Larger Replacement Ball Top MS Pac-Man/GALAGA Stick??

[lettuce]

I was woundering if there was a larger ball top you can get for the NAMCO 20 Year Reunion MS Pac-Man/GALAGA stick? As i remember the ball top on the PAC-MAN cabinet to be bigger??

[whammoed]

The ball top does unscrew and can be replaced with the appropriate threaded ball knob.  I've done it.  Don't remember the size of the threads but the correct sized ball top is around 1 3/8" I believe.

[lettuce]

Can you remember where you got the ball top from?

[rockin_rick]

I was under the impression that they were the same size...  I thought that I compared them side by side and they were the same.  I'd try it now, but my reunion sticks are buried in a box somewhere...

I just measured a pac stick, and the ball is 1.34" according to my calipers.

Rick

[RobotronNut]

Can you remember where you got the ball top from?

you can get them from http://www.mcmaster.com/.
they come in many sizes, colors, and materials.
the website navigation is quirky.
try searching for "ball knob".
then select thread size 5/16"-18 for the tornadoterry shaft.
i'm using a black phenolic 6046K17, and it works well.
the "red" phenolic 6146K17 is a dark maroon/burgundy type color.
the red polypropylene 7386K27 is bright red and slightly textured.

[RayB]

Original Pac sticks were pretty small. What you remember might have been a Pac where the operator replaced the joystick with a Wico ball-top?

[rockin_rick]

OK, I got inspired.  I got out a reunion and it measures 1.23", so it is a bit smaller.  I suppose a new ball would be cool, especially since it has a weird color/texture.  But more importantly, I think the biggest issue is the shaft.  I would like a black sleeve to fit over it, so it looks more like the real deal.  Anyone know where to get that?

Here's some pics of them side by side...

Rick

[paigeoliver]

Rick, just paint the shaft if that bothers you, a sleeve could get in the way of things.

I don't think the top on the Reunion stick unscrews. It seems like I would have noticed that seeing as how I have owned some of those sticks for at least 5 years.

[RobotronNut]

I don't think the top on the Reunion stick unscrews. It seems like I would have noticed that seeing as how I have owned some of those sticks for at least 5 years.

sorry, i forgot to mention that you have to get shafts from tornadoterrys.com. these now come with a small ball top, but the shafts are threaded and the ball tops can be replaced with larger ones, as described above.

[whammoed]

I don't think the top on the Reunion stick unscrews. It seems like I would have noticed that seeing as how I have owned some of those sticks for at least 5 years.

Yes, they do.  I am certain of it.  I have replaced them before.  They are on there pretty good though.

[RobotronNut]

I don't think the top on the Reunion stick unscrews. It seems like I would have noticed that seeing as how I have owned some of those sticks for at least 5 years.

Yes, they do.  I am certain of it.  I have replaced them before.  They are on there pretty good though.

when i built my system, a year and half ago, i was advised that the reunion balltops would unscrew. they seemed very solidly attached. i used rubber to clamp the shaft into a vise and turned the balltop using a large pair of channel-lock pliers lined with rubber. with a lot of effort, i did succeed in turning it, but it did not unscrew; it just turned in place.

but others, like you, are certain that they have unscrewed them. i'd guess that earlier ones were threaded, and later ones are permanently attached.

just to throw in a little curveball here... while i found the reunion to be a great all-around 4-way, its engagement is too slow for defender. betw the the reunion, wico leaf, and ultimarc J-stik (=sanwa JLW), i've settled on the J-stik as the best combination of playability, feel, and long-term maintenance-free operation. as a bonus, it already comes with a larger balltop.

[squirrellydw]

I bought these from tornado terry

http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm