Versa Balltops, U360 Balltops, colors, threads, washers, HELP (please)!

[arzoo]

Hi All,
Originally my cp had all Happ Supers with battops. I recently replaced two of the sticks with U360 balltops (red) - I really like the U360s! So I decided to replace the battops on my Supers with GGG Versa's - red. Here are my initial observations...

• The Versa "Red" is darker than the U360 "Red".
• The height of the balltops do not match exactly - the Versa is maybe 1/8 to 1/4 taller (mounted under 3/4 MDF).
• The original Super dust washer hole is larger than the Versa shaft (due to the plastic sleeve used by the Super).

I can live with the difference in the stick heights, but I would really like to match the balltop colors. I've been searching all the forum threads and I believe the ball thread for the Versa is .250 and the U360 is 6mm - so no chance of interchanging.

So... does anyone know of bright red balltops with a .250 threads or dark red balltops with 3mm threads?

As for the dust washers, I see that Randy sells replacement washers for the Versas, but they are made of metal and cost $2 ea. Any idea on where I can purchase black plastic washers for the Versas?

Thanks!!!

Update: I see that the U360 uses a Sanwa JLW base. I also found lizardlickamusements selling Sanwa balltops. The LB-35 (Standard 35mm size ball top fits JLF-TP-8T and JLW-TM-8) comes in dark red, but I'm not 100% sure it has the 6mm thread.

[fjl]

Email them and ask. They're usually prompt at answering questions. By the way, who is that on your avatar?

[Bender]

Check here: http://www.akihabarashop.jp/ it's a little hard to navigate, but I think they have what your looking for too
let us know what you find out

By the way, who is that on your avatar?

Isn't that John Lithgow from Buckaroo Banzai?

[fjl]

Huh, your right but i always thought that was John Candy.

[arzoo]

Check here: http://www.akihabarashop.jp/ it's a little hard to navigate, but I think they have what your looking for too
let us know what you find out

By the way, who is that on your avatar?

Isn't that John Lithgow from Buckaroo Banzai?

Correct... Buckaroo Banzai Across The Eighth Dimension

Thanks.

[ids]

fwiw, I have installed the Seimitsu LB-39 bubble-tops on my U360's (from LizardLick).  Not sure if that helps at all.

[fatfingers]

For what it's worth, this site seems to claim LB-35s fit on U360.  Also, I have ordered some from Akihibara Shop (sp) and they fit my U360s.

Good luck.

[arzoo]

Thanks for the replies. 

I called Lizard Lick Amusements and they confirmed that the LB35 does fit the U360. If I go with the dark red, it should match the GGG Versa's. Now I just need a dust washer with a 3/8" I.D. hole.

[Minwah]

Note that while the thread on the Sanwa/U360 is different to the GGG 'Versa' shaft, it will 'fit', as long as you don't mind the shaft cutting a new thread in the brass insert of the ball top.  I did this as I wanted a bright red ball on my old 49-Way with stainless GGG shaft.  While not 100% ideal, it did work fine.

[arzoo]

Note that while the thread on the Sanwa/U360 is different to the GGG 'Versa' shaft, it will 'fit', as long as you don't mind the shaft cutting a new thread in the brass insert of the ball top.  I did this as I wanted a bright red ball on my old 49-Way with stainless GGG shaft.  While not 100% ideal, it did work fine.

Good to know - thanks Minwah!

[arzoo]

Here's a quick update - I received my Sanwa balltops from LickLizard today. Turns out the Sanwa Red is exactly the same as the red ball-top that comes with U360 - it looked darker on the webpage  . So that didn't really help me match them to the Versa's. I wonder where Randy gets his ball-tops from?

Minwah - I figured I might as well try mounting the Sanwa's on the Versa shaft as you suggested. But I think the Versa shaft for the Super must be different than the Versa shaft for the 49way - because the threads must be like 1/4 in diameter. There's no way the Sanwa ball-top could fit, unless maybe I removed the threaded brass insert entirely - even then I don't think the hole would be wide enough.