Wico Leaf Joysticks - 4 Way / 8 Way

[Oldskool]

I've bought a couple of "2/4/8-way" replacement Wico joysticks on Ebay.

In 8-way mode, they're great, and to be honest, they're pretty good with 4-way games also, but........being the perfectionist that I think I am, I traded one of the actuators to a guy for an official .500" 4-way actuator.

Guess what? I installed it, and it sucks!!!! There's dead spots all over the place.

I bent the leaf tabs a bit to try to improve play, but it didn't help much, and if you think about it, bending them defeats the purpose of a smaller diameter actuator.

If I want a REAL 4-way Wico joy, should I be getting one with the diamond shaped cut out?

Did Wico lead me astray labelling them as "2-4-8 way"?

[paigeoliver]

Wico didn't lead you anywhere, as Wico doesn't make those current repro sticks that look like the old Wico sticks.

But, yes, if you want a REAL 4-way Wico then you need one with the diamond cutout.

BUT, I have a diamond cutout 4-way wico at home, and the new Ms. Pac/Galaga replacement stick is better, the shorter throw makes it better.

I also have a Q*Bert stick, a "Universal" 4-way (from the Mr. Do! series), and a couple others and the Ms. Galapac replacment one is the best one by far.

[Oldskool]

Wico doesn't make those current repro sticks that look like the old Wico sticks.

Oh.....

[Oldskool]

.

[patrickl]

I guess PaigeOliver got confused by the name "replacement wico joysticks". But you mean you got a "replacement kit" for an 8-way Wico stick. I was wondering about that myself, since I have a few wico 8-ways now, but still need a 4-way. I guess the kit is not the way to go then

I guess I better stick to the T+ sticks then.

BTW The cheap wico "style" clone (Paige is referring to) is a 4-way stick. At least it has a diagonal cut-out. I cannot see how it could ever work properly as an 8-way. But then I don't even see how that type of stick will ever work properly  

[OSCAR]

Oldskool - I think the problem here is that you assumed that the Wico replacement handles are a "kit" that will let you change an 8-way to a 4-way joystick.  That is not the case.

This is a 2-4-8 way replacement handle, meaning that it fits a Wico 2-way, 4-way, or 8-way joystick, but you still have to use the correct base.  I believe the replacement handles are labeled correctly, they do fit all those different joysticks; just keep in mind that they are different joysticks.  In other words, this universal replacement handle fits an original 4-way or 8-way joystick, but it won't turn an 8-way into a 4-way.  Make sense?

[Nailz]

I have one of those flyers too Oldskool, one came with my 8 way sticks, and also came with my 4 way stick.

No ones trying to lead you astray...  

[Oldskool]

Oldskool - I think the problem here is that you assumed that the Wico replacement handles are a "kit" that will let you change an 8-way to a 4-way joystick.  

Oscar, what was received in the kit was 1 "8-way" joystick base, 1 ball handle, and 1 actuator (8-way .600"). Also received were the e-clip, spring, and 2" washer.

The bill of materials doesn't call up a base, but does call up two actuators, and labels the kit as 2-4-8 way.

I bought this off of EBay as I needed a 4-way joystick. Was it packaged incorrectly by the seller? Perhaps, but it looked official to me.

Does the paperwork in the box accurately reflect what I received? I don't think so.

Am I really upset about it? No, not really, except for the fact that I traded the .600" actuator away for a .500", which results pretty much in a worthless joystick.

Is the trade my fault? Absolutely, but again, I feel that the paperwork in the box was a little misleading.

In my opinion, what I received was a 8-way joystick, and it should have been identified as such. I based my decision to purchase on the scan of paperwork.

That's all......




 

[menace]

In situations like this--I would pull a page from my macgyver handbook and wrap the .500 actuator with black tape until it becomes a .600--I know this doesn't make you fee any better but at least you ened up with a workable 8 way  

When project #2436 is complete i was going to make a 4 way restrictor plate for these (drawn up in cad) so that people could cut their own out of materials on hand...unfortunately project#2436 involves tiling the kitchen... ah well someday...

[OSCAR]

I had some of those kits in the past, too.  The seller just threw in a spare base for you and an actuator was missing.  If the kit had been unopened, you wouldn't have received the base and should have gotten two actuators instead.  I seriously doubt if the seller was trying to mislead anyone, he probably figures he was doing someone a favor by including a spare base, which essentially means that you have a whole joystick instead of just a handle replacement kit.

From my arcade dealings with local people and on eBay, I would be surprised if 1 out of 10 really know what they are selling.  Especially these guys that end up with a warehouse full of stuff, they do bulk deals and sell stuff off as fast as they can without really knowing what they have or even testing it.  I would be surprised if the seller actually knew that the "kit" was missing an actuator, too.

[Oldskool]

In situations like this--I would pull a page from my macgyver handbook and wrap the .500 actuator with black tape until it becomes a .600

That had already crossed my mind.

Either that or go to Home Depot, and scare up something there.

MacGyver it, yah!