Pinball Leg Guide

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1 Overview

1.1 Legs

Pinball legs generally come in a few different sizes, styles, and finishes/colors.

Common sizes include 27", 28-1/2", 30-1/2", and 31". In some rare cases, certain specific games have a pair of longer legs at the rear of the game, and a pair of shorter legs at the front of the game.

Common leg styles include ribbed and non-ribbed. A rib is an extruded section on each side of the leg, which can either go down part way or down the full length of the leg.

Common colors include chrome, black, gray, hammer-tone gray, and gold. Legs can also be powder coated by the manufacturer or third-parties, which can result in any number of different colors.

1.2 Leg Bolt Plates

1.2.1 Stern Cabinet Issues

During a transition period in Stern games around 2016-2018 starting with Ghostbusters, cabinets had reported issues with corner separation. These cabinets used a thin leg bolt plate (similar to what was used in the pre-1980s), while other manufactures were using the larger Williams-style bracket plate that screwed into both sides of the cabinet. This larger bracket plate appeared to help hold the cabinet seam together. It was therefore recommended to replace the thin leg bolt plate with Williams-style corner leg bolt bracket plates (Part # 01-11400-1) in order to help hold the cabinet seam together more securely (installation guide available on Pinside). Stern switched to using their own version of a (smaller) bracket plate starting with some Iron Maiden games and later all Deadpool games. This newer bracket is screwed into both sides of the cabinet like the Williams-style bracket plate. Later Stern games starting around 2019 no longer appeared to have the reported cabinet separation issue.

1.3 Leg Levelers

Leg levelers typically come with either a 2" threaded stem or 3" threaded stem. On electromechanical games, the levelers with the shorter stem are typically installed on all four legs, as the pitch is not as drastic as modern solid state games. On solid state games, the levelers with the shorter stem are typically installed on the legs at the front of the cabinet, and the levelers with the longer stems are typically installed on the legs at the rear of the cabinet. Sometimes, the levelers with the longer stems are simply used on all four legs.

Levelers at the front of the cabinet screwed in most of the way, while the back leg levelers are screwed in about 3/4 of the way in. After that, they can then be adjusted for the proper playfield angle.

1.4 Leg Bolts & Protectors

Leg bolts are typically 3/8" x 16 x 2-1/2". Extended leg bolts can be 2-3/4". Extended leg bolts are often used when leg protectors or other accessories (such as beverage caddies) are added.

Leg bolts can typically come in chrome, black, or gold, but zinc plated bolts are the most common.

For painted or powder coated legs, there are nylon rings available in a variety of colors to prevent a bolt from scraping against the outside of the leg's bolt hole; usually referred to as leg & bolt protectors.

1.5 Cabinet Protectors

Cabinet protectors can be used to protect the cabinet from damage caused by legs that press into it. There are generally three styles of leg cabinet protectors--felt, hard plastic, and metal.

Felt cabinet protector are generally used on stenciled cabinets, from the 1980s and earlier. They offer padding between the leg and the cabinet.

Metal protectors are generally used on cabinets with screen printing or decals. They are thick enough to add a gap between the cabinet and the edges of the leg. Metal protectors are mechanically screwed to the cabinet.

Plastic protectors are an in-between solution. They can be used on just about any cabinet, but because they are hard plastic, they may dig into the cabinet somewhat. However, if there is a cabinet that already has leg damage or crinkled decals, these protectors are actually larger than the leg itself, and can hide some of the damage. Plastic protectors can come in various colors.

2 Game Systems

2.1 Allied Leisure

2.1.1 Generation 1

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
1975-1976	29 1/2"		Painted Gray	5-1/4" Rib	These legs have unique bolt spacings, so standard pinball legs will not fit on these games (without alterations). Painted gray with a 5-1/4" rib, and the leg is pinched slightly around the length of the rib. More details here

2.3 Atari

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
1976-1979	28 1/2"		Painted Black	Non-ribbed

2.4 Bally

NOTE: Bally was bought out by Williams around 1986. Games produced after this time should reference the Williams leg guide for 1987-1999.

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
1962-1968	31"		Painted		These are typical for Single player games; Typically painted
1968-1983	28 1/2"		Painted Dark Dray or Black	Non-ribbed	Most are dark gray painted, but have also seen black painted on certain games
1984-1986	28 1/2"		Chrome	Ribbed

2.4.1 Exceptions

Game Titles	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
Blackwater 100, Dungeons & Dragons, Escape From The Lost Word	28-1/2" front; 34-3/4" back		Dark Gray	Non-ribbed	Differently sized front legs and back legs were used

2.7 Chicago Gaming

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
2003	?		Black	Ribbed	Vacation America only
2017 - Present	28 1/2"		Chrome or Powder Coated	Ribbed	LE titles had powder coated legs to match the game trim. AFM LE was powder coated green, MB LE was powder coated blue

2.10 Gottlieb

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
1950s-1955	31"				Wooden
1956-1975	31"		Chrome or Painted	Non-ribbed	Some games were chrome, some were painted. On games that had painted legs, the legs will be the same color as the coin door.
1976-1990	27"		Chrome	Non-ribbed
1990-1995	27" OR 31"		Chrome	9" Rib	There was no real consistency in this era for size, but all had a 9" rib for either size.

2.10.1 Exceptions

Game Titles	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
Caveman, Haunted House, Mars God of War, Spirit	27" Front, 31" Back		Chrome	Non-ribbed	Differently sized front legs and back legs were used
Mars God of War	28.5" Front, 31" Back		Chrome	Non-ribbed	28.5" front legs were not the official leg size, however, this size came recommended from Gottlieb game enthusiasts as the best leg size for this particular game.

2.12 Jersey Jack Pinball

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
2013 - Present	28 1/2"		Chrome or Powder Coated	Ribbed	Some limited edition and collectors editions have powder coated colors to match the game trim, instead of chrome

2.16 Williams

Era	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
1956-1966	31"		Painted		These are typical for Single player games; Typically painted
1966-1985	28 1/2"		Chrome	Non-Ribbed	These are originally chrome; typically no ribbing in leg
1985-1989	28 1/2"		Chrome	9" Rib	These are originally chrome; 9" ribbed leg
1989-1999	28 1/2"		Chrome	Ribbed	These are originally chrome; full ribbed leg
1999-1999	28 1/2"		Painted Black	Ribbed	Used on Pinball 2000 machines

2.16.1 Exceptions

Game Titles	Size	Picture	Leg Color	Leg Style	Notes
Black Jack, Bo Bo, Caravelle, Darts, Highways, Hollywood, Jungle, Magic Clock, Music Man, Viking	24-7/8"		Chrome	Tubular	A few 1960-1961 EM games had round, tubular legs that attached to the bottom of the cabinet, rather than the traditional style legs that were bolted to the corners of the cabinet.