Using custom spring in joystick

[f00ge]

Hi,

I was wondering, if anyone has successfully replaced the spring in a joystick yet?
I mean, with like a different spring. Different size/strength.

Reason why I'm asking is that I was sitting here, suddenly realising that there might not be a 'perfect' stick for my use (check thread "Arcade stick for PC gaming"). Might end up purchasing 10 sticks - and none of them fit my needs.

So I was thinking, if needed, I could possibly take a stick which has the throw I'm looking for (but too 'stiff'), take out it's spring and put in another spring that is softer, thus giving me the perfect stick(hopefully).

Anyone tried something like this?

[markrvp]

I've done it with the Ultimarc E-stik.  There is a spring at Home Depot that is a perfect replacement that reduces the force needed in half.

If you decide to do that I'm sure we could send you one from the states.

[f00ge]

I've done it with the Ultimarc E-stik.  There is a spring at Home Depot that is a perfect replacement that reduces the force needed in half.

If you decide to do that I'm sure we could send you one from the states.

Sounds sexy!
Website?

Btw, was it relatively easy to replace it? (Haven't done this stuff before)

[Kremmit]

Most sticks come apart pretty easy, you just drop the new spring in and go.  You just have to find one that's about the right size.  Take the old one with you when you hit the hardware stores.

[f00ge]

Take the old one with you when you hit the hardware stores.

That brings me to another question.
I've been to quite a few hardware stores. And if they have had any springs at all, they are these massive ones fro cars, trucks etc.

I haven't been able to find any if the sizes you might use for joysticks.
Guess chances of there actually being an online store that carry this are close to 0%, eh?

Maybe Markrvp has a whole sortiment he wants to offer me. 

[Kremmit]

Most decent hardware stores have a section somewhere full of little bins with screws, bolts, nuts, and other misc. do-dads.  The good stores have a really big section of bins, and they've often got some with screws.  In the US, I have good luck with ACE stores, and lousy luck with Home Depot.  Can't tell you which stores to hit in Europe, but the general rule is, you want a store that's selling to farmers, mechanics, and the like, rather than stores that market to yuppies wanting to fix-up their house.

[f00ge]

Most decent hardware stores have a section somewhere full of little bins with screws, bolts, nuts, and other misc. do-dads.  The good stores have a really big section of bins, and they've often got some with screws.  In the US, I have good luck with ACE stores, and lousy luck with Home Depot.  Can't tell you which stores to hit in Europe, but the general rule is, you want a store that's selling to farmers, mechanics, and the like, rather than stores that market to yuppies wanting to fix-up their house.

Hehe, guess I only have yuppie stores around here, then. 

[markrvp]

Here is the Link to the thread that gave the exact model of the spring:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=5357.0



I just looked at HomeDepot.com and I can't find it, but looking at homedepot.com is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. 

Kremmit's right, once you get your joystick, you can take it apart and then carry the spring with you to the store.  In Home Depot, the springs are located where they have the screen and storm door hardware.

[f00ge]

Here is the Link to the thread that gave the exact model of the spring:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=5357.0



I just looked at HomeDepot.com and I can't find it, but looking at homedepot.com is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. 

Kremmit's right, once you get your joystick, you can take it apart and then carry the spring with you to the store.  In Home Depot, the springs are located where they have the screen and storm door hardware.

Thanks for the info.

Getting that one here in Denmark - in a hardware store nearby -  is probably going to be more like finding nano-engineered needle in multible, very large haystacks.

But I guess the spring just has to be 'kinda' the right length? So many springs will go with it. 

[DaveStall]

I have replaced the springs in both my J-Sticks and in two old Wico sticks.  In both cases, I just made sure the diameter of the spring was close to what I was removing and that the tension of the replacement spring felt good.  I took a Dremel tool and cut the springs to the lengths that I needed (it takes a little trial and error to get the right length for the right compression, so start with a little more length than you think and work your way down).

Dave