I picked up that Digital Level from CT that was in the last thread, figured I'd start a new one rather then add on to that topic.

Anyway I'm curious, where do you level your machines?

I usually level mine on the glass.  I do it on the glass because in order to level something properly you need a straight line.  I've tried to level on the PF before but I can never find a straight line, so I'm not 100% sure that I'm actually level or I've just tilted the level a little to the left or the right.  

So I was curious what do other people do for leveling their machines to ensure they are actually level.

I just tried re-levelling with that digital level as well, and I did it on the playfield at a few differnt points along the surface.  I figured that since I was changing the incline anyway, I should make sure that the L/R level was OK as well.  I see what you mean about needing a straight line, but the problem is that there's no guarantee that the playfield is going to be exactly level relative to the cabinet, and no guarantee that the glass is going to be exactly parallel to the playfield.  You could also check on the ront edge of the cabinet with the glass off I suppose.  I think the best you can do is get pretty close-after all, you are just using the feet to do it, which ius pretty imprecise.  I think I was within 0.1 degree everywhere I checked.

You are better off leveling at the playfield and taking into account the inserts and making some mental adjustments than at the glass.  Depending on how skewed the cabinet is (older looser ones can skew more), you can get some difference between the two and a degree off is enough to have the ball favour one side or another.  That being said, it's not an exact science.  Remember tha tthis level measures to a 10th of a degree and being "out" a couple tenths is not a big deal.

I usually level side to side at two points, as close to the flippers as possible and as close to the top as possible in order to get as close to level as I can.  Then I level back to front to 6.5 degrees (as it's easier since you then lift the back leg levellers by turning them an even number of times each.

Then once I have the front to back angle as I like it, I go back and re-level on the playfield where I can.

After levelling, it is a good idea to push the machine around a little to settle the legs since they may be racked, as soon as someone nudges the pinball and a flexed leg moves, the level will change(usually if you are lifting the machien to change the leg levellers, there's very little racking.

To change the levellers, I am still using my back (literally), I crawl under the machine, lift with my back and then quickly turn the leg levellers.  

Once levelled to my satsifaction you tighten up the nut on the bottom of the leg so it is taking the weight (and I usually add a nut at the top too - especially if the legs are old and the threads are loose/worn).

When they design these things they always level from the pf...so thats what I do too. I measure the back, front and by the sides. Its remarkable how on some machines the pf is nowhere near the same level as the glass...but others are bang on the same too!

Stan