Groovy Game Gear Tron Replacement Handles

[cognis]

I purchased the replacement Tron handles from Groovy Game Gear as well as a new insert plate, trigger switch assembly, screws, and the Night Mission flight stick.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=91

The flight stick description says:
This stick incorporates a non-spinning, hollow joystick shaft, which means it makes a great foundation for a DIY project stick.  With an adapter tube (you supply) it can even be made to support the full-size arcade TRON™ and Satan's Hollow™ replacement hand grips

I emailed them a week or two ago about possible steps or customer comments/steps but haven't heard anything yet.  Has anyone attempted this or know of what size tube (length and width) is needed?

[PL1]

The handles are designed to fit an original TRON stick or the Happ Heavy Duty 8-way Joystick.

Unfortunately, when Happ updated their site, they didn't include the link to the parts breakout that listed the part number for the tube that the handles screw into.   

Here's a possible lead/workaround.   

Good luck. 


Scott

[RandyT]

I responded to the last couple of email requests I received for how to go about doing this.  Maybe it didn't get through, or is in your spam folder.

But the concept is pretty straight forward. Essentially, you would need to find or make a tube with correct inner and outer diameters. Then drill and tap some holes for screws to attach the tube to the joystick shaft, and then the handle to the tube. You could get creative and pot (with epoxy, etc..) the inner shaft to a tube with the correct OD, and then drill and tap the holes for the handle.

[cognis]

Hey thanks guys.  Been busy with Thanksgiving, shopping, etc.  I think I understand now what needs to be done.  I appreciate the help on this!

[SavannahLion]

Isn't the TRON shift bent or was that the DoT shaft?

[PL1]

Isn't the TRON shift bent or was that the DoT shaft?

AFAIK all the heavy-duty trigger-sticks similar to TRON, DOT, Xenophobe, etc. have a bent shaft to create a more ergonomic grip angle.


Scott

EDIT: Found confirmation that original TRON sticks used a straight tube -- guess I was thinking about several stick mods that used the Happ Heavy Duty Stick and Encryptor's restrictors. 

[tron84]

Tron did not have a bent shaft. You can see from the grip manual attached & the pics from the 2 panels I have to rehab. The one w/ the broken handle you can see the shaft.
Then to the op, in the video dude uses a copper tube for the shaft. I have also seen people use a king size sharpie marker tube. Then they cut the ends off,drill the two holes & paint it. It is suppose to be the same size. I have not confirmed that.

[cognis]

Ok so I'm SUPER close now to making a finished replica of a Tron stick by starting with the Mini-Flight Stick from Groovy Game Gear (Pic #1).   I took the Tron replacement handles (Pic #2), also from Groovy Game Gear, to a hardware store until I got a matching width pipe that worked perfectly.  Back home, I removed the existing handles off the mini-flight stick and also took the base apart enough to remove the existing wire grouping and trigger micro-switches.  This left an empty shaft.  I put it back together sans the handles and the wiring  (Pic #3).  I then opened the control panel top and held the mini-stick underneath the panel and ran the existing joystick shaft through the bottom of the panel as if it was mounted.  I then placed the new pipe over the top of it to see how much I really needed and then I cut it down to about 4 3/4" and drilled the holes for the replacement handles (Pic #4).  In order for the mini-stick shaft to work with the new pipe I also purchased about 10 Nylon washers which measured exactly .385" i.d., 3/4" o.d. since I couldn't find a workable nylon bushing (Pic #5).  I then put each onto the mini-stick shaft and glued them in place (and together) with superglue.  They are a snug fit anyway on the mini-stick shaft but I put glue inside the washers just the same.  Once dried I was able to then glue on the new pipe.  Again it's a snug fit and seems pretty solid now without worrying there would be slippage after playing.  I then had just enough clearance from the top of the pipe to allow me to push through the base of the joystick the wiring for the trigger switch assembly from Groovy Game Gear (Pic #6).  I didn't like the spring action on the joystick so while I was at the hardware store I found a stiffer spring which I used instead (Pic #7).  The spring I got was slightly too long so I measured the original spring's COMPRESSED height and shortened the new spring accordingly (based on compressed height).  The original spring is tapered so I had to carefully pinch the top rungs of the new spring a bit with pliers.  The spring action is very responsive now and returns to center immediately.  Oh, I also bought a flat 3" o.d. / 1" i.d. nylon washer and painted it black.  On the bottom I glued a similar flat rubber washer.  This is used as the new dust washer.  I then mounted the new joystick base to my control panel, slipped the new dust washer on top, and attached the replacement handles and new joystick insert (from Groovy Game Gear) using the joystick screws (also from Groovy Game Gear).  Looks like a true Tron stick to me! (Pic #8).

The only thing that makes it noticeably different is it doesn't light up.    I looked online and the original Tron stick uses 2 .08amp 14v wedge bulbs.  Does anyone have an idea on how to get lighting in this stick by possibly mounting an LED bulb in there and maybe hook up to either 14v or 5v I already have available to me in the cabinet??

[happyfunball]

you don't want to use that joystick to play tron with. tron has an 8 way joystick with a special restrictor that won't fit on it. without it, tron is basically unplayable.
I know because I tried it.
you pretty much need an actual tron joystick or spend the money on the heavy duty happ stick, if you want to play the game.

[cognis]

I'm not sure how you didn't get get your mini-stick converted properly.  Maybe because I replaced the spring I fared better.  Since completing my control panel with the conversion I outlined, I've had 3 people over already in the last 24 hours to compete in a Tron face-off.  It still seems just as stiff and snaps strongly to center as when I first got it installed.  I'm sure a real Tron stick has some extra benefit that I don't have in the long run but for now I'm knocking on MDF and able to play Tron (and Gorf, Mach 3, Zaxxon) without noticing anything negative.  I'll keep everyone posted as I typically host the family holiday party and that's when it will get really tested by 5 pre-teen boys/girls, 1 jealous sibling, and if tradition holds a drunk aunt.

[allenhuffman]

I am working on a similar project, using the flight stick (available from Paradise Arcade Shop, Groovy Game Gear, Holland Computers) and the TRON handle from Groovy Game Gear. Paradise may be able to create a custom restrictor plate for this device -- waiting to hear back from then.

Barring that, using a 4-way joystick and putting the TRON handle on it might be a better option than using the 8-way joystick. I will post updates when I have them.