Reunion Pacman Joystick Question

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi everyone

I am planning on replacing my 4-way Happ Ultimate joystick with the Reunion Pacman Joystick.  I have a wood panel and talking with Bob Roberts the longer handle for this joystick is no longer available.  The control panel is routed for the happ joystick and he seems to think height wise I will be fine with the reunion.  Is there anyway to be sure.  Or does anyone else think I won't have a height problem with this new joystick?

Jason

[paigeoliver]

How thick is the remaining wood? This particular stick has the shortest shaft of any western sticks available right now.

Hi everyone

I am planning on replacing my 4-way Happ Ultimate joystick with the Reunion Pacman Joystick.  I have a wood panel and talking with Bob Roberts the longer handle for this joystick is no longer available.  The control panel is routed for the happ joystick and he seems to think height wise I will be fine with the reunion.  Is there anyway to be sure.  Or does anyone else think I won't have a height problem with this new joystick?

Jason

[Well Fed Games]

FWIW, I put a reunion stick in my cab that had an original Pac-Man CP (wood& metal), and the Reunion stick sat too short for me. So I switched the shaft to a Versa Ball shaft from GGG but even after modification I feel it sits too tall.

Another option is Tornado Terry offers a 4-way with a longer shaft here: http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm (will have to scroll down, not the best designed page).

But I agree, depends on how thick the wood is you are dealing with.

[Evilpenguinj]

Well I will check when I get home tonight and try to measure.  The main issue is I want a joystick that will fit the routed area that the Happ ultimate sits in.  Then I can use the bolts that are already installed there.  So that's one of the main criteria.  If someone has a better 4-way in mind that will fit then I am all ears!

Jason

[Hoopz]

It will fit in the same mounting holes.

[yotsuya]

I used a custom cut metal panel on mine with the wood area routed out where the stick sits. Mine feels fine, but for all intents and purposes, it's on a metal panel.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Here's my review of Tornado Terry's joystick.  I owned both versions (wood and metal).  The one featured in the video is the wood version with the longer shaft - red balltop.  You can check out my other video of the Green Invader cab to see the metal version - green balltop)





DeLuSioNaL29

[RandyT]

Just wanted to add a note about long shafts on joysticks, especially with 4-ways.  Long shafts make installation simpler for below panel installations, but what makes for easy installation isn't always what provides the best control.  Many (but not all) 4-ways have, by their nature, a pretty long throw to begin with, by virtue of the diamond shaped restriction.  The additional shaft length will increase the throw of the stick, making it tend to feel sloppy for games which require quick changes in direction.  Even tweaking the switches on this type of stick usually doesn't work well, as doing so defeats the restrictors function of preventing more than one switch to close simultaneously.

Wherever possible, provisions should be made in the mounting plan (recess below or top mounting) for short shaft, 4-way sticks, as the shaft length is an important part of the performance.

RandyT

[yotsuya]

... as the shaft length is an important part of the performance.

RandyT

That's what.... aw, nevermind.

[Evilpenguinj]

DeLuSioNal29 do the joysticks you mention fit the standard happ installation layout?  I have the panel routed to fit the Happ Ultimate 4-way.

Also Randy do you sell 4-ways that will allow me to swap out the happ and use the same bolts and installation as the happ.  I measured the board of the control panel and I think it's 7/8 of inch in thickness.

Thanks all!

Jason

[RandyT]

Also Randy do you sell 4-ways that will allow me to swap out the happ and use the same bolts and installation as the happ.  I measured the board of the control panel and I think it's 7/8 of inch in thickness.

The only "4-Way" we offer which will fit directly is a Happ Super with one of our 4-way restrictors.  But if you are looking for a ball-top, you'll want to go a different route.  The OMNI2 should bolt up to your existing pattern, but it is 4-way/8-way switchable, rather than a dedicated 4-way.  If you want the same style stick locked to 4-way, email me.   There are a couple of other good options, but you would need to modify your panel for those.

How deep is the recess for the stick?  If you still have a 7/8" thick panel after the recess, that's pretty thick for a short shaft length.  Then again, PacMan had a stubby little stick, so it will probably be up to your personal preference as to what is long enough.

[paigeoliver]

If you don't have visible bolts then a Happ universal will install in the old joystick hole and it is one heck of a good 4-way.

[Well Fed Games]

  Many (but not all) 4-ways have, by their nature, a pretty long throw to begin with, by virtue of the diamond shaped restriction.  The additional shaft length will increase the throw of the stick, making it tend to feel sloppy for games which require quick changes in direction.  Even tweaking the

RandyT

Yeah, this is exactly what I experience with my too-long 4-way. Playable but not ideal. At some point I will probably change it out.

[Evilpenguinj]

The bolts are definitely showing.   

Jason

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi Everyone

For those that asked how much it had been routed it was 1/4” thick so it would be routed out 1/4” plus a hair extra to make sure it was below the CP surface. Like an extra 1/32” of an inch.

So with this info do you think the Reunion stick would be tall enough or should I go with the larger handle one from Tornado Terry's.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jason

[yotsuya]

If you're top mounting, then the Reunion stick should be fine. Mine's under about 1/4 combined plexi and metal, and I love it.

[Well Fed Games]

If you're top mounting, then the Reunion stick should be fine. Mine's under about 1/4 combined plexi and metal, and I love it.

Agreed, should work fine.

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi Guys

The joystick is bottom mounted so routed from below.  So knowing this do you think I will still be ok with the Reunion joystick?  Also I have an email into the guy at Tornado Terry because he sells one with a longer shaft.

Jason

[RandyT]

The joystick is bottom mounted so routed from below.  So knowing this do you think I will still be ok with the Reunion joystick?  Also I have an email into the guy at Tornado Terry because he sells one with a longer shaft.

The short version is going to be too short.  If you are ok with changing the dynamic of the stick a bit, and don't wish to modify the panel, then the longer shaft is your only real option.

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi Guys

Wanted to thank you all for your input.  I decided to go with a stick with a longer shaft from Tornado Terry's.  I hope it works out! 

Thanks

Jason

[Well Fed Games]

Cool. Post impressions (and pics!) when you have it installed! 

[IceAge]

I think I want to go with an authentic Happ reunion pac stick.
Is the ball too small in diameter?

If I route 3/4" mdf, should I top mount it or can I bottom mount it?
Does plexiglass effect it?

[paigeoliver]

You have to top mount these to use wood. Plexi is thin enough to not matter.

Here is a little tutorial I wrote on how to mount the stick with minimal tools (you don't even need a router).

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=237707

[Evilpenguinj]

Hey Guys

Well I got the joystick from Tornado Terry's.  I installed it and it looks good.  So I am including a shot of my control panel.

Thanks again everyone!