Changing balltops on the fly

[ShadeValryn]

I was wondering what everyone's ideas would be for achieving the ability to simply unscrew the balltops and change them out from the top of the stick without having to take a flathead screwdriver to the bottom of the shaft.  I was thinking there might be a way to solidify the shaft so I could just unscrew the tops without flipping my control panel upside down.  Thoughts?

[DrChek]

Just wondering what practical purpose switching balltops on the fly has...

[tony.silveira]

I was wondering what everyone's ideas would be for achieving the ability to simply unscrew the balltops and change them out from the top of the stick without having to take a flathead screwdriver to the bottom of the shaft.  I was thinking there might be a way to solidify the shaft so I could just unscrew the tops without flipping my control panel upside down.  Thoughts?

look into the trigger stick magnetic hack.  i just did this and the ball top pops right off and is very solid during play

[ShadeValryn]

Just wondering what practical purpose switching balltops on the fly has...

Well I worry about scuffing up the shaft if I use pliers, and if I have the ability to change tops, my buddies can not only pick their own color if they really wanted, but considering bat top adapters, can pick what kind of stick they want to use.

[ShadeValryn]

look into the trigger stick magnetic hack.  i just did this and the ball top pops right off and is very solid during play

That definitely sounds promising.  Might go with that.  Simply boring out the plastic threads and gluing in a really strong magnet.  Love the simplicity.

[tony.silveira]

That definitely sounds promising.  Might go with that.  Simply boring out the plastic threads and gluing in a really strong magnet.  Love the simplicity.
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my ball tops had metal threads.  just a bit of advice if yours do.  don't start with a drill bit that is the size of the threaded shaft.  i did this and the threaded insert kept spinning and coming out of the ball top.

on my second one, i started with a smaller drill bit, moving the drill in small circles insid the insert.  then i kept moving up in drill bit size, each small increment doing the same thing, small circles inside the insertuntil i got it boared out to the size i needed to push the magnet in.

[ShadeValryn]

thanks for the advice.  this mod is definitely something i want to integrate into my control panel.  originally i was going to go with bat tops to accommodate the fact that most of my friends had only ever used bat tops in the arcades (apart from pac man and galaga).  now i'm glad that i'll be able to still play my fighters effectively with a nice ball top (except mortal kombat, then i go bat top all the way)

EDIT: btw, love bArcade.  thought about stealing that idea for my coin door since it would basically cost me the same in aquiring a 4 player coin door (even a blank)