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Ikari Warriors rotary sticks, or buy new ones, for MAME cabinet
clhug:
I got hold of a broken Ikari Warriors game at an auction for $10. I bought it with the intention of ripping out the rotary sticks to use in my MAME cabinet. Just wondering if that's a good idea, or if I'd be better off buying a current technology stick for that purpose. If it's suggested to just buy something new, what should I look at for rotary sticks?
Thank you!
PL1:
It's your property so it's your decision, but since you asked . . . ;D
If you need to service the rotary switches on those LS-30 sticks, there is a good writeup here.
If they are in good shape, they are usually in fairly high demand, especially if they have uncut harnesses. (please don't cut the original harness if you can avoid it)
For a MAME cab with a wood panel, a Happ Mechanical Rotary from Divemaster here would be easier to mount. (Be sure to specify the mechanical 50-5618-00 in your order notes. ;D)
BTW, the Happ sticks are still being produced -- the LS-30s aren't AFAIK.
For a rotary encoder, I recommend the open-source keyboard-style KADE miniArcade or microArcade encoders available here. More info here.
GGG also has two gamepad-style GP-Wiz40 models here with rotary support.
Personally, I would avoid the Ultimarc Rotary encoder -- it is plug-and-play, but isn't configurable and only encodes the rotary switch, not the joystick microswitches or other buttons, so you'll need an IPac or other encoder as well.
Also remember to properly configure the rotary games in MAME -- full rotary game list here.
Is the Ikari Warriors cab a candidate for restoration or is it just a parted-out shell?
Scott
clhug:
Thanks for the response!
The question was more about the technology. Are the modern rotary sticks that can be purchased elsewhere just better in quality or performance? Or for example, I'm not sure how many rotary "positions" there are on the Ikari sticks, but do modern rotary sticks have more positions that I'd be better off with? Or just any other reasons that I should consider purchasing modern rotary sticks instead of reusing the Ikari Warriors sticks?
I believe they are in good shape, and they still have the harnesses. Though I have not had the opportunity yet to actually hook them up to find out if every position actually works.
Good mention on the encoder. I was actually wondering how I hook them up, and just forgot to answer. Thanks!
I do already have the larger I-Pac for the regular joysticks. I'm thinking I would probably just wire the actual joystick switches in parallel with the normal Player 1 & Player 2 sticks. Or maybe just replace my Player 1 & Player 2 sticks with these. (Long term I want to build a swappable control panel.)
Not sure if the cabinet could be restored or not. It looks like a complete game part-wise, just doesn't work. However, it MIGHT only be a dead monitor. I do know the monitor has a blown fuse that just blows again when replaced. I can still hear the game when I power it on, but without the monitor I can't be sure the game is actually working either. But since I got it for only $10, I'm more interested in stealing the rotary sticks for my own MAME cabinet, unless as I said above, there are other reasons I should consider purchasing modern rotary sticks.
Or I suppose unless this thing is worth more money if I sold the parts or cabinet to someone interested in restoring it that then I could use that money to buy new rotary sticks. I will say though, I don't have the expertise to fix the montor, and don't really want to mess with replacing it (don't know where to get a working replacement).
Thanks again!
PL1:
--- Quote from: clhug on July 14, 2014, 10:52:56 am ---Are the modern rotary sticks that can be purchased elsewhere just better in quality or performance? Or for example, I'm not sure how many rotary "positions" there are on the Ikari sticks, but do modern rotary sticks have more positions that I'd be better off with? Or just any other reasons that I should consider purchasing modern rotary sticks instead of reusing the Ikari Warriors sticks?
--- End quote ---
The LS-30 and Happ handle differently, but no major technological advantages for either one AFAIK.
Happ Rotary sticks are modded versions of the Happ Super -- both sticks handle similarly.
Mechanical rotary sticks have 12 clicks/positions per rotation.
Optical rotary sticks (Loop-24 or Happ Optical Rotary) have 24 transitions per rotation, but are not a good substitute for the mechanical sticks -- only four games that I know of used optical rotary sticks.
From what you say below, this game is playing blind and worth far more if you don't poach the sticks out of this cab for use in your MAME cab.
As the saying goes, "Don't maim for MAME."
--- Quote from: clhug on July 14, 2014, 10:52:56 am ---I believe they are in good shape, and they still have the harnesses. Though I have not had the opportunity yet to actually hook them up to find out if every position actually works.
--- End quote ---
With the cab powered down, you can unplug the 13-pin connector and ohm out the switch, each click connecting ground to the next pin in turn. ;D
--- Quote from: clhug on July 14, 2014, 10:52:56 am ---Good mention on the encoder. I was actually wondering how I hook them up, and just forgot to answer. Thanks!
I do already have the larger I-Pac for the regular joysticks. I'm thinking I would probably just wire the actual joystick switches in parallel with the normal Player 1 & Player 2 sticks. Or maybe just replace my Player 1 & Player 2 sticks with these. (Long term I want to build a swappable control panel.)
--- End quote ---
You only need to connect 7 wires to a Minimus AVR/KADE to handle the rotary encoding for two sticks.
--- Quote from: clhug on July 14, 2014, 10:52:56 am ---Not sure if the cabinet could be restored or not. It looks like a complete game part-wise, just doesn't work. However, it MIGHT only be a dead monitor. I do know the monitor has a blown fuse that just blows again when replaced. I can still hear the game when I power it on, but without the monitor I can't be sure the game is actually working either. But since I got it for only $10, I'm more interested in stealing the rotary sticks for my own MAME cabinet, unless as I said above, there are other reasons I should consider purchasing modern rotary sticks.
Or I suppose unless this thing is worth more money if I sold the parts or cabinet to someone interested in restoring it that then I could use that money to buy new rotary sticks. I will say though, I don't have the expertise to fix the montor, and don't really want to mess with replacing it (don't know where to get a working replacement).
--- End quote ---
If the sticks are working properly and you can fix the monitor, it sounds like you will have a full working cab. :applaud:
Instead of parting it for just the sticks, you can probably sell it as-is "playing blind" to cover the expense of another pair of sticks and a rotary encoder.
Scott
MTPPC:
Sell the LS-30s and buy brand new Happs. Remember you need that special tool to get the yellow knobs of the LS30.