Just joined the Stargate club last week with my first pinball machine. After three days of playing, I'm loving this game! Still have missions to accomplish though. My machine was obviously business used at some point in the past. The cabinet is rough with some scratches, the side rails where your hands go are worn, and it has holes from a lockdown bar.

But most recent prior owner really treated the playfield nice, updated with multi-colored LEDs, flippers have enough power for the ramps, and every feature is working great. Even got the original manual.

While it seems easy to get multiball, I find multiball play harder than in most machines. Maybe even to the point that I lose all the balls quicker than if I'd never had multiball. Battle mode has been my best scoring option so far.

Welcome to the gang gearhead!
1. Yes, that is normal for this machine.
2. No, they kick/react differently. So yours sounds correct.
3. Your call. Don't know which legs are on mine. But I figure if you get the slope correct, the height is just personal choice.

Welcome to the club! I don't know about the keys, but you sure don't have to drill it out! There's just two screws to remove the lock mechanism. They've got a special head, but many bit sets include it.

Not sure if ROM version matters, but if you hold the flippers up for a few seconds before plunging the ball it will reduce the call outs.

Here's the thread regarding reproduction playfields. No answer yet on Stargate from about a week ago.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mircoplayfields-is-doing-gottlieb-playfields/page/5#post-4821068