the most time, because intuition gets it backwards: you are not raising the leg, you are lowering the foot.
- Clockwise (winding the foot down): the foot moves towards the floor, so that corner of the machine goes up.
- Anticlockwise: the foot retracts into the leg, so that corner of the machine goes down.
On electromechanical machines the nut at the bottom of the rod takes a 3/8" (9.5 mm) open-ended spanner perfectly, which is far quicker and more precise than turning it by hand with the full weight of the game sitting on it. Take some weight off the corner (a helper, or a furniture jack) if the leveler is stiff.
The three adjustments, in this order
Levelling a pinball machine is not one adjustment but three, and they have to be done in order:
- The two REAR legs level with each other.
- The two FRONT legs level with each other.
- The front-to-back PITCH of the playfield.
⚠️ Careful: changing any one of them throws the other two out. This is not a checklist you walk through once. You have to loop back over all three, repeatedly, until all three are right at the same time. Expect several passes.
What pitch should you aim for?
Pitch is measured in degrees. It is not the same thing as side-to-side level: the pitch should be pronounced, the lateral level should be zero.
| Type of machine | Recommended pitch | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Solid state machines and modern games | 6.5° to 7° | This is the angle the designers tuned the ramps, combos and rebounds for. Outside that range the game no longer behaves as intended. |
| Older electromechanical machines | around 5° | Slower playfields, slower ball: the factory pitch is noticeably lower. That is also why a short 2-inch (5 cm) leveler is enough on all four legs. |
| All machines — lower limit | never go below 6° (solid state) | Below 6° the ball turns soft and sluggish, ramps stop making it, and the game loses all interest. This is the single most common fault on machines set up in private homes. |
| Side-to-side (lateral) level | 0.0° | Dead flat. Half a degree of lean is enough to send every ball drifting to the same side. |
Steeper is not better. A steeper pitch speeds the ball up but flattens the game onto the vertical axis: the ball comes straight down, lateral movement disappears, and some shots become impossible. A shallower pitch gives you a soft ball and a lot of side-to-side movement. The widespread idea that good players play steeper is simply wrong: 6.5° to 7° is the design angle, not a beginner setting.
How to measure the pitch
- Electronic inclinometer — the simplest and most reliable option. Set it in the middle of the playfield and read the value in degrees.
- Smartphone app (accelerometer) — more than accurate enough for home use. Lay the phone flat in the middle of the playfield, aligned front to back, and aim for 6.5°.
- The bubble level built into the cabinet (usually on the right-hand side) — indicative only. It is not always trustworthy, especially on a cabinet that has been apart or has had a hard life.
- The three-line Bally/Williams indicator — many Bally and Williams machines carry a small bubble level with three engraved lines: the bottom line is 6°, and each line above it adds 0.5°. Bubble on the second line = 6.5°. Bubble on the third = 7°.
- The no-tools trick: a cardboard gauge — cut a 6.5° wedge out of stiff cardboard (a right-angled triangle 1 inch / 2.54 cm high over a base of about 8.8 inches / 22.3 cm gives 6.5°). Lay the wedge in the middle of the playfield, thick end downhill, then put a spirit level on top of it: adjust the rear levelers until the bubble is centred.
⚠️ Where to put the level — this is what spoils most measurements. Measure on the playfield glass, near the backbox, and never on the lockdown bar: it is not always straight, it is often slightly bowed, and it will give you a reading that is several tenths of a degree out. The most accurate method is to remove the lockdown bar and measure directly on the cabinet woodwork.
The step-by-step method
- Set the FRONT height first. The flipper buttons should fall naturally under your hands when you stand at the machine. If you own several machines, set them all to the same height: moving from one to the next without changing your stance changes everything about how you play.
- Level the two front legs with each other, keeping a little adjustment range in both directions on each leveler.
- Wind the REAR levelers out to roughly three quarters of their travel, equally on both sides. This is the classic starting point: it leaves you room to go up or down.
- Measure the pitch in the middle of the playfield and bring it to about 6.5° (around 5° on an electromechanical) using the two rear levelers.
- Bring the rear back to level side to side, then re-check the front, then re-check the pitch. Repeat until all three are right.
- To correct the pitch without breaking the levelling, raise or lower both rear levelers by exactly the same amount — count the turns, or the half-turns.
- Check that the lateral level really reads 0.0°, not "nearly".
- Lock the jam nuts once you are happy with the setting.
Locking the setting with the jam nut
Once you have found the position, run the jam nut back up against the bottom of the leg and tighten it firmly (spanner, but do not go at it like a gorilla: the job is to lock, not to crush the thread). Without that lock, the vibration of a pinball machine in play — coils, bumpers, nudges — turns the foot on its own, and the setting is gone within a few weeks of play. Re-check the level once a year, and always after moving the machine.
Seized or rusted levelers
- Seized thread: spray penetrating oil on the thread, let it work, then work the leveler back and forth in small movements rather than forcing it one way.
- Prevention: once the thread is clean, a shot of silicone spray keeps the corrosion from coming back — particularly worth doing in a garage or a cellar.
- Too far gone: do not fight it. A leveler is a cheap part: replace it. A rusted leveler that refuses to turn will always end up stopping you from setting the machine up properly.
⚠️ What a bad leveler setting actually damages
- The cabinet twists. If the playfield will not drop back square into the cabinet, if the hooks no longer line up, or if you have to force it closed, the problem is not the playfield: one leg is set wrong and the cabinet is being held in torsion. Over time that fatigues the corners and permanently distorts the plywood.
- The playfield glass can shatter. Extreme but real: a twisted cabinet puts the glass under permanent stress. When you slide it out for a repair, the glass can break on its own, with no impact at all. That is a genuine cutting hazard. If a glass feels jammed or pinched in its channels, sort the legs out before you pull it.
- The tilt goes out. After changing the pitch, always re-check the tilt bob: a steeper pitch brings the weight closer to the ring and triggers unwanted tilts at the slightest nudge. Re-centre the ring or raise the weight on its rod.
A badly levelled pinball machine is not just unpleasant to play: it damages itself.
The final test: the ball that rolls straight
The check that validates everything else needs no tools at all. Take the glass off, put a ball in the middle of the playfield and let it go without pushing it. It should run straight down, between the two flippers, without drifting. If it consistently pulls left or right, your lateral level is off: go back to the two front legs, then re-check the pitch. Run the test two or three times from slightly different points on the playfield.
Where to buy levelers: as with legs, Pinballs Store does not sell levelers — we only make replacement electronic boards. Go to Marco Specialties (part numbers LL2 for 2 inches / 5 cm and LL3 for 3 inches / 7.6 cm, jam nut LLN), Pinball Life, or Pinballshop.nl from within Europe.
A clean playfield behaves very differently from a dirty one at the same pitch: always set the pitch after cleaning, as explained in our guide to cleaning and maintaining a pinball machine.
Leg bolts and protectors
The standard bolt
The pinball leg bolt is a remarkably standardised part across the whole industry:
- Standard size: 3/8"-16 x 2-1/2", that is a diameter of 9.5 mm, 16 threads per inch (a pitch of roughly 1.59 mm) and a length of 63.5 mm. Acorn head of 5/8" (15.9 mm). Marco reference: 4322-01125-40, original cross-reference 231-5001-01.
- Extended version: 2-3/4" (70 mm), Marco reference 4322-01125-44. Useful as soon as you add thickness between leg and cabinet: cabinet protectors, decorative plates, accessories.
- Economy version: 2-1/4" (57 mm), reference 231-5544-00, for cabinets with no added thickness.
- Available finishes: chrome, black, gold. Zinc-plated remains the most common and the cheapest.
- Nylon washers (“leg & bolt protectors”): essential on painted or powder-coated legs. They sit between the bolt head and the leg and stop the bolt scratching the finish as you tighten. Marco reference: 242-5049-05 (0.38" x 0.625" x 0.125", i.e. 9.7 x 15.9 x 3.2 mm).
The 3/8"-16 thread on bolts and levelers is not the only imperial fastener on a pinball machine — the rest of the game is full of them. We cover all of it in our complete guide to pinball screw sizes.
Cabinet protectors
A plate fitted between the leg and the cabinet, designed to stop the leg marking, crushing or wearing the cabinet artwork. Three types exist, and the choice depends entirely on how your cabinet is decorated:
- Felt: for stencil-painted cabinets, typical of the 1980s and earlier. Felt cushions the contact between leg and cabinet without adding noticeable thickness. It is the most discreet option.
- Metal: for silk-screened or decal-decorated cabinets. Thick enough to create a genuine gap between leg and cabinet, this protector screws directly onto the cabinet. It is the most protective solution, but it means drilling.
- Hard plastic: the middle ground, usable on virtually any cabinet type. Two caveats: it can itself mark the cabinet over time, but because it is wider than the leg it effectively hides existing damage — which often makes it the right choice on an already battered machine.
Reminder: as soon as you fit a cabinet protector, move to the extended 2-3/4" (70 mm) bolts. A standard 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) bolt risks no longer engaging enough thread in the cabinet plate, which is dangerous.
Do you own a Gottlieb System 1 or System 80/80A/80B?
This is the heart of the fleet we work with daily, so let us be precise.
Rule: 27 inches (68.5 cm), flat chrome, on all four legs. That covers:
- System 1 (1977–1980): Cleopatra, Sinbad, Joker Poker, Dragon, Charlie's Angels, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Solar Ride, Count-Down, Pinball Pool, Totem, The Incredible Hulk, Genie, Buck Rogers, Torch, Roller Disco, Asteroid Annie and the Aliens.
- System 80 (1980–1982): Spider-Man, Panthera, Circus, Counterforce, Star Race, James Bond 007, Timeline, Force II, Pink Panther, Mars God of War, Volcano, Black Hole, Haunted House, Eclipse, Critical Mass.
- System 80A (1982–1984): Devil's Dare, Rocky, Spirit, Punk!, Striker, Krull, Q*Bert's Quest, Super Orbit, Royal Flush Deluxe, Goin' Nuts, Amazon Hunt, Rack 'Em Up, Ready…Aim…Fire!, Jacks to Open, Alien Star, The Games, Touchdown, El Dorado City of Gold, Ice Fever, Caveman.
- System 80B (1985–1989): Chicago Cubs Triple Play, Rock, Raven, Hollywood Heat, Genesis, Gold Wings, Monte Carlo, Spring Break, Arena, Victory, Diamond Lady, TX-Sector, Robo-War, Excalibur, Bad Girls, Big House, Hot Shots, Bone Busters Inc.
An important note on honesty: the reference source (flippers.be) gives this length at system level, not title by title. We found no source publishing an official leg length for each individual title. We therefore list these games as falling under the System 1 / 80 / 80A / 80B rule, without inventing a machine-specific dimension. If in doubt about a particular title, measure: the method is described above, and the 90 cm (35 inches) lockdown bar test settles it for certain.
⚠️ And above all: Haunted House escapes this rule, with 27 inches (68.5 cm) at the front and 31 inches (78.8 cm) at the rear. It is the only System 80 title for which a factory exception is explicitly documented.
Where to buy legs, levelers and bolts
Let us be perfectly clear: Pinballs Store does not sell legs, bolts, levelers or cabinet protectors. We manufacture FPGA-based replacement boards only. This guide is published because the question keeps coming up, not to sell you anything.
For hardware, go to genuine specialists:
- Marco Specialties (USA) — the most complete catalogue of original part numbers, with compatibility listed by machine.
- Pinball Life (USA) — very strong on Sega/Stern legs and fasteners.
- Pinballshop.nl (Netherlands) — convenient from within Europe, with reasonable shipping costs and lead times.
- Titan Pinball (USA) — levelers, rubbers and accessories.
FAQ
What is the most common pinball leg size?
28.5 inches (72 cm). It is the length used on Williams and Bally System 11 and WPC games from 1987 to 1998, Bally from 1968 to 1987, Stern from 1977 to 1985, Zaccaria and early Data East. It is by far the most widespread size in the European fleet.
What leg length for a Gottlieb System 80?
27 inches (68.5 cm), flat chrome, on all four legs. The only documented exception is Haunted House, which uses 27 inches (68.5 cm) at the front and 31 inches (78.8 cm) at the rear.
Can I fit 28.5-inch legs on a machine designed for 27-inch legs?
Mechanically the bolts are identical (3/8"-16), so yes, they will fit. But the machine will stand roughly 4 cm too tall, the lockdown bar will exceed the 90 cm (35 inches) reference height, and the playing ergonomics will suffer. It is not a good idea, except as a temporary fix.
How do I know whether my legs are original?
Three checks: the measured length (leveler retracted) should match the table for your manufacturer and year; the finish should match (flat chrome, ribbed chrome, grey, black); and the lockdown bar should sit roughly 90 cm (35 inches) off the floor. If all three agree, your legs are very probably original.
What size are pinball leg bolts?
3/8"-16 x 2-1/2" as standard, that is 9.5 mm diameter, 16 threads per inch (a pitch of roughly 1.59 mm) and 63.5 mm long, with a 5/8" (15.9 mm) acorn head. An extended 2-3/4" (70 mm) version exists for installations with a cabinet protector.
Do I need 2-inch or 3-inch levelers?
On an electromechanical machine, short 2-inch (5 cm) levelers on all four legs are sufficient. On a solid state machine, the classic configuration is a short 2-inch (5 cm) leveler at the front and a long 3-inch (7.6 cm) leveler at the rear, or long levelers all round for more adjustment latitude.
Why does my Twilight Zone have three bolt holes per leg?
Because Williams tested a three-bolt fixing during development, the machine being very heavy. The games were not shipped that way, but the cabinets kept all three holes. You must use the correct two holes, otherwise the playfield will be far steeper than it needs to be.
Are there other machines with different front and rear legs?
Yes. Besides Haunted House, the Bally titles Dungeons & Dragons, Escape from the Lost World and Blackwater 100 require 34-3/4 inch (88.3 cm) rear legs instead of the usual 28.5 inches (72 cm), according to the Marco Specialties catalogue. There are probably others that remain undocumented: when in doubt, measure all four legs separately.
How do I find the leg size for MY pinball machine?
Look your machine up in the alphabetical index in this guide: every title links straight to its row, with the manufacturer, the year, the system and the length in inches and centimetres. These lengths are derived from the system and the year using the rule published by flippers.be, not published title by title by the manufacturers; only the Haunted House, Dungeons & Dragons, Escape from the Lost World and Blackwater 100 exceptions are documented individually. Always confirm by measuring a leg with the leveler retracted, and check that the lockdown bar sits roughly 90 cm (35 inches) off the floor.
What pitch should a pinball playfield be set to?
On a solid state machine or a modern game, aim for 6.5° to 7°: that is the angle the designers tuned the game for. On an older electromechanical, the factory figure is around 5°. Never go below 6° on a solid state machine: the ball turns soft and the game loses all interest. The side-to-side level, by contrast, must be 0.0°. Measure in the middle of the playfield with an inclinometer or a smartphone app, on the glass near the backbox and never on the lockdown bar.
Which way do you turn a leg leveler to raise the machine?
Clockwise: the rotating foot winds down towards the floor and that corner of the machine goes up. Anticlockwise, the foot retracts into the leg and the corner drops. On an electromechanical machine, a 3/8" (9.5 mm) open-ended spanner on the nut at the bottom of the rod makes the job far easier. Always lock the setting with the jam nut once you have found the position.
Sources & further reading
- Flippers.be — The correct leg length for your pinball machines — the reference source for lengths by manufacturer and era, with comparison photographs.
- PinWiki — Pinball Leg Guide (by Andrew MacBain, Pinball Adventures, 26 December 2020) — the reference on levelers, bolts and cabinet protectors.
- Marco Specialties — Legs catalogue — part numbers, dimensions and per-machine compatibility.
- Pinball Life — Leg Levelers — levelers and Sega/Stern legs.
- PinWiki — the general-purpose technical wiki on pinball repair.
And if it is the electronics failing, not the legs?
We do not make legs — but that is exactly what we do make for boards. If your Gottlieb System 80/80A/80B no longer boots, displays nonsense or has a board eaten away by battery leakage, our GottFA80_Plus all-in-one board replaces the entire original board set with a modern FPGA solution, from €349. We also produce boards for Gottlieb System 1, Williams System 3 to 7 and Bally 35.
All our boards are covered by a 6-month warranty (parts and labour) + 30-day money-back guarantee. Installation is documented step by step in our replacement board installation guide.
