Author Topic: Obscure part request.....Atari Roadblasters NO LONGER NEEDED :) (Read 2353 times)

2PacMan · « **on:** March 16, 2006, 08:48:56 am »

I have never seen these for sale anywhere, but i'm looking for the little switches that go inside the steering handle for an Atari Roadblasters game. The ones that the wires are attatched to for the fire buttons? Two of my fire buttons don't work, but if I touch the wires together, they work, i've resoldered a few times with no luck, my switches must be bad. Or, if someone has an entire CP with wheel for sale, i might be interested in that as well. Thanks!

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2006, 09:29:55 am »

You can fix the switches most of the time.
You need to disassemble them, and then clean them really well, and give the spring steel inside a bit of a tweak to increase the pressure on the switch when the button is pressed.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of what I'm talking about.
Just rip one apart (carefully) and play around with the guts.
They are pretty simple.

2PacMan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2006, 10:19:00 am »

Thanks...i thought about that, but i couldn't figure out any way of opening them. There are no screws or anything, they are just plastic and the seam looks glued (?) maybe. Any ideas on how to get them apart?

cw · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2006, 10:30:06 am »

just for kicks and giggles have you checked it with a meter?

2PacMan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2006, 11:05:18 am »

No...i probably should...what setting should it be on?

Here's another thing, it's the two buttons on the left side, so i figure, oh, the jumper wire came loose or something...what's the odd of both buttons on the same side wearing out at the same time?....well, i take it apart, and the wire is a little loose, so i resolder and still nothing, so i pull the main wire off the switch and touch it to the jumper wire, it works instantly when i touch them together, so the wiring/cicuit board must be ok....so, somewhere between where i solder them on the switch and the switch itself, there is a problem. I'm guessing when i touch the wires, it completes the circuit automatically, but with the switch, it is not competed unless it is pressed, and since nothing is happening, i'm assuming the switch is not functioning and completing the circuit. Although just pressing the button with my finger, it feels ok, like the right amount of pressure, etc.....i'm lost.

MYX · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2006, 11:47:01 am »

Just use the continuity setting to test the switch. Beeeeeeep!

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2006, 01:57:03 pm »

They are famous for needing adjustment.
Of the 8 on my Vindicators cabinet, I had to rework 4 of them.

There's a little forked piece of spring steel inside that has a nipple on one side, that actually closes the contact between the two wires.
As that nipple wears down, the spring steel doesn't give enough force to shove the nipple through the hole to contact the other piece.

I don't remember exactly what holds them together, but it seems to me that it was tab-locked in some way.

2PacMan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2006, 10:24:20 pm »

OK, i got them open, you were right, there were tabs holding it in place. Sure enough, the nipple inside was completely worn. I spent about 2 hours this evening trying to rework the metal with no luck. The plastic part of the switch that pushes on the metal is worn down as well, it's barely making contact now. I need two working switches now if anyone has 2 for sale, i'm interested. I found out why both the switches on the left side weren't working....the op moved the two working switches to the right side and he put the two nonworking ones in the left. Here's a few pics of the switches.

allroy1975 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2006, 01:57:32 pm »

There's a local shop to me that sells old push buttons. they're not the same as the roadblasters switches. I'm guessing it's the thumb buttons you're having trouble with. I searched and searched for those buttons. I found nothing. I picked up some buttons from this shop near me and took them apart and the insides of that switch actually fit in the roadblasters switches. I know all 4 switches are the same, but the only ones with problems on mine were the thumb ones.

If you can't find anything locally I can swing by there and pick you up a couple and try to find the pics I took of mine when I was doing it just in case I ever saw anyone ask this question.

HOWEVER...I'm going on vacation for a week in 2 hours. So you'll have to wait a bit.

Allroy

PetitMorte · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2006, 01:23:11 pm »

you could, in theory, substitute a couple of leaf-switched for these, and continue to use the origional buttons.

2PacMan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2006, 01:45:19 pm »

I was thinking about that too, but the buttons are inside the steering handle, and the working space in there is very small. I don't think a leaf switch would fit in there.

clanggedin · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2006, 02:43:10 pm »

My Roadblasters has mini cherry switches in it for the triggers and thumb switches. I would post pics but taking it apart is a PITA.

I t took me a while to find replacements too. I know I still have one switch. I'll look for it tomorrow and post the part #.

2PacMan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2006, 02:54:45 pm »

That would be great...if you could post a part# and tell me where you got them, it would help me out alot. I know what you mean by taking the it apart. Mine has those hex screws in it and there isn't alot of room to work with them, you can only make like quarter turns at a time to get the screw out

Thanks again.

2PacMan · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2006, 10:13:49 am »

Allroy....just curious if you've had a chance to pick up some switches from the place near your house yet. Please let me know.

Also, to anyone else, if you've got some working switches, let me know...I'm still looking....thanks!

2PacMan · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2006, 10:03:25 am »

--Still looking for these buttons

ElGwako · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2006, 12:21:42 pm »

HEYY!! here i am! i think I was the one offering them to you(elgwako?) either way i have them. I beleive you have the grey plastic control with the round red buttons? Let me get them and test them tonight for you. My roadblasters uses the aluminum control very similar to Star Wars so these switches won't fit in mine anyway.
get back to you with the results.....i promise, if not e-mail me here
elgwako2 (at) yahoo (dot) com
This is an immensly busy time of year for me so please forgive my inability to keep focus on things.

2PacMan · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2006, 12:41:11 pm »

Awesome ElGwako! Yes, I have the plastic wheel with the red buttons on them, those switches are the exact ones i need. Just let me know how the testing goes, and i'll buy them from you....thanks again

ElGwako · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2006, 09:16:39 pm »

I got the 4 switches. I didn't desolder the boards on them. It appears one is loose and making a bad connection, the meter beeps but it takes some play to do so. Without a third hand it's hard to tell. Another is definitely working. I'll be able to test it better in the shop tomorrow.
actually, just send me your address via -pm- and i'll send them off to you. One definitely works so it's worth taking them.

2PacMan · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2006, 11:18:40 am »

pm sent

ElGwako · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2006, 10:26:51 pm »

on their way..........good luck with them

2PacMan · « **Reply #20 on:** April 14, 2006, 08:48:05 am »

Awesome....thank you very much El Gwacko....you just made my week!

2PacMan · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2006, 09:54:06 am »

El Gwacko---thank you so much. I got the switches in the mail. I was able to use pieces from different ones and managed to get 2 working switches, which was what I needed. Now my roadblasters in 100% working.

El Gwacko sent these to me without asking for a penny in return. He is really a great asset to this community. Thank you again El Gwacko.

ElGwako · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2006, 11:45:34 am »

Excellent!! glad they worked out for you. I was happy to be able to help someone out. I'm new to collecting games and don't really have anything extra. I have received a lot of help and a few freebies myself so i figured i would pay it forward while i had the chance.
cheers


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