New Product: Versa49 (TM) Balltop Replacement Shafts for HAPP 49-Ways

[RandyT]

Ok, no surprises here.  This one's been a long time coming (I need to find a machinist who doesn't have health problems, but they probably aren't available in that variety )


These are made specifically for the HAPP^TM version of the Midway 49-Way joysticks.  They will not work with the older original Midway sticks unless the centering grommet is drilled out (hard to do with any amount of precision.)

Some features:

• All stainless steel with polished upper.
• 2 height settings on these to allow for metal or wood panel installation.
• Narrower shaft to help reduce panel mounting hole sizes.
• Beautiful Custom 1 7/16" Translucent Ball-Tops or standard 1 3/8" dark red opaque (not shown)
• Extra shaft left at bottom for attaching rotary mechanism (may not be compatible with current setup.  Yet to be investigated)
• Far better precision than original shaft.  These fit snugly to prevent slop from indicating unwanted movement.

Quick word of advice; If you use a rotary switch on the bottom of these or any shaft, be sure to lube the inner metal part of the "grommet" with some white lithium grease.  Otherwise, the constant spinning of metal against metal will eventually cause enough slop to affect performance.  You may want to do it with the 49-ways, even if you don't have the rotary modification.  It's that important.

Price:  $14.95 each and includes choice of ball color.

Special offer to those who have already purchased a 49-way from GroovyGameGear:  $12.95, 1 for each stick purchased.  Ordering instructions are at the store.

Pre-Modified "Versa49-Way Sticks" will be available soon.

Thanks for looking,

RandyT


*Trademarks are property of their respective holders.  Use of them in this description does not imply connection with or support of use of the above product.

[Tiger-Heli]

Sweet!!!!

[pointdablame]

Those look AWESOME.

I'm really starting to think that my new control panel just has to have 2 49ways....

[19rjs99]

Will the chrome top fit these? and will they be available soon? Please...

[Tiger-Heli]

Linky

[markrvp]

Just ordered mine.

[monkeybomb]

Just ordered mine.

Blue?


Randy what's the deal with the dark red?  is it still translucent?  Any chance for a pic?

[u_rebelscum]

Is it just me hungry on a sugar fix, or do they look like like lolipops?  Cherry, apple, watermelon, orange (more like apricot color, though, yech), and berry, mmmm.

Looking good Randy! 

[Minwah]

Randy what's the deal with the dark red?  is it still translucent?  Any chance for a pic?

I *think* they're the normal opaque balls.

Just ordered one too, I finished (bar the stick mounting & art) a new control panel yesterday so can't wait 

[RandyT]

If you go to the store and look at the Retro edition of the Prodigy, the one on the stick is the dark red one.  The actual color will be a little darker (more cherry-like) and note that there is a slight seam.  There is also a bit of a flat on the bottom where the shaft meets the ball.

The Translucents, on the other hand,  are perfectly smooth, round and bubble free.  They are nearly optics

RandyT

[MrSaLTy]

SWEET!  Totally gunna order some but have a quick question Randy..... With the longer shaft on these can you get away with NOT routing out the control panel recess in the bottom when mounting the sticks?  Thanks, and as usual great job.   

[Brewser]

Just ordered 2 red. Can't wait.
Thanks

[Popcorrin]

Can these be lit with an led?  I'm guessing no but thought I would ask to be sure.

[Toonces]

Dang, the replacement Happ grommets are $13 each by themselves so I might as well get new sticks. Any idea on how long before the pre-modified versions are up on the site Randy? If I'm going to get new sticks I might as well go all out.

Toonces

[Kremmit]

Are Midway shafts planned?  Or might you make replacement grommets available?  I currently have 2 Midway 49s (and 3 Williams ), but no Happ. 

[fl0yd]

2 Blue on the way. 

[RandyT]

With the longer shaft on these can you get away with NOT routing out the control panel recess in the bottom when mounting the sticks?

It's going to depend on how tall you prefer the stick to be.   The interesting thing about the ball top style sticks is that they can be quite short and still be just fine. so long as your knuckles don't drag on the panel surface.

A"bat" style stick, however, can be exactly the same height as the ball-style, yet be uncomfortable to use and/or will appear to be oddly short. 

I'll get some measurements a little later and post some actual numbers to compare the two, but be conscious of the above when considering how they relate.

RandyT

[RandyT]

Here is an example showing the 2 stick types side by side.  Even though the height of the ball-top is close to the same as the bat, the ball-top is more functional and better looking.

For those who like numbers, the top of the ball is roughly 3.5" from the top surface of the base.

RandyT

[Timoe]

What size is the hole in that 3/4" mdf?  1 1/2"?

[MrSaLTy]

Got my 2 new lollipops... errrr sticks today.  The look AWSOME! can't wait to try em.  Thanks Randy!

[mahuti]

lollitops.

[Kremmit]

lollitops.

I second that.

[RandyT]

Got my 2 new lollipops... errrr sticks today.  The look AWSOME! can't wait to try em.  Thanks Randy!

No Problem.  Please report back wiith your impressions once you get them installed.

Thanks!
RandyT

[88mph]

Wow, these things look sweet!  It makes me want to change the color scheme of my cabinet in progress..  Any chance of a purple lollitop in the future? 

-88mph

[Brewser]

Just got mine. They look and feel great. The only thing is I ordered the red knobs and they are not translucent, they are solid dark red. There is a seam theat runs around the diameter of the ball, but it is not that big of a deal.
Overall these are a lot better than the plastic shaft I had previous. I will post a picture soon of the other handles that came with the 49-way.

[Minwah]

Just thought I'd post a pic of my new versa-ball shaft & red ball...

The dark red ball is very dark red, almost brown.  As my buttons will be 'normal' red I decided to adapt a spare J-Stik ball to fit.  The thread is different, so I drilled the J-Stik ball threads out with a 6mm drill bit.  Then just screwed the top on the shaft allowing the threads on the shaft to cut new threads in the balltop.  The pic shows the stick with the J-Stik ball fitted, and the dark red ball on the table next to it for comparison.

Also, I received my order (USA > UK) in under a week, so I'm very pleased with the service from GGG   I need to get a new spade bit before I can fit the stick and test the GP-Wiz49...

Edit: I also modified the J-Stik 'washer' by hand-running a 10mm drill bit through the hole.  The hole in the original 49-way washer is too large for my liking with the smaller shaft of the versa-ball.

[Kremmit]

The GGG red looks like an original Pac Man / Ms. Pac stick red, rather than a Wico red.

[KenToad]

Just thought I'd post a pic of my new versa-ball shaft & red ball...

The dark red ball is very dark red, almost brown. As my buttons will be 'normal' red I decided to adapt a spare J-Stik ball to fit. The thread is different, so I drilled the J-Stik ball threads out with a 6mm drill bit. Then just screwed the top on the shaft allowing the threads on the shaft to cut new threads in the balltop. The pic shows the stick with the J-Stik ball fitted, and the dark red ball on the table next to it for comparison.

Also, I received my order (USA > UK) in under a week, so I'm very pleased with the service from GGG I need to get a new spade bit before I can fit the stick and test the GP-Wiz49...

Edit: I also modified the J-Stik 'washer' by hand-running a 10mm drill bit through the hole. The hole in the original 49-way washer is too large for my liking with the smaller shaft of the versa-ball.

Yeah, I've been contemplating this one since I saw the announcement.  I don't really dig that dark red, "almost brown" looking ball.  However, I can't say that I really want the lolly look either.  I need my nostalgia.  The lollys aren't doing that for me.  Also, I noticed from Randy's earlier pic that the current 49-way washers are a little loose around the neck of the new balltops. 

I hate to complain, since this is such a specialized product to begin with.  I kind of wish I had the extra stuff like Minwah to make it perfect for myself.  Until then, decisions, decisions.

Thanks a million for posting the comparison pics, Minwah.

Cheers,
KenToad

[markrvp]

Just checking in.  I got my translucent blue ball and it is beautiful.  I haven't had a chance to mount it yet.

[Toonces]

Just thought I'd post a pic of my new versa-ball shaft & red ball...

The dark red ball is very dark red, almost brown.  As my buttons will be 'normal' red I decided to adapt a spare J-Stik ball to fit.  The thread is different, so I drilled the J-Stik ball threads out with a 6mm drill bit.  Then just screwed the top on the shaft allowing the threads on the shaft to cut new threads in the balltop.  The pic shows the stick with the J-Stik ball fitted, and the dark red ball on the table next to it for comparison.

Also, I received my order (USA > UK) in under a week, so I'm very pleased with the service from GGG   I need to get a new spade bit before I can fit the stick and test the GP-Wiz49...

Edit: I also modified the J-Stik 'washer' by hand-running a 10mm drill bit through the hole.  The hole in the original 49-way washer is too large for my liking with the smaller shaft of the versa-ball.

Any chance you could take a picture of the bottom? I am kind of space constrained in my Namco Cyberlead cabinet and had to adjust the stock bat handles for minimal bottom protrusion.

Thanks!

Toonces

[Minwah]

Any chance you could take a picture of the bottom? I am kind of space constrained in my Namco Cyberlead cabinet and had to adjust the stock bat handles for minimal bottom protrusion.

I can take a pic when I get home...

If you look at Randy's pic in the first post, the only part of the shaft which is visible at the bottom is the section under the lowest e-clip groove (<1cm).  If that helps at all...

[SirPoonga]

Can these be lit with an led?  I'm guessing no but thought I would ask to be sure.

Looking closely at the pics, the shafts are not hollow.

[Popcorrin]

Can these be lit with an led?

[SirPoonga]

Well, look at the side by side pic with the bat-top.  The shaft comes to a point, therefore I doubt it is hollow.

[Toonces]

Any chance you could take a picture of the bottom? I am kind of space constrained in my Namco Cyberlead cabinet and had to adjust the stock bat handles for minimal bottom protrusion.

I can take a pic when I get home...

If you look at Randy's pic in the first post, the only part of the shaft which is visible at the bottom is the section under the lowest e-clip groove (<1cm).  If that helps at all...

Thanks Minwah! That helps a lot. I think they'll work for me.

Toonces

[Minwah]

Thanks Minwah! That helps a lot. I think they'll work for me.

Just in case, here's the pic:

[Minwah]

Here's the stick installed.  The amount of shaft above non-routed 18mm (3/4") wood is exactly the same as my J-Stiks mounted onto 4mm thick routed wood.  Lucky me 

[Minwah]

Here's a *tiny* issue.  I used a 32mm hole for the stick, which is just about right.  I seem to have 1-2mm extra clearance after the stick has reached it's max travel.  As you can see from this pic, on full travel the washer just misses the edge of the hole.  This is both with the 49-way stick washer and the J-stick washer (with bigger hole).

You would certainly lessen the problem by using a slightly smaller hole, but if you want all the sticks travel you can't go much smaller.  I think the hole is small enough to avoid the washer getting caught in the hole however, so there is no gameplay worries...as I said  no biggie.  I'm still stoked at the look of it after that awful Happ handle 

[TimmyB]

Definately lube the sleeve embedded in the rubber grommet with some white lithium grease.  I didn't and now my shiny new handle is bound to the sleeve.  Now I have to figure out how to get the sucker out.

[RandyT]

Definately lube the sleeve embedded in the rubber grommet with some white lithium grease.  I didn't and now my shiny new handle is bound to the sleeve.  Now I have to figure out how to get the sucker out.

Email me.  If worst comes to worst, I can get it out and fit it to the stick for you.

It seems that these grommets are pretty sloppy in their tolerances.  It looks like .313 is nominal, but I have seen them up to .317.  The stock shafts come in at at about .310

.007"  doesn't sound like a lot, but it is in this case.  The Versa49 shafts were made at very close to .314, so some of the grommets may be tight, or even too small.  This can be remedied by removing the amount of material necessary with a power drill and some coarse emery cloth, but not everyone may be as equipped or comfortable in doing this.  For this reason, these replacement shafts will probably become a "by request" item, and we will start selling the 49-ways pre modified with these shafts installed.

Anyone who might be having difficulty should contact me.

Thanks,
RandyT