Thanks for the reply , seems like when ball enters stage , mode start or not, assuming mode stage is activated when red main stage insert is lit, the ball is not detected and after a few goes into find ball mode and the ball is released. Calibration came back at -19. I did try it several times in a row just now and out of 5 , 3 where -17 to -19 and 2 times it didn’t seem like it went through calibration and came up 64. I swapped the wire location of where the curtain and captive ball servos connect to the node board and captive ball still worked under curtain test but curtain still did not work under captive ball test. . All tests of captive ball connected correctly seem fine.
Thanks for any help

I assume you are on latest code.

Have a usb with no code on it handy. Start a game, when you shoot the stage and a mode starts and if the ball is stuck and it takes a ball search, as soon as the ball search happens, open the coin door and pull the logs and send to me [email protected]

The curtain does sound like a bad servo issue, and probably needs to be replaced. You should open a ticket so Dave can help you confirm that, and help you can get a replacement that is properly calibrated.

Sounds good , thank you for the help

After 4 years I will probably not make these again. Get planchette while you can.

SOLD!

Mod - For Sale

HOUDINI PLANCHETTE ~ PLAYFIELD PLASTIC Archived

New (selling multiple, business) - “Houdini Planchette Custom Playfield Upgrade Mod. Easy to install, simple overlay design Mod. Double sided tape, peel and apply. Thick plastic piece with rich 3D detail, custom engr...”

2022-05-14

Anaheim, CA

Ericpinballfan

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Archived after: 55 days

Viewed: 604 times

Status: Sold (amount private)

Contributed to Pinside

Ever sort out your issue?

Still working on it with josh , I will say the customer service with American pinball and josh is second to none. Very impressed .

I hate to even post this... I was doing a little maintenance, adjustments, etc. Changed some of the settings, like front stage eject. Played a game, got multiball, things seemed fine. Turned machine off to adjust pop and low and behold game won't start because I'm missing a ball.

Looked up and down and all around. It's not in the subway. Thoughts? It's got to be in there somewhere.

Update... Nevermind. Found it. Lol

16466071605093067360695709319957 (resized).jpg

Just joined. Had years old code and just updated to the most recent code. Really liking the game so far.

That’s new

Ok, a few games later I got another ball stuck in the same place. Very strange.

I'd replace the sling rubber and see if that resolves it.

It looks like the rubber is too thin or the wrong size and stretched thin.

Put a nice thick Titan rubber there in purple.

Anyone have intermittent sound issues where the voice and music cut in and out during game play? Just started tonight and not sure where to check for the issue.

I'd check the sound jack on the computer in the backbox. Sounds like a loose connection.

Seems fine. Noticed also the back box lighting and play field screen will flicker very slightly at times as well as the sound cutting out. I’m pretty sure it’s the updated power supply.

968BFE57-F464-4CE5-A726-E9BB0407D3CA (resized).jpeg

Got the rectifier section of the power supply ordered. Thanks to Dave at AP for the quick call back and help.

oh dear

houdini (resized).JPG

Hm? I'm not understanding the issue. You don't like the red lamps?

He’s probably referring to the targets that appear to be loose or bent.

The poor chap has bent his target, one positive is he has a wider alley to shoot….ha…

you got it and i'm sure this was done on purpose :/

(i see this pin for sale in my area)

That’s a VERY good idea as a matter of fact! I’ve done the same by repositioning them

That seems like they are REALLY bent out to the extreme. I probably have as much trouble hitting the right orbit as I do the inner loop so I'd never do this.

So instead of a tough catapult shot, it is a tough spinner shot.

Seems like a lazy way to make a simple correction on the standups.

well, i'm a bit stunned to see some liking that idea !? but OK, finally everybody as he wants

it was from factory on mine, and that catapult shot is hard at first, i admit, but he quickly became makable when you have the pin home

Yeah, I can backhand the inner loop pretty consistently and sometimes even pull off an on-the-fly backhand to it on a ball headed toward the right flipper. The ramp and milkcan are definitely the two that are the hardest for me to hit consistently.

Backhand was unobtainable when I first brought the machine home. But now I can do it on occasion. It has to be such a close shot that mine will barely make it to lock. I also notice that I can perform a backhand when the machine is cold, but after about 10 minutes of playtime, it becomes impossible.

Lowering the angle of the flippers 1/8" (making them droop slightly) makes the milkcan loop much easier and repeatable.

It also makes the ramp shot easier.

I know, but I'm a glutton for punishment which is why Houdini is the game I play the most.

If thats the case...try turning the flipper power up 1 point...that should help.

While I have had this machine for about 9 months, I am just now at a place where I have some time to put into it.
There are a few things I have planned to do right away...Fix the scoop- it currently sends the ball right between the flippers, very frustrating.
Widen the inner loop. Trunk multi-balls almost never happen. Now for some questions...
My Machine is at a 14degree angle, is that to steep? All my settings are factory. What are some changes to make the game more fun for my
guests? The highest score anyone has obtained has been 600K. Generally 300K is a good game for a guest. Any suggestions?
Finally, and this is embarrassing being I have had it for months...What exactly happens when the "magic shop is open" and what opens it?
All my guests ask what does that mean? lol
Thanks in advance for any and all help!

WAY too steep. In fact, I'd check your inclinometer because it might be messed up. Houdini wants to be at a 6 degree slope by default. Most modern pinball machines want a slope of 6-7 degrees. 14 would be unplayable.

The magic shop is opened by hitting the spinner and it takes more spinner shots to open it each time. You enter the magic shop at the same gobble hole that starts Escape modes, it's just below the stage door. The magic shop provides random awards and some funny digs at other Pinball machines.

Try adjusting the coil setting for the scoop eject after you figure out the angle of the game.

I don't think I've ever seen a game at 14 deg slope. I'd be worried about it tipping over on me. Seriously, I'd confirm your slope and make game adjustments accordingly.

Yeah, way too steep. This will lead to things not working correctly on the game. The scoop is less likely to work, more difficult to make the ramp shot, I think have catapult problems because of this, and just a whole host of stuff. I think the game should be set at the factory suggested 6°. Certainly no more than seven, which I think is too much. I think this would account for your low scores too. That’s my two cents. Set it at about 6 to 7° and go from there.

Sorry...my stupid mistake..I laid the clinometer app on the glass and not the playfield. thinking they were parallel. It was 6 degrees all along.

Thanks...cool ...now I have something else to aim for.

leg levels screwed all the way will get you to the proper degree, then adjust back out as needed to level left/right.

Scoop down the middle is certainly a bit odd and pretty uncommon issue on Houdini, check left/right level, then adjust power down to the lowest level where the the ball is able to kick out. Try that or one up from there. To adjust levels, go into service->settings->coil, pull out he interlock switch, put the ball in the scoop and it will fire out, adjust and try again.

500K in a good score on Houdini, breaking a million is a really good score, 3 million is great score for an enthusiast, 15+ million is a mutant score.

The more you play Houdini the easier the the catapult shot will get. However, I usually backhand that shot with the right flipper. Way easier to hit consistently with right flipper backhand. I usually get trunk multi all at least once if not twice in a game. If you find you can’t backhand the catapult shot with the right flipper, try adjusting your right flipper power. Mine was set pretty high originally and now it’s about 19-20 I think and it’s a lot easier to hit consistently.

Was always a huge TOM fan back in my childhood and seeing Houdini gives me that same feeling. Never played, how doe sit compare to TOM?

Shots are generally much tighter and more difficult but also more satisfying when you do hit them. Code is about 600x deeper than TOM. Music, callouts, etc. are in the eye of the beholder, I'm not a huge TOM fan so I'm probably not a good one to comment on those parts.

TOM has more flow - at first - but as you start to learn the Houdini shots you can get quite a game going. The ramp is frustrating for folks who are used to the fan layout, as it requires a hit earlier on the flipper than most ramps. The inner loop seems really tight but it’s mostly an optical illusion, seriously.

SO much to this game. Takes the goofy 90s magic of TOM and classes it up. There’s no trunk bash toy but the stage is quite similar, and the game one-ups TOM in terms of the magic ball thing, balls appearing/disappearing. All the modes are really fun and well thought out. TOM might be a tad prettier to look at, but Houdini is definitely way way deeper. And it actually has a final wizard mode which feels “complete”. I dunno, TOM is very cool but my collection maxes at 6 games and I have to be super picky.

I just played TOM again on location last week and I do prefer Houdini for long term last-ability in a collection. With that being said I am selling my Houdini because I want Godzilla and Houdini has the most value out of all my pins, for magic pins it is the best in my opinion.

Speaking as an actual magician, I have a strong preference for Houdini over TOM. Way deeper code and more reverence for the art of magic (TOM and Pinball Magic are a little more cartoony). You can really tell that Kugler put in the time to learn about Houdini and that era of magic—instead of the campy stereotypes of the 90s magic pins.

Can’t think of a better testimonial!

I remember talking to Josh at the Allentown PA show, he said him and Balcer watched ALL the Houdini movies front to back. The word “excruciating” was used frequently

No matter how slow my ramp shot, the ball mostly bumps past the pop bumper hole. Is this normal? It might have fallen in the hole maybe 2 times since I've owned it.

Same here. game is leveled to spec and it’s fallen in once in maybe 200 games I’ve played

Yep, it doesn’t go there too often. 2 times seems low, but generally even a fairly slow ball will complete the ramp. What is your left flipper coil setting?

Will try this...yes I have seen posts of people hitting it with the backhand but that has always been impossible on my machine. Will adjust the flipper power and see how that does... Thanks