Asteroids Deluxe Cocktail - Noob Questions

[Sensei Fu]

I bought this thing on Ebay and it works very well.  However, there are a couple of small issues. 

1.  I'd like to replace the buttons on it and they are yellowed and one sticks a little.  So, I'd need 10 white buttons.  Are they standard sized?  Where should I order them? 

2.  One of the coin receptors is jammed with quarters, but it's hard to get to as it's not on a door which swings out.  Should I un-bolt it and just remove it from the machine to work on it? 

3.  Should the coin slots light up? 

I greatly appreciate any help you guys can give me.

[RayB]

1.  I'd like to replace the buttons on it and they are yellowed and one sticks a little.  So, I'd need 10 white buttons.  Are they standard sized?  Where should I order them?

Congrats on getting a classic. Please keep it as such. ;-)
You will need LEAFSWITCH pushbuttons. Bob Roberts sells these. Do not use microswitch buttons.  Look here where it says "short pushbuttons" and "long pushbuttons" : http://www.homearcade.org/BBBB/parts.html

You need to figure out if your machine needs short or long buttons. My guess is short. You do not need to order "holders" or switches unless your switches are broken.

2.  One of the coin receptors is jammed with quarters, but it's hard to get to as it's not on a door which swings out.  Should I un-bolt it and just remove it from the machine to work on it? 

No. Don't unbolt it. Anyways, it's probably held with carriage bolts which means you need to get inside anyways. So there's no point in unbolting the coin acceptor faceplate.

1. Download the Asteroids cocktail service manual, so you have diagrams to refer to.
2. Open the front service door with your key. (You have the key right?).
3. (With power OFF) reach inside (don't touch monitor!!!!) and find the two latches that hold the top shut. Unlatch.
4. Now you can swing the top open and hold it open with the little arm thing. (Kinda like a car hood)
5. You should now have clear access to the coin mechanism. and....

3.  Should the coin slots light up? 

I think so. With the machine opened up you should be able to see if there's a lightbulb behind the coin reject button. (or at least a light bulb holder). Replace bulb.

[Grasshopper]

A great find.

I'd be very grateful if you could take some measurements. One day I'd like to build a Cocktail cab and the Asteroids cocktail (which is one of my favourite designs) would be my most likely starting point.

[Sensei Fu]

So, is anyone sure about my questions? 

Exactly which kind of buttons am I supposed to use? 

[markrvp]

You will need LEAFSWITCH pushbuttons. Bob Roberts sells these. Do not use microswitch buttons.  Look here where it says "short pushbuttons" and "long pushbuttons" : http://www.homearcade.org/BBBB/parts.html

You need to figure out if your machine needs short or long buttons. My guess is short. You do not need to order "holders" or switches unless your switches are broken.

RayB gave you the correct answer in the first response. 

If you are looking for confirmation, then e-mail Bob Roberts directly (his e-mail address is on his site) and he can confirm for you.  Bob knows as much or more about this hobby than anyone else.

[RayB]

Geez man. I wasted 10-15 minutes typing that response for what?

[Sensei Fu]

Geez man. I wasted 10-15 minutes typing that response for what?

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a ---tallywhacker--- however, you couldn't tell me if I needed to buy long or short buttons and I would have no idea whatsoever.

[CheffoJeffo]

Geez man. I wasted 10-15 minutes typing that response for what?

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a ---tallywhacker--- however, you couldn't tell me if I needed to buy long or short buttons and I would have no idea whatsoever.

MEASURE THEM!!!! (Sorry, that's been building up for the entire thread)

Not everybody has an AD cocktail sitting around and even then, someone could have modded theirs/yours etc. I would say that they are probably short leafs, but I could be wrong. You would order and then blame that Cheffo-guy if they were wrong ...

As a general rule, don't order replacement parts until you've at least looked at the parts you are replacing.

Cheers.

[JoyMonkey]

From looking at the Cocktail Asteroids manual on GameManuals.net (not Asteroids Deluxe, but I'd imagine they use the same parts), I would guess that you'll need short buttons since it's a metal control panel.

[Sensei Fu]

Geez man. I wasted 10-15 minutes typing that response for what?

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a ---tallywhacker--- however, you couldn't tell me if I needed to buy long or short buttons and I would have no idea whatsoever.

MEASURE THEM!!!! (Sorry, that's been building up for the entire thread)

Not everybody has an AD cocktail sitting around and even then, someone could have modded theirs/yours etc. I would say that they are probably short leafs, but I could be wrong. You would order and then blame that Cheffo-guy if they were wrong ...

As a general rule, don't order replacement parts until you've at least looked at the parts you are replacing.

Cheers.

Well Cheffo, while I do admit to being a noob, I also know that if I took the damn things out and measured them, I'd still have no freaking idea how long a long button or short button is....

[markrvp]

Geez man. I wasted 10-15 minutes typing that response for what?

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a ---tallywhacker--- however, you couldn't tell me if I needed to buy long or short buttons and I would have no idea whatsoever.

MEASURE THEM!!!! (Sorry, that's been building up for the entire thread)

Not everybody has an AD cocktail sitting around and even then, someone could have modded theirs/yours etc. I would say that they are probably short leafs, but I could be wrong. You would order and then blame that Cheffo-guy if they were wrong ...

As a general rule, don't order replacement parts until you've at least looked at the parts you are replacing.

Cheers.

Well Cheffo, while I do admit to being a noob, I also know that if I took the damn things out and measured them, I'd still have no freaking idea how long a long button or short button is....

If you measure them, then you can tell Bob Roberts, "Hey, I need leafswitch buttons for an Asteroids cocktail.  The buttons in there now are x.x inches long."  Then Bob will know exactly what to send you.

[Havok]

Just get both!

Since you are new at this, you must learn sooner or later that you need a stockpile of parts!

[markrvp]

Okay, here is how I found the answer to your question in about 3 minutes:

First I did a Google search for leafswitch arcade buttons.  That led me to two commercial sites which sell them.  According to the http://www.quarterarcade.com website, they say that:

Long leafswitches = 1-7/8" overall length


According to the http://www.centsibleamusements.com website, the leafswitches they offer are either:

1-5/8"   OR    2"

This leads me to believe that short leafswitch buttons are approximately 1-5/8" long and that long leafswitch buttons are around 2" long.

Now, measure one of the buttons in your cocktail cabinet.  If it is around 1-5/8" long, then you probably need SHORT leafswitch buttons.  If your button is 1-7/8" long, then you will probably need LONG leafswitch buttons.

I don't know what else we can do to help you.  You are going to have to help us help you by doing a minimum amount of work by measuring your own buttons.

[Sensei Fu]

Thanks Mark.  Again, I didn't come here to piss people off, I'm just a noob at all this stuff.

[CheffoJeffo]

Well Cheffo, while I do admit to being a noob, I also know that if I took the damn things out and measured them, I'd still have no freaking idea how long a long button or short button is....

Typically I am one to take the time, even with the folks who absolutely refuse to do any of the legwork (anybody remember mag48?)

Maybe I am just getting old and am weary ...

Here is the first result returned from the forum search for 'leaf switch button length':

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=23756.0

So, apologies if you think that I was curt with you, but from RayB's initial post you had all of the information needed -- you just needed to do a little legwork, which you didn't appear to do. As the new owner of a vector game, you are going to have to develop those research skills for when things go wrong (and they will).

Congratulations on your new machine and welcome to the vector world ...

Cheers.

[Tiger-Heli]

Typically I am one to take the time, even with the folks who absolutely refuse to do any of the legwork (anybody remember mag48?)

No, but it was some of the funniest reading of the day - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43709.0 

[Sensei Fu]

Oh c'mon dudes.  I am not THAT bad.   

[Havok]

Oh c'mon dudes.  I am not THAT bad.   

NOBODY is that bad...

[CheffoJeffo]

Oh c'mon dudes.  I am not THAT bad.   

Sorry ... I wasn't trying to compare the two of you, just demonstrate that normally I am not so snippy.

Cheers.

[CheffoJeffo]

NOBODY is that bad...

And it got WORSE ... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=44507

And then WORSE STILL ... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=45378

Sensei Fu -- Sorry to hijack the thread and I'll try to remember to be nicer to noobs!

Cheers.

[markrvp]

Typically I am one to take the time, even with the folks who absolutely refuse to do any of the legwork (anybody remember mag48?)

No, but it was some of the funniest reading of the day - http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43709.0 

I remember that guy vividly.   CheffoJeffo was the nicest.  This guy sold his Ghosts N Goblins to buy a freaking crane game. 

[CheffoJeffo]

This guy sold his Ghosts N Goblins to buy a freaking crane game. 

Should have been my first clue ... but it did my karma good ...

FWIW, I have added the length of long and short leaf buttons to the Wiki.

Cheers

[DrewKaree]

This guy sold his Ghosts N Goblins to buy a freaking crane game. 

Should have been my first clue ... but it did my karma good ...

FWIW, I have added the length of long and short leaf buttons to the Wiki.

Cheers

I'll see if I can remember to delete that info before tomorrow