I have no troubles bone stock as originally issued with 1st run power supply. Flipper positions stock etc. No power loss with trunk and Seance multiballs running at same time etc. Catapult consistent. But I had new dedicated circuits for my pins put in when I upgraded the main panel electrical service in my house a few years ago. My Houdini is on a circuit with two other pins. Wired it for 3-4 pins per circuit. House voltage is pretty stable to start with.

Your mileage may vary due to your particular game and existing conditions.

same here, its the hardest shot for me... inner loop & milkcan are easier without a doubt

Yeah, i went back and forth a bit early on. It truly is just a matter of taste.

After 2500 games, I've settled on the 1/8" droop.

You don't need to adjust the coils much. Set the flipper coils to the value where you can *just* barely make it up the ramp with the left flipper. You may need to adjust the scoop coil as well, but first check the distance of the scoop hood - sometimes you need to push it *down* so the ball can get out more smoothly. Better than cranking the coil.

when in settings the 'default' values will show in Green

Regarding the flipper adjustments, I found that if I went 1/8" (3mm) down from stock it made the ball really hard to catch and hold. I ended up in between stock and 1/8". My reference point is to just be able to see the start of the alignment holes at the bottom of the plastic of the actual flipper (not the rubber). I found this the sweet spot for me where I can more easily make the hard shots and can still catch and hold the ball properly.

Exactly ! 3mm is too much, its more like 2mm or a tiny bit less as you have found out.
1/8" is pretty good.

zachary (resized).JPG

It's true, maths is hard.

maths1 (resized).jpg

I like them at a bit less than 1/8" also. I had set them at 1/8" last night, and it feels really weird to be saying this about Houdini but... it made the game too easy (at least with my pitch at about 6.1-6.2). I was averaging 5-7 minutes per ball, which is too long for me. With a little less droop, the shots are makeable but still tight like Houdini is supposed to be.

Some other adjustments I'm liking so far are turning off the extra ball awards for replays and for the bonus multiplier, since it doesn't seem like that would ever be something you'd go for strategically, but setting the extra ball at 2 combo missions instead of 3 since those are fun to shoot for. To me, the most baller shot ever (and that I can actually make sometimes) is milkcan, ramp, scoop when mission #1 is lit, especially with the new code giving you double scoring for hitting the combo cleanly. I've also got the film modes at 60 seconds since some of them seem impossible otherwise, though I keep the stage modes at 45.

Is the EOS even necessary with the new power supply and the cap?

I do not have the EOS. I do have the added power supply and cap kit on my early production Houdini. I have never had flipper trouble even before upgrading.

I think you should not need EOS but owners of the pins with the new power supply may let you know.

I have the new power supply and capacitor kit. I held off on the EOS install with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” point of view.

I had two flipper collapses during a crazy multiball, so I installed the EOS kit. No issues since. FWIW

lol, yes it is...

No. Apparently others are sold on it, but it really doesn’t really do much with or without the other updates, from an electrical perspective.

Lol, good luck on this....Its pinball!

When 4 balls hit my right flipper at the same time in a recent game, It tickled me and made me smile to see the Flippper compress about 1/4" and snap right back up due to the EOS switch.

Prior to the EOS switches, on a super hard hit, my flippers would flat out collapse and require un-pressing and re-pressing the flipper switch to get it back up.

So, for me it definitely has merit.

Either way, it won’t hurt! Do it!!

I had a credit w/AP, so I got the cap kit, EOS switches, and the knocker (along w/other stuff). I can't say I've noticed the flipper issue, but a friend played my Houdini and said he noticed it some. So I think just go w/the cap kit for now and hold off on the EOS.

I'm actually more interested in the knocker kit I got than the EOS, sounds like that's a pretty neat upgrade.

Knocker is great with the bullet catch!

Yep, that's what I was referring to! Is it used during anything else?

I think so. I think it is mentioned in this thread.

Thanks, I'll take a look around.

I was thinking the same thing.

yep, i have no EOS, and of course its happening as exposed in this sentence, but honestly, i dont care...

knocker is fantastic in... oktoberfest !

seems way more less usage on houdini (i dont have it)

I have it and its pretty cool on Houdini, I love it.
I think its worth it.

If you have to decide between a knocker kit or EOS kit I'd take the knocker all day and twice on Sunday. The EOS kit only helps for very specific instances and really didn't help improve flipper issues under heavy load at all. Plus you can pretty much make your own EOS kit out of standard parts as I documented when I put them in mine.

The credit I had was a one time credit, so I pretty much got all the Houdini goodies I could fit in the bag. Had some spare change leftover for an AP hat!

Maybe I should have gotten some Hot Wheels stuff too (planning ahead). I keep hearing good things about that pin.

Unboxing question. The instructions say to lay the box down, slide the pin out and then stand it up. I'm accustomed to seeing the pin left vertical and the front of the box sliced open, which seems more straightforward. I get the point about keeping the legs from being scratched. Beyond that, which method do people prefer?

Thanks.

Verticle.

Put front legs on.

Lean it on the front legs.

Lift the rear off the floor and set it on a barstool

Install the rear legs, remove straps and packaging from inside under the glass.

Set in on the floor, put sliders under the feet, glide it into position, raise the backbox and lock it into place.

Remove sliders, set playfield pitch the 6.2 degrees.

Power it up and install latest code.

You forgot the most important step at the end:

Enjoy!

Oops ! Um, yeah...Play the crap out of it!

To me it depends on a couple things, do you have enough space to slide it out when laying down and/or do you want to save the box? Either method works very well but AP packages their games to make it easier to slide out than some others.

as bobukcat said, if you have the room to lay it down and slide it, I suggest doing that. Certainly if you want to keep the box intact, that is the way to do it. if you check out the STDM unboxing video for Hot Wheels, you can see how easy it slides out. only thing is Houdini, you might need to flip the carton flap under, since the glue where the Styrofoam was can make it a touch harder to slide out, they changed that at some point.

Other than saving the box, is there any advantage this way? The other just seems simpler.

Dunno what you'd do with a great big cardboard box anyway. Got enough shit at my place without saving packaging.

I cut the serial number out of mine since I was the first owner. Then cut the box up to help slide pins in and out of the truck.

So cut up, not saved the box. You could still cut the box open, which is what the discussion is about.

Less likely to cut into the machine or a leg if it's packed in the corner??

I like that it is just one cut across the top, and then just slide it out, and be done with the box. While the box is on its side, I just slice open the bottom, collapse it, and toss it in the garage until I have a use for it. It is designed to slide out, so it works quite well

This is a true too . . .

Verticle is way simpler and much easier if you have limited help.

I did my last NIB alone.

I put sliders under the front feet so I could drag the game easily onto a barstool to install the rear legs.

It was very heavy, but I did it fairly easy.

My advice:

GET SOMEONE TO HELP with the setting onto the barstool...

This isnt 1980, modern pinball machines are HEAVY!

...and we’re not as young as we used to be.

Apologies punkin, but was addressing your comment below.

Goodo, technically you've got me.

In any case i don't use either method exactly as I have a pinball lift, but if one was close it will be the cut and lower onto trolley with front legs attached, no barstool.

Looking forward to doing it this way with gunners soon.

I installed the latest code last night, installed without an issue... Looking forward to getting more time in to see what is new..

Its in the new code. At least I noticed it last night.