How easy to change buttons/stick on a fight stick?

[Gavica]

so long story short I bought a pair of those madcatz tatsunoko vs capcom fightstis (cheap, 2 for $50) and they just arrived, however I don't really like the feel of the buttons or the stick itself.

First, is it easy to change them? like plug and unplug the buttons and thats it?

second, I love my hanaho stick which uses Happ buttons, if I were to buy these:

http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/539200xx.htm

would they fit? and feel exactly the same as my hanaho stick?

[mgb]

First, here is something I found on modding that stick. Should be the same stuff as yours.
http://shoryuken.com/f177/how-mod-your-sfiv-se-fightstick-faq-175882/

You may be somewhat limited in how much you can change.

It looks like they use knockoff Sanwa parts.

Joystick:
I believe the best stick for replacement is a Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT-SK
http://www.lizardlick.com/Sanwa-JLF-TP-8YT-SK-Joystick_p_260.html
They say its a drop in replacement.
These sticks have non-standard bolt pattern bases, so something like a Happ Competition won't work.
This stick also has the same wire harness as the stock one probably has, not seperate quick connects like most other joysticks.
This stick gets very good reviews


Buttons:
The stock ones are probably 30mm so the Happ ones may be a little loose in the hole, they may also be a bit too long (I'm not sure)
Even if you can get them tight, there may not be enough room for getting on the nut.

Here are the Sanwa snap in buttons that would probably be best:
http://www.lizardlick.com/Sanwa-30mm-Snap-In-Buttons_c_176.html

And if you are still looking to gat some Happ buttons, heres a link for them, rather than buying directly through Happ
http://www.lizardlick.com/Happ-Pushbuttons_c_154.html

[Gavica]

thanks for info.
Sucks that I cant use the happ buttons 

btw, the first link didnt work for me?

[Gavica]

I ended up ordering 1 button of each, happ and sanwa, to see if the happ would fit and if not, if I would like the sanwa. Is the turnaround on that company usually fast?

[mgb]

I've heard some people complain about the shipping time from Lizardlick but I find them to be decent.
I usually wait about 5 days before receiving products from them.

If you find the Happ buttons too long, you can also check these out. They are shorter, but still the same basic style
http://www.lizardlick.com/LL-Translucent-Pushbutton-wMicroswitch-Green_p_212.html

[Gavica]

Thanks, I noticed alot of their buttons are out of stock, do they constantly replenish?

[mgb]

Yeah,
I believe they're pretty good about restocking.
I see a few other things on the site that were out of stock a few weeks ago but are now back in stock.

[Gavica]

well today I finally got around to actually playing with the tatsunoko stick (still with its original parts) and not only did I hate the feel of the buttons, but I hated the joystick even more, its very lose, you need to move it quite a bit before it registers the movement. Nothing at all like my happ joystick which was really stiff and felt like I had alot more control.

With the replacement sanwa stick u posted, will the stick be more stiff like the happ or kinda lose?

[mgb]

Well the Sanwa JLF won't feel the same as a Happ.
I have some Happ Competitions, Sanwa JLWs and a Sanwa JLF.
To me the JLF is definately not my favorite but I used it for a 4-way. They are one of the most popular japanese sticks for fighters.
Another very popular stick is the seimitsu. Many people prefer them to the Sanwa.
http://www.lizardlick.com/Seimitsu-LS-40-01-Black_p_433.html

unfortunately with those madcats sticks, you are limited to what you can put in.
You can always double up on the joysticks spring or replace it with a heavier one.
Google it, a lot of guys have done it.

A japanese stick probably won't feel like a Happ but it will most likely feel better than the old current stick you have.

[Gavica]

well the 2 buttons I ordered arrived today, that was lightning fast.

Like u said, the Happ is just too long and wont fit, the sanwa should do the trick, but need to install it first to make sure it feels right.

[mgb]

Nice thing about the Sanwas is that they are click-free.

Goodluck with it

[Gavica]

that's what I like about the happs, is the clicky feel

[Gavica]

Dunno If I'm arcade noob, but I put in the sanwa button and did not like it, could not tell the difference between that and imitation ones that already came with it. I just prefer the feel of the happs. 

[mgb]

The happs do have more of the vintage feel, I prefer that style too.
What about those shorter happ style buttons at lizardlick, maybe they'll fit?
these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Misc_c_157.html

or these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Yenox-Pushbuttons_c_156.html

[Gavica]

The happs do have more of the vintage feel, I prefer that style too.
What about those shorter happ style buttons at lizardlick, maybe they'll fit?
these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Misc_c_157.html

or these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Yenox-Pushbuttons_c_156.html

yes, I want to try the ones in the first link, but they are oos, gonna wait till the come back and order from both links to check those out

[Gavica]

The happs do have more of the vintage feel, I prefer that style too.
What about those shorter happ style buttons at lizardlick, maybe they'll fit?
these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Misc_c_157.html

or these
http://www.lizardlick.com/Yenox-Pushbuttons_c_156.html

Any idea if there is much quality difference between the LL and Yenox?

[Gavica]

well I sent them an email, and told me they will no longer carry the shorter LL, so I will give the Yenox a try

[mgb]

I've never tried eaither of them, but I can't I can't imagine they're much different from happs.

[Gavica]

bought a Yenox, unfortunately they are really stiff buttons

[mgb]

If the button is too stiff, it may just be a stiff spring.
You may just wanna try swapping it out with a spring from a happ button.
It may be possible that you'll have the spring a little because those buttons are shorter than the happs.