Blackout was my first pin and still own it. Quick question - how difficult is the orbit shot on your games? My will make it rarely (with most of the time the ball only making it as far as the top rollovers). Not sure if that is how the game is supposed to be, or whether my flippers are weak, incline too great, and/or my skill (or lack thereof). Otherwise game plays great!

Thanks. I will try replacing the eos switches on my game and see if that strengthens my flippers. Right now the flippers feel more "rubbery" on my Blackout than my other games (which have more snap to them, although my other games are newer/more powerful coils).

I changed my EOS switches, but the ball still didn't make the orbit loop in most cases (falling just short) so I decreased the angle closer to 4.75 and that seems to have fixed the problem.

Thanks. I'll try changing out the flipper switches down the road (don't have them on hand and need to order at some point). As far as the question/concern about the ball draining down the middle after the orbit shot, mine use to do that regularly, but in adjusting the legs a little it doesn't drain down the middle anymore (at least not in most cases). Game still seems balanced (so it isn't like it's lopsided one way or the other). So it can be fixed, without making any modifications to the game.

On my Blackout the 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the circles at the bottom right corner of the backglass do not work (and yes I changed the bulbs). What are these numbers for and what connector on which board powers them? Thanks.

Awesome! Thanks so much for the info.

Thanks Swillie - I think you may be on to something! Yes, my 20 light does not work either. Everything else works, but the 20 and the 1,2,3,4 at the bottom of the backglass. I didn't realize there was a connection. I actually gave up on my 20 light not working since it wasn't critical to game play. Now I am going to trouble-shoot further. Maybe I'll be able to get all the lights on my game working.

I'll post a photo of my right flipper EOS switch, etc., either later tonight or tomorrow morning (depending on when I get back home and can take one).

And some images from my game as well...

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Mine are white with red rubbers (which as you noted matches the original Williams Blackout flyer), but as others have said, do what looks nice. There are a lot more options/colors these days then when Blackout came out. Of course, if you are trying to restore it to "original" then I think white with red rubbers (again, based on the flyer).

SinistarX - how difficult was it to add a color changer behind the kickout hole and where did you purchase it? That's something I've always thought about adding, but haven't seen it done to a Blackout. Thanks.

Perfect and simple! Thanks for the info.

Yes right flipper mech. If you need a picture let me know and I'll post one tomorrow.

Unless someone posts one beforehand, I can take and post a photo when I get home tonight.

Oh, do you want a photo(s) of the wiring for the red and/or yellow lighted drop targets?

Not sure if these will help or not. The first photo is one side of the red mission drop targets, but I couldn't get a good shot on the other side since one of the pop bumper coils was in the way. The other photos are from the yellow mission drop targets, but I had to put my phone in the area and just shoot since I only had time to flip up the playfield tonight.

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Is there a way in the settings to allow for stacking extra balls. I just had a great game and on one ball scored an extra balll via the Blackout saucer, as well as scored enough points to earn two extra balls, but after I lost that ball, and then plunged what I thought would be the first of three extra balls, the Fire Again light went out (so only one extra ball). Any way to adjust this? Thanks.

Well that answers it! Kinda stinks, but I guess it is what it is (and lessens the chance I will roll the score over). Thanks for the info.

Has anyone replaced their speaker on their Blackout? Mine is not the original speaker and has worked well until it recently started sounding horrible (vibrating/rattling). If I push on the paper cone it actually stops the vibrating/rattling, but obviously something is wrong with it. Figured it probably best just to replace it, but wasn't sure what to replace it with so it works/doesn't mess with the electronics from 1980. Thanks.

Thanks. Does anyone know the original resistance? The one in my game is currently 8 ohms (and has worked fine until now), but it clearly isn't the original and if 4 ohms was the original standard, I might as well switch back to that since I will be ordering a new speaker.

Worked for you and less than $12, sold! Just placed an order. Thanks for the info.

Looks awesome! Welcome to the Blackout club. While I really got into pinball playing Flash at my local pizza place, Blackout has become my favorite Williams early SS game. Was your Blackout one of the two Blackouts that Todd Tuckey/TNT posted on YouTube a week or so ago?

Thanks again for the info. My replacement speaker arrived today, I installed it this evening, played a few games of Blackout, and it sounds great!

When I was watching the video I was thinking what a great looking Blackout that was! Congrats again. I've had mine for almost 2 years now so I can usually get the Blackout mode (sometimes multiple times), but I remember when I first got it how challenging/exciting it was for me/my family when we actually were able to get the Blackout mode (and how frustrating it was when we were able to light up the mode, but then couldn't achieve it/couldn't get the ball into the Blackout mode saucer. My tip for the yellow drops is to actually use the right flipper and kick the ball back up top and either hit the targets directly or have them him after the ball hits the pop bumper. Also, another tip, if you hit all the yellow targets down three times on the same ball, it lights the Blackout mode (regardless of whether you have light the green or red lights) and I believe stays lit for the rest of the game (or at least for the next ball as well). That gives you more opportunities to actually make the Blackout mode shot. Hope this all helps. Enjoy the game! (although it sounds like you are already enjoying it very much).

LOL, yes, always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve with the kids! (although once they see them they usually use them to beat me).

Nice! (And hopefully your boys will believe you.

I haven't seen that, but to be honest, I haven't focused on it (but will now or next time I have the glass off will try and simulate it). My problem is I either have a game where I obtain zero extra balls, or I have a really good ball and technically would have obtained three extra balls from the score and the scoop, but then as was explained to me on this forum, the game doesn't stack extra balls so in the end i just end up with one. Sometimes I wonder if I would be better off letting a ball drain just before the next extra ball score, but that's probably a bad idea since I'll break my rhythm (I've learned not to walk away in the middle of a game to take care of something and then come back and inevitably when I return my next ball is crap).

Yes, you can change this. I think if you set Function 28 to 01 it will award an extra ball (as opposed to if it is set to 00 it earns a credit). If that doesn't work, try changing Function 27 to 01 (instead of 00). If that doesn't work, let me know and I'll actually check the setting on my game (right now I am looking at the manual). FYI - I think on all games (at least SS, which is all I have) you can always adjust the "awards" to extra balls instead of credits. Given my games are in a home environment, I have my games set to award extra balls since a credit ("free game") is meaningless to me with my games set on Free Play (now back when I used to actually put quarters in these things at the arcade I would definitely prefer a credit/free game!)

Great and thankfully an easy fix! Now you can go back to enjoying the game.

Great game! Tip/trick - hit the three "yellow" drop targets down three times on the same ball and it lights the Blackout saucer (and i think it stays lit for multiple Blackouts)

Mine also has white flippers with yellow accent on the caps. My game is #4422867 (stamped on bottom below coin door).

Looks like original flyer had white flippers and yellow caps.

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I don't have anything fancy in my Blackout, but do have the original black and white instruction card and pricing cards. Let me know if you want me to scan them and email them to you.

I always use frosted in the backglass of my games. That’s how one of my games came when I bought it and have just followed along when I changed my other games.

What diodes did you use to replace those. I have one light that doesn't work (despite cleaning) and based on your post will replace the diode and see if that solves the problem.

Thanks! I appreciate this info and the tip about the sockets as well (I have one of those that turns easily if bumped). I am going to be placing an order for some parts and will add some diodes to my list. Some projects for the New Year!

And here is a photo of my game.

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I have seen those square bezels before. I think on a Flash (system 4) game I was looking at. Maybe Williams first used the square bezels on the run and then switched to circles? I have a later serial number Blackout. In any event sounds like you are making great progress/almost done.

Wow, looks awesome (inside and out). Nice work and enjoy the game! Blackout was the first game in my collection and I still love playing it to this day. Here is a neat trick too (if you don't know it already). Complete the yellow mission three times in a single ball and it lights the Blackout hole for that ball and the next (maybe even the rest of the game - I don't remember).

This business has the decals for the stand ups and drops, plus other Blackout parts as well
http://www.actionpinball.com/parts.php?item=PDG020

Any one know what would cause my Blackout to rapidly flash double zeroes on all of the score screens and not let me start up a game? 40 pin connector issue perhaps? Figured before I start diagnostics I’d reach out here and see if anyone else has had and fixed this issue. Thanks!

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Thanks. I was actually able to fix the problem. Not sure what caused it, but I removed and reconnected all of the connectors on the boards and that fixed the problem. Keeping my fingers crossed it's fixed now for some time.

Lol, and thanks!