Super Pacman Joystick Problems...

[mschwartz01]

Long time reader / First time poster here!!!

I'm looking for advice. I have a Super Pacman machine that my family loves to play.

The joystick however has an issue...

Up, Down, and Right work great... But left has a delay.

Is there a certain part inside I can replace to fix this or is it best to replace the whole joystick?

If the whole joystick needs replaced, any suggestion on which one to use? It seems there are so many different ones out there!

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

[Thenasty]

open an look. maybe the leaf needs adjusting (if its leaf) and if its microswitch, then just replace that.

[mschwartz01]

I removed the control panel last night to take a look but honestly, I'm pretty new at this... I'll take a picture to post tonight. Maybe that will help.

[mschwartz01]

Looks like leaf if im not mistaken... You think I can do something to fix the existing joystick?

[opt2not]

That's a very clean looking pac stick. Very little rust.

Just at first glace, it looks like you left switch's leafs are not making contact correctly like the other switches. If this picture was taken with the joystick at the rest position, there is a space between the left switch and the actuator (red knob thing). See how the long leaf blades on the other switches rest up against the actuator? When you press in a direction, the long blades push and make contact with the smaller blade to complete the circuit.

You can first try to adjust the blades using a pair of needle-nose pliers. Get the longer blades to rest against the actuator, and adjust the short blade so that when you press in a direction it makes contact together.  You can adjust the "sensitivity" of the leafs this way by making the short blade bend closer to the long ones.

If this doesn't fix the problem, you might have to trace the wire using a multimeter's continuity setting to check to see if there isn't a break in the wiring.
It could be deeper than that too, but lets hope what you're describing is just a matter of bending the leafs a bit.

[mgb]

That picture looks like maybe the sick was being somewhat push in one direction or maybe somehow isn't centering properly.
It looks like the leaf switch to the right of the picture is being pushed in and the contacts are making.

[mschwartz01]

I'm quite sure that is the "resting" position...

So is it safe to assume that the underworkings of the joystick are in reverse? For example as pictured, if I were to move the ball of the joystick to the right, (which would be left if upright) the bottom of the joysick moves in the opposite direction?
>
/
<

So to speak?

If that is the case then do the leaf blades on the left in the picture just need bent in towards the center of the stick?

[mgb]

But that leaf switch to the right of the picture (which would be to your left if you were standing at the game playing) is the leaf switch that would make when you push the joy to the right. I think that leaf is stuck on.

When you start a new game of Super Pacman, pacman atarts out going toward the left. If your game starts with him going to the right, then the leaf switch for the right direction is stuck.

Leaf switche joys are great but they do require a good amount of attention to make sure they are setup good.

[opt2not]

But that leaf switch to the right of the picture (which would be to your left if you were standing at the game playing) is the leaf switch that would make when you push the joy to the right. I think that leaf is stuck on.

When you start a new game of Super Pacman, pacman atarts out going toward the left. If your game starts with him going to the right, then the leaf switch for the right direction is stuck.

Leaf switche joys are great but they do require a good amount of attention to make sure they are setup good.

mgb is right!

Bend those blades. The long blades on each switch should be resting on the red actuator at rest position, the small blades should be spaced away from the long blade enough so they're not making contact, but enough so they do make contact when you press in that direction (pushing the long blade to the short blade).

[creatine28]

Have you checked the rubber grommet?  If its old and cracked, it might be pushing the stick to one side instead of centering it like its suppose to do.  I think you can get the grommets from Bob Roberts site pretty cheap or even ebay.

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/grommet.html