wico 4 way joystick

[leafblade]

hello,

I'm a newbie and I'm after a real original Wico 4 way leaf joystick.I am confused because I believe there are chinese clones which are of poor quality also being sold.

I've seen on ebay a seller called nicade selling "wico arcade leaf style 4 way joystick (N.O.S)"

Are these the real ones?

Thanks

   

[paigeoliver]

Nope, the word style tips you off.

If the leaf switches are screwed on then it is a clone.

The clone has an 8-way actuator attached to a 4-way base.
The clone has leaf switches that break in under a month on location.

Much easier to find used than NOS. Look for the grey colored base and the diamond shaped cutout.

[leafblade]

Nope, the word style tips you off.

If the leaf switches are screwed on then it is a clone.

The clone has an 8-way actuator attached to a 4-way base.
The clone has leaf switches that break in under a month on location.

Much easier to find used than NOS. Look for the grey colored base and the diamond shaped cutout.

Thank you for your reply and help paigeoliver

I have just found that QuarterArcade has some Wico 4-way leaf joysticks ($34.95)
From what you've said these look like they are real but I still need to be sure

can you confirm this?

Thank you

[paigeoliver]

They on ebay or their website? Link?

[paigeoliver]

OK. I found them on their website. That is the real deal.

If you are just looking for the best and not a deal then get that. Otherwise you can often find them on ebay, but it is tougher. To snag the 4-ways cheap on ebay you have to pick them out of unlabeled lots, and off control panels.

[spiffyshoes]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6129575462&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

I thought the ones Nicade sold were actual Wico's?

[Kremmit]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6129575462&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

I thought the ones Nicade sold were actual Wico's?

Yup, they are, or at least have been in the past.  Several members have bought from him with good results.  PaigeO, you didn't click the link and look at the picture!  Usually "Wico Style" means "Fake Wico", but in this case, the seller is pointing out that they are "leaf style", as opposed to "microswitch style".  Poor wording, as "style" has become the mark of the clone sticks.

It's OK to buy from him, do a BYOAC search for "Nicade", you'll find plenty of reccomendations.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I will second the highly recommended status of this seller.
He ships fast, and has first rate stuff.
I've bought alot of sticks from him, and they have all been exactly as described.

As Kremmit pointed out, he uses the "leaf style" in his listings to avoid confusion because he also lists "microswitch style" sticks alot.
I'm guessing that he had some people who bid on "NOS Wico 8-ways" awhile back not reading the smaller print that they were the "rubber grommet/microswitch" versions.

[nostrebor]

Nicade  is the real deal. Great seller of AUTHENTIC wico joysticks! I have three of his sticks in my cab.

Paige is right about how to tell the real from the fakes. Real sticks have plastic switch holders that are part of the base. The fakies have screwed on leaf switches that have a metal "L" bracket that looks shiny. These fake sticks = JUNK! (IMHO)

[dweebs0r]

What about the Ultimarc j-sticks?

Are these as nice as the Wico leafs?  Notwithstanding the microswitch vs leaf arguments.

[paigeoliver]

You can't even begin to compare a j-stick and a wico leaf, they are so completely different that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[dweebs0r]

I guess its just personal preference.  I'm not looking to start a flame war or anything, I was just curious how the 2 sticks compared.

Kevin over at Retroblast didn't like the Wicos at all.  Here's a quote from his review:

I'd heard good things about Wico joysticks, so I was a bit disappointed in the actual results. The joystick felt imprecise, kind of mushy actually. I never got the feeling I had pushed the joystick far enough, even when the shaft was fully extended.

Diagonals were also a bit difficult to hit precisely, which irritated me. I did appreciate the fact that there was no "clicking" when moving the joystick, but I never got the feeling I was working with a precision gaming instrument.

--Dweebs

[NoOne=NBA=]

The joystick felt imprecise, kind of mushy actually.
I never got the feeling I had pushed the joystick far enough, even when the shaft was fully extended.

What he probably didn't realize is that you don't HAVE to push the stick very far at all on a properly tuned one.
I have mine set so that they contact almost immediately in every direction.

Diagonals were also a bit difficult to hit precisely, which irritated me.

Wicos were designed so that you CAN'T tell

[paigeoliver]

I find the microswitch wicos (which I never seem to be able to find anymore), to be the best ALL AROUND stick. The leaf ones are better for most games, but they do suck for a small percentage of games. The microswitch based wicos don't suck for anything.

I have microswitch based wicos in my Multi-Williams!

[Extreme8]

paigeoliver, did you change the springs in your Wico microswitch sticks? I just bought a pair and I've been considering putting in a stiffer spring.
I'm in the process of gathering the parts to build my first cab and I've ordered up a bunch of sticks to see what I prefer.

So far I've got the two NOS Wico microswitch sticks, I've ordered some Happ's supers (with an extra set of heavy springs), I'm waiting on delivery of 4 old wico leafswitch, ordered the optical sensor for the wico leafswitches (to see if replacing the mechanical switches will let it will play like a p360), and I'll order 2 T-stick plus when I place the order for my encoders.
Hopefully this will give me a pretty good cross section of joysticks and I'll be able to find one that feels right.
If anyone cares about the opinions of a complete newbie I'll be happy to let you know what I find.

[paigeoliver]

Yes, if you have the spring based microswitch wico's you have to change out the springs for a Happ heavy spring, or else they suck.

Those are really rare though. The grommet ones are much more common.

[Grasshopper]

I can also vouch for Nicade, good communication, and the joysticks he sells are genuine Wicos.

Also, unlike so many Ebay sellers, he doesn't try to rip buyers off with inflated shipping charges.

I'd have no hesitation in buying from him again.

[Extreme8]

paigeoliver
Can I assume I got a deal on the spring/microswitch Wicos @ $26 shipped?

[leafblade]

Do the Wico 4 way leaf  (n.o.s) sticks sold by nicade on ebay  and the Wico 4 way and 8 way leaf (n.o.s.) sticks sold by QuarterArcade use rubber grommets or springs for tension?

The reason why I am asking is because  I've read in other threads that the Wico sticks made today now use springs and that there is a spring based version of the classic Wico joystick.

So I am a bit confused.

I prefer a Wico stick with a rubber grommet rather than spring.


Thank You for any help

[patrickl]

The quartercade sticks are a poor clone. I'd advise to stay clear or make sure you can return them (cause you will need to) These clones are sold by several other suppliers too (centsible, mikesarcade).

See the Leaf Stick Comparison thread for more details

[spiffyshoes]

Really?  This one is a poor imitation clone?

http://www.quarterarcade.com/GamePicture.aspx?c=&g=4246&o=0&m=0

I thought that was an actuall Wico?  Looks pretty good to me.

leafblade:  There is a spring in the picture so my guess would be that they use springs.

[leafblade]

Thanks for the replies

What about the Wico 4-way leafs from nicade? Do they use rubber grommets or springs?

[patrickl]

Really?

[coasternuts]

I got the leaf style from nicade a couple of weeks ago and is spring based.  Also that picture from QuarterArcade looks VERY similar to the NOS from nicade.

It was about $10 less from nicade at the time.   

[spiffyshoes]

Oh woops, yeah that is the spring for the actuator.  I guess it looks like it uses a Grommit.

[Kremmit]

Yes they did produce leaf sticks with a spring inside.  I've only seen a few of 'em, I think they made them for a little while just before they stopped making sticks altogether.  That's not what's in that picture, though, that little spring goes on the shaft between the actuator and the grommet.

[patrickl]

that picture from QuarterArcade looks VERY similar to the NOS from nicade.

The one spiffyshoes posted is the Wico NOS (it says so in the name of the product), but the one in the link  I posted is not a Wico (allthough indeed it looks exactly like a Wico).

[paigeoliver]

Do the Wico 4 way leaf  (n.o.s) sticks sold by nicade on ebay  and the Wico 4 way and 8 way leaf (n.o.s.) sticks sold by QuarterArcade use rubber grommets or springs for tension?

The reason why I am asking is because  I've read in other threads that the Wico sticks made today now use springs and that there is a spring based version of the classic Wico joystick.

So I am a bit confused.

I prefer a Wico stick with a rubber grommet rather than spring.


Thank You for any help

Right now I have identified 7 major variations of the classic Wico stick, with many MINOR variations.

Leaf switch with grommet (common)
Leaf switch with spring (very rare)
Microswitch with gromment (uncommon)
Microswitch with spring (rare).
Optical with spring (very rare)
Optical with grommet (rare)
Rotary leaf with grommet. (Rare).

All 4-way ones I have ever seen have been leaf switch with grommet type. The spring based ones feel identical to the grommet ones IF you get a heavier spring for them, the "Happ joysticks heavy spring" that bob roberts sells works perfectly. I have never seen any rotary varietys OTHER than leaf with grommet, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist, or that they can't be pieced together.

Handles come in two lengths, and are all interchangeable, except for the rotary handles, which must be used on the rotary ones only.

There are two basic molds for the bases. One has a rectangular box set on a diagonal on the underside and the other is round on the bottom. The round ones are always spring, the diagonal can be spring or grommet.

The Happ P360, despite the fact it is made BY HAPP, is still part of the classic Wico class of joysticks, it uses the EXACT same base as used on the most common Wico sticks. Handles interchange, springs interchange, you can even swap the spring for a rubber grommet if you want to.

[spiffyshoes]

Hey paige so have you verified that the Happ P360 bat handle fits into a Wico 4/8-way joystick?  And you said that the spring from the P360 was interchangable with the Grommit from the Wico right?  You just need the Z-Stop,Spring,Pivot Bushing, and Spacer Bushing right?  So how did the Happ P360 compare to the Wico?

[patrickl]

The Happ P360, despite the fact it is made BY HAPP, is still part of the classic Wico class of joysticks, it uses the EXACT same base as used on the most common Wico sticks. Handles interchange, springs interchange, you can even swap the spring for a rubber grommet if you want to.

Ah, I never thought about interchanging the springs. I bought some slikstik P360 steel handles for my Wico's (indeed this fits perfectly),  but the grommet is a bit to weak to support the heavier handle. Maybe the heavier spring (that came with the handles) will work better. Thanks!

[SPARKY70]

i am thinking about getting the wico 8 ways, as i heard they were originally used in robotron, since it is one of my favorite games.

i seem to remember the red ball at the top of the joystick to be larger than most other arcade joysticks. is this true, or has my memory failed me?

thanks

[Kremmit]

i am thinking about getting the wico 8 ways, as i heard they were originally used in robotron, since it is one of my favorite games.

i seem to remember the red ball at the top of the joystick to be larger than most other arcade joysticks. is this true, or has my memory failed me?

thanks

Yup, Wico's have the biggest balls of them all.

[nostrebor]

Thanks for the replies

What about the Wico 4-way leafs from nicade? Do they use rubber grommets or springs?

The wicos I got from nicade were all grommet types.