Supper Chexx, one last try - 90 degree gearbox ideas?

[Mark70]

Ok,

I think I'm the only Super Chexx fan here.  I've been contemplating building a replica since I finished my mame cab.  I don't think that super chexx is emulated anywhere, but I'm not going to let that stop me.  My father is a retired electrician and by brother is a robotics technologist, so I know I can get help finding out how to make thinks, pop, click, and whirrr.

Anyhow.  I figure that the only things I really really have to buy are the players and the dome.  The big hiccup is the 90 degree gearboxes.  Happ sells them for $23 a pop.  I'm looking for alternatives from other industruies that come in cheaper than that.  Any ideas?

Appreciate it thanks.

[NightGod]

Maybe check out http://www.sciplus.com
I'm not sure what the specs you need on the gearbox are, they have all sorts of geeky tech stuff at that place, couldn't hurt to check.

[ahofle]

Sorry I can't help you, but I just wanted to interject that I loved those SuperChexx games as a kid.  We would play my brother and I as USSR vs my dad and my older brother as the USA.  I remember when the US national anthem played, we would press the 'booo' button to show our communist displeasure haha.

[Havok]

Add me to the list of fans too! I loved the boo button - best invention ever! There are definitely plans to get one of these babies for my game room - I would really like to find a good condition USSR vs. USA one, but am willing to settle on the Canada vs. USA if need be.

Now, if only I had the money....

 

[Mark70]

Unless you're looking for one of the special editions, you can just change the players.  Happ sells most of the replacement parts.  Canada, USA, and USSR players are all available as replacement parts. 

OK, so there are other members of the CHEXX hockey fan club.

So.  Like so many other things here, if enough of the minds here come together, there are some good ideas come out.

I figure I'd have to buy the dome, the nets, the players and the scoreboard to really get the look as a homebuilt replica.  I will have to buy the gearboxes if I can't find a cheaper alternate. 

I hope I can make the rest.  The rods that drive the players, the tracks the gearboxes ride in, the chutes from the nets to center ice, the solenoid which fires the puck, some prox sensors... throw in a PC that can I/O with the sensors and solenoid, and some software to take input from boo buttons and coind door switches.... et voilla.

Should only take about a year of spare time. 

[Mark70]

Oh, and there's a repair manual online in PDF format with really good pictures of the insides and a list of parts.  Don't buy it from the clowns on ebay.  Just do a search on google.

[NightGod]

By the time you invested all the hours and money to buy the parts, I'm almost thinking it would be cheaper to just buy one for $2500 >.<

[albrigsr]

I couldn't wait and bought one four years back.  I purchased it from an eBay vendor who was a distributor for around $2,500.  GREAT purchase especially now that I have 2 and 4 year old boys.  My 4 year old started getting pretty good at it around 2.5 years old and now is even better.

[MikeDeuce]

Wow, I'd forgotten all about these things... Last one I ever saw was probably 15 years ago at a Harrah's Casino arcade in Lake Tahoe, NV.

But in the time doesn't matter dept, McMaster.com has nylon bevel gears, if you wanted to try to fab up your own gear boxes, heh.

[fl0yd]

I played a game today.  There are 2 of them in the rec room at my office.   

[Mark70]

By the time you invested all the hours and money to buy the parts, I'm almost thinking it would be cheaper to just buy one for $2500 >.<

The cost of the parts is the price you pay to enjoy the time spent building one.  Having one when you're done is just a bonous.

[Mark70]

http://www.marvin3m.com/arcade/chexx.htm

Here's a "WOW" information page by some collector who knows his stuff.

[RandyT]

Were I only wealthy enough to buy one of these......

These were one of my most favorite games at the arcades.  After growing up with the crappy little home versions, playing one of these let you know just how sound the mechanical concepts of the game were when enough money was thrown at it.

There was a,  IMHO, crappy home version for about $400 at Sears, but it just didn't feel close enough for the expense.

I hate to say this, but $23 each for the gearboxes, assuming they come with the player mounts and shaft interfaces, will probably end up being a deal. 

RandyT

[Mark70]

I'm going to start making a list of must buy replacement parts from happ and see what the cost ends up being.

So far:

Dome (simply a must)
Goal / puck chute assembly (decided it's worth buying for both look and mechanical reasons)
10 gearboxes
8 short stick players
4 long stick players
2 goalies
player washers (these hold the players on the gearboxes, though I don't know how)

Other Non Happ Parts

Two arcade pushbuttons.  Maybe four if I want cheer and boo.
Some kind of gear assembly to move the goalie
Some prox sensors
solenoid to fire the puck
Something to I/O with the pc.  Probably an IPAC.  I guess the IPAC lacks output though?
Something else to relay to the solenoid

Maybe Parts List

-puck ramps (ramps in each corner and behind the net keep the puck in play.  Mayb be easy to fab)
-bearings which hold rods which drive the players (need to find out more about these.  I think it's like a ring with ball bearings sticking through towards it's center where the rod rides, twists and moves in and out)

No Buy List

Scoreboard (I'm convinced that I can use some kind of digital display to make this)
Motherboard (good old PC.  I figure a real old junker could run something this simple)

[JackTucky]

I have one in my basement.  Got it brand new in box.  I love her.

Jacktucky

[NightGod]

You can get the arcade pushbuttons from Happ, too. They're pretty much the main supplier of them these days.

[SithMaster]

i want to build one as well so here you go 13 dollar gearboxes

http://www.recroom-products.com/domhocpar.html

[squirrellydw]

Please keep  us updated, I would love to have one to bad they go for $2500

[Mark70]

i want to build one as well so here you go 13 dollar gearboxes

http://www.recroom-products.com/domhocpar.html

Hey, thanks.  My concern is though, that Happ's gearboxes are known to wear out in arcade play conditions.  I don't know if it's worth the savings to cheap out on them, but it looks like the savings will be about 100$.

I may have to get one of eac in hand to decide.  I'll have to also check out this super stick machine to see what kind of quality it looks like.