Help with 4-way joystick, please

[Cynicaster]

Hi all

My control panel has a dedicated Happ Ultimate 4-way.  I know everybody loves to rag on the Ultimate, but I’ve used it a lot over the 7 months my cabinet has been up and running and it’s done the trick for most games.

However, over the weekend, I was on a Nibbler kick and noticed that the Ultimate was starting to make these weird squeaky/creaky sounds when changing directions.  It’s hard to describe but it sounds like plastic rubbing on plastic.  The control itself is still working fine, but the noise is very distracting and is driving me nuts.  Does anybody know what this might be?  I’m assuming it’s just due to wear and tear because, as I said, this stick has received lots of abuse, and high speed 4-way maze games like Nibbler and Mousetrap can be particularly violent with the twitchy motions.

I didn’t make my panel particularly easy/convenient to disassemble from the cabinet (oops) so that’s why I’m asking the question before opening anything up.

Also, if it turns out that I need to replace the stick, I was wondering what other 4-way options people would recommend.  I didn’t mind the Ultimate, but it is a bit sloppy.  Here are the features I’d look for:

-   Shorter throw than Ultimate (not like it’s possible to be longer)
-   Suitable for under mounting on a 5/8” MDF + plexi control panel (i.e. no fancy woodworking required to install)

It’d be great if I could use the same mounting holes as well, but this might be asking a bit too much.

I was thinking, I really dig my Happ Competitions, and I’m pretty sure a Comp would bolt right up to the Ultimate footprint, but of course they’re an 8-way stick.  Do they sell a 4-way actuator for the Comp?

[Xiaou2]

The white spacer inside is getting worn down.  You can verify this by looking to see white plastic powder.   On the comps you can flip the spacer over.  Probably the same for ultimates.

 The ultimates are not as well designed, and eat the spacers a lot faster than the comps.

[Cynicaster]

The white spacer inside is getting worn down.  You can verify this by looking to see white plastic powder.   On the comps you can flip the spacer over.  Probably the same for ultimates.

 The ultimates are not as well designed, and eat the spacers a lot faster than the comps.

I see, thanks.  I'm assuming you mean the little cylinder-shaped plastic piece that goes over the joystick shaft?  I ask because I'm 99% sure all the plastic parts I received in the kit were black.  The part in question came in 2 sizes, one for wood panel mounting and the other for metal. 

[Xiaou2]

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/507608xxx.htm

part#
95-1308-00   or   95-1306-00

Maybe they changes the color of the part.

However, it almost sounds like you have a super.

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/super_joy_e.htm