Rubber "HOLE" Knob?

[FrizzleFried]

After purchasing a TT2 wheel and realizing just how inconvenient it is to have to bust out a bloomin' screw driver each time I want to remove my knob to drop the wheel on,  I am wondering if anyone has come across a spinner knob that utilizes a RUBBER center hole that is smaller than a spinner shaft.  This would allow for instant installation and removal (push / pull) and would still have enough "grip" for the spinner to be effective.

I'd buy one in a New York minute...or even an Idaho one for that matter.

Thanks!

[ahofle]

You sure that would be a good idea?  I can't imagine it wouldn't slip at some point (especially with the ESC), perhaps after a good amount of usage.  I agree though, a removal method that doesn't involve a hex key would be nice.  Perhaps something along the lines of a keyless drill chuck?

[FrizzleFried]

You sure that would be a good idea?  I can't imagine it wouldn't slip at some point (especially with the ESC), perhaps after a good amount of usage.  I agree though, a removal method that doesn't involve a hex key would be nice.  Perhaps something along the lines of a keyless drill chuck?

I dunno...or perhaps a small lever or SOMETHING...

[bfauska]

Does the shaft of the TT2 have a flattend side? if so you should be able to just tighten the set-screw enough for it to stick into the hole and keep the knob from spinning on the shaft, but not so much as to tighten it down.  That way you could still remove it fairly easily, but it wouldn't spin.

Not a perfect solution, but it may work.

L8R,
Brian

[RandyT]

You could try this yourself, but how well it works is going to depend on a number of factors.

You will need:

A knob that will allow for some drilling of the bore.

Some thin-walled gum rubber tubing with a .25" ID.

A drill bit that is just slightly smaller than the OD of the tubing so that the ID is slightly compressed.

Super Glue Gel.


Drill out the bore of the knob, but don't go deeper than 7/16".  Place a couple drops of super glue on the outside of a small section of tubing and insert into the hole.  Allow to dry and then trim it to be flush with the bottom.  A little talcum will help you to slide it on and off of the shaft easier. 

RandyT

[shorthair]

Probly too small a space, but something like a small ball set into the shaft, that would push outward and lodge in the screw hole of the knob. Then a button (maybe spring-loaded, itself) inside the hole in the knob. Or perhaps something like a half-cylinder of something, connected to the shaft that would press against the knob, and a button inside the screw hole to push against it and release.  Of course both of these require an added level of fab/measurable degree of modification.

[bfauska]

Basically a setup similar to the ball the stem of a ratchet wrench.  Some only have a spring actuated ball that you simply overcome the force of to remove the socket, but others have a button on the back of the wrench that lets the ball fall into it's hole out of the recess in the socket and makes it removable.  It would definitely be some careful manufacturing and then you would have to use compatible knobs to get the effect.  However I suppose if the shaft was still standard size you could use other knobs w/ a set screw, and only have the quick release feature when using the compatible knobs.

Sounds like a bunch of work, but I think that the simplified exchange of knobs might be worth it.  The downside is that there isn't a big enough market to invest the kind of time it would take to develop.  Most people don't have arcade games, many of the people who do, don't have spinners, and many of the people with spinners just leave the knob on most of the time.  It would be interesting to look into making a 1 of a kind though, you could put it on a 1up style cab, with a rotating monitor, and every emulator ever. it would be the greatest thing ever.   

I do like the quick disconnect idea though.

Later,B

[shorthair]

Actually, out running errands, your idea occured to me.  Mine is more, though related is more involved than that. I kept thinking during writing it that it was too complex, but couldn't get simpler. The thing that then occured to me was that I had forgotten something - or, since I don't own one to really know how it works, didn't get that the knob changes elevation to enable degrees of resistance, right?

[GregorDV]

The socket concept is such a good match.  I can imagine somebody with more dedication than myself doing exactly that - either build a new shaft with a 3/8" male socket on the end or weld the male socket from a cheap wrench on to the shaft (making sure your alignment is _spot_on_).  Then you could use off-the-shelf sockets to mount your spinner or wheel, and changing would be just a matter of pull/push.

[shorthair]

I hadn't thought of it along that axis - cos that definitely, at least off the top of my head, wouldn't work with the TT2. I'm sure Randy could come up with something clever. He might now, given we're talking about it.