Wico stick repair

[Scoobie]

One of the connectors to my Wico leaf stick broke off when reconnecting it to a new cp (part of the connector is still inside the quick disconnect).  

Lesson: connectors on leaf sticks are not nearly as durable as microswitch connectors.

Is there a way to fix this?  If so, please advise.

Thanks!

[BobA]

Leaf connectors can be replaced individually by removing the screw that holds the contacts and insulators together.  All you need is some leaf spring replacement pieces.  Maybe ebay or Bob Roberts.

BobA

[Goz]

You can get them from Peale for about $1 each or places like Centsible Amusements --> http://www.centsibleamusements.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=110 also in that same price range.

Hope it helps,

-Goz

[patrickl]

Wasn't there some discussion a while back if these would actually fit on Wico stick?

[SirPeale]

That is correct.  Wico joystick leaf switches are different from the ones that either I or Centsible have.

Aparently they do not make them anymore.  I asked Bob Roberts about them, and he said the last ones he saw were raided from an operators warehouse some years ago, and then there were only three of them!

It's really too bad;  a lot of joysticks could likely benefit from new switches.  I recently had to replace one of mine, and I had to resort to using an old switch from a broken joystick.

[jcoleman]

While that tab is broken off, you can still connect to the leaf...either solder a wire to it (ugly) or cram a wire between the remaining portion of the tab and the plastic.  Some hot glue should hold it in there.  It's not as clean as replacing the switch, but it's probably the best solution you will find otherwise.

Coleman

[Scoobie]

There doesn't seem to be any connection left expossed on the broken tab.  With this in mind and the fact that there isn't a replacement for these anymore, I'm now considering buying a different stick to handle the 4-way pac games.  I already have 2 8-ways ready to mount on my cp, but would like a dedicated 4-way that will play the pac-type games well.

The ms.pac reunion stick sounds good, but I have a 3/4" panel and it doesn't sound like a good idea to route a 1/2" out of the panel (the 1/4" remaining might not be sturdy enough).  The stick will probably be too short otherwise.

What stick should I get for the 4-way (except the Super, Comp, Ultimate, as they don't seem tight enough for pac-type games)?

Thanks guys!

[Kremmit]

If you want to go new, you could go with a T-stick plus, or a Prodigy.  Switchable 4-8 way goodness!  

If you don't mind used, you could scour e-bay for a real Pac/Ms. Pac stick and use that.  However, those need to be top mounted...

Or, if you'd rather not spend any more cash, I've got a Happ 4-way stick I'd trade you for a Wico with one busted leaf- it's available with a black or green ball-top, or just about any color of bat/pear top.  Mounts under panel.  Let me know if you're interested and I can send pics.

-Kremmit

[patrickl]

Can't you just strip the plastic back a bit and expose some metal of the leaf switch? Or even solder some thin wires on the "switch side" of the switch (I mean the long bits that actually touch each other when switched)

[Scoobie]

I'm not very handy with soldering (did it once, and wasn't exactly pretty).  I might give it a try though.  If it doesn't work, I'm considering getting a dedicated 4-way from Ultimarc (their sticks are tighter than Happs and should be a bit better for pac games).

It's too bad Happ or someone else doesn't make a replacement stick to fit or duplicate the ms. pac reunion stick that could be under-mounted and still have enough shaft to play.

When I called Happ last week, the sales guy told me he could make a longer stick to fit the reunion...only it would cost $50,000!  This guy was a smartass.  He asked if it was for a MAME machine, and when I said yes, he said he could make a mold for a longer stick.  The catch was of course that it would cost $50k.

Since Happ can make this possible (and sell a boat load of them at a reasonable price), why don't they?  Oh well.

[Kremmit]

Since Happ can make this possible (and sell a boat load of them at a reasonable price), why don't they?  Oh well.

You answered your own question here:

The catch was of course that it would cost $50k.

Just to make back their investment, they need to sell 5000 of those at ten bucks a pop.  But, it costs more to store the things, add 'em to the catalog, process all the orders, etc.- so add another couple thou for the overhead- they would break even at about the 7000 stick mark.  But nobody wants to just break even- To make it worth their while, they would have to anticipate selling lots more than 7000, so call it 10,000 handles they would need to believe they could sell, before they would consider going into production on these.  Since they sell three 4-way sticks (Original Pac, Reunion Pac, and the Ultimate is still available in a dedicated 4-way), Happ probably doesn't see 10,000 replacement handles for one base, just to satisfy the MAME crowd.

Wow, I took that a lot further than I intended to.   Smartass comments aside, Good luck with the soldering- It should work fine, I've seen it done on another Wico with the same problem, and it still played fine.  I'ts what I would have done if you had gone for the trade!

[Grasshopper]

I'm not very handy with soldering (did it once, and wasn't exactly pretty).  I might give it a try though.  If it doesn't work, I'm considering getting a dedicated 4-way from Ultimarc (their sticks are tighter than Happs and should be a bit better for pac games).

It's too bad Happ or someone else doesn't make a replacement stick to fit or duplicate the ms. pac reunion stick that could be under-mounted and still have enough shaft to play.

When I called Happ last week, the sales guy told me he could make a longer stick to fit the reunion...only it would cost $50,000!  This guy was a smartass.  He asked if it was for a MAME machine, and when I said yes, he said he could make a mold for a longer stick.  The catch was of course that it would cost $50k.

Since Happ can make this possible (and sell a boat load of them at a reasonable price), why don't they?  Oh well.

The repro tron guy could probably make you a handle and it would probably be better than the original.

However, bear in mind that if you increase the handle's length you also increase the throw of the joystick.

It's very easy to mess up the feel of a joystick.

The Reunion sticks have the same base as a Happ Super apart from the 4-way restrictor plate. Therefore, if the throw is too long you'll theoretically end up with a joystick that feels very much like the Happ Super (bad news for Pacman).