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720 stick alternative?
Kremmit:
I already posted this in the GP-Wiz 49 thread, but just in case anybody's stopped reading that 11-page monster, here's how I got a Williams 49-way stick to play and feel like an original 720 stick:
First thing I did was to take my beat-up Williams 49-way stick apart. I dismounted the ball pivot assembly, took it apart, and soaked those parts in gasoline. While the soaking was happening, I cleaned the plastic sliders, and lubed them with Lithium Grease. Then I went back to the pivot parts, and scrubbed them down with a toothbrush. I re-lubed the pivot assembly, and put the whole thing back together, but without the spider. Then I remounted the stick. I was very pleased with the feel- the stick spun freely in a circle, and I'm sure with a new spider it would feel and play like new. Without the spider, it seems to naturally want to stay at the outside of the circle, rather than bounce back and forth through the middle. A little resistance like that provided by the chain assembly on a real 720 stick would be nice, but otherwise, it feels a lot like a real one. The handle seems a little shorter than I remember, but then again, my 49-way is mounted under 3/4 inches of plywood, so there's room for improvement there. The angle is probably a little more upright, too, but that doesn't seem to matter much. I was pretty happy with the feel, mechanically, so on to the software:
I fired up MAME 0.90, and tried 720. I had to enable joystick support for the game, and remap the controls to the stick's analog axes. The 16-way digital restriction built in to the GP-Wiz49 worked, but not so well. Raw49 mode worked better. In fact, it worked pretty darn well! The skater rotated smoothly, and always went in the direction the stick was pointing. I've tried to play this game in MAME with 8-ways, keyboard, mouse, PC analog joystick, etc, and never could make it play worth a darn. With this setup, I was able to get on the half pipe and score some 700 point tricks on the first real game of 720 I've played in years- and I'm sure I'll be able to do better once I get some practice in. I'm certainly happy with it, and it's how I'll be playing 720 from here on out.
So, to sum up-
* 16-way DRS is a flop, and can be replaced with something else if you want, Randy (sorry) :'(
* A beat-up Williams 49 way can be restored with a little cleaning, lube, and a new spider 8)
* 720 plays well with a spider-less Williams 49-way 8) 8) 8)
Hoagie_one:
AWESOME NEWS FOR 720 FANS.
Flinkly:
just to cover my bases, i'm interested in more detail of the restoration of your stick. i've got a stick that plays alright, and has a nice spider, but it seems a bit rusty and gritty around that ball joint. i already took it abart once because someone had put it together wrong, so i've got that under control too.
i guess the part i want to make sure about is the gas soaking and the lubing. did the gas do well and did you wash it up afterwards to rid it of smell? and is that grease the best kind to use in a situation like this? thanks for the info and clarification.
NoOne=NBA=:
I usually soak in denatured alcohol, because the odor dissipates quicker than gas.
I wouldn't use either in an enclosed area, but the alcohol smell goes away as it flashes off.
Gas has some heavier components in it that like to hang around even after it flashes off.
Wadding compound is good for polishing stuff, but doesn't do well for heavy rust removal.
White Lith is the grease of choice for light moving parts like this because it doesn't keep stuff from moving like heavier grease will.
For heavier stuff (steering shafts, etc...) I use wheel bearing grease because it "stays" better.
Will:
Since Im kind of a newb when It come to altering joysticks could you please provide a step by step pictured tutorial if possible.Im a big 720 fan and have not been able to play this game correctyl for about a decade.Not sure the last time I saw a 720 in a arcade but its been a while.I desperately want a real 720 joystick or something that feels like one.If you could provide a more detailed how to,Im sure alot of 720 fans would be in heavan.Camt blame for asking right?