SlikStik Tornado question

[metaHipster]

Just got my first SlikStik Tornado spinner - they seem well rated but upon receiving mine, I've noticed that the bottom of the weighted cylinder rubs on the metal ring on the bottom part.  Is this normal?  I can put a slight upward pressure on the axle from below and separate the cylinder from the ring and it spins forever but if I just let it be it rubs and has almost no momentum to it.  I put a bit of 3 in 1 oil on it which makes it better but it almost seems as though the bearings aren't giving it much benefit.

Just wondering if I need to arrange an exchange or if this is normal.

-Matt

[patrickl]

Mine has a ring between the bottom (bearing) and the cylinder.

[stones]

I received two (one and then a replacement) and both had the same problems (worked fine upside down, right side up they had heavy, unplayable friction). Do what I did, send it back, get your money back and request they take another look at how they're manufacturing them (they now recognize the problem, and hopefully will fix it).

[patrickl]

SlikStik is out of business.

If you bought it from another vendor you might try getting your money back.

[stones]

Slikstik may be out of business, but Happ still manufactures fresh ones (albeit badly).

[divemaster127]

happ does not make these spinners they were ordering them from slikstik direct

[metaHipster]

thanks everyone.  At $70 I'm not going to keep it if it's gonna have this much friction.  I'll return to HAPP.

The EZ Arcade spinner I have seems to be a good bang for the buck (under $40!) so maybe i'll pick up another of those.

Note that the SlikStik tornado knobs fit on the EZ Arcade spinner (the metal knob I got from EZ Arcade was craptastic -- looked like a cheap volume knob from radioshack).

If anyone wants to suggest any other spinner options, I'm open to hearing them.  Seems like quality spinner manufacturers just aren't sticking around... First Oscar, now SlikStik....

[divemaster127]

Right now the options are the ulitmarc spintrak the slikstik spinner tops fits these & the GGG spinner, apache has one but its $$$

[RandyT]

Seems like quality spinner manufacturers just aren't sticking around... First Oscar, now SlikStik....

Do a search on "TT2" or "TurboTwist 2"   

RandyT

[stan2323]

apache has one but its $$$

Has anyone used the Apache?  How is it? Does it have a "energy storage cylinder" option?

[pcb]

thanks everyone.  At $70 I'm not going to keep it if it's gonna have this much friction.  I'll return to HAPP.

I got one of these from Happ also.  It was assembled incorrectly.  The shaft was upside down, no e-clip on the end, the o-ring is too small to sit on the bottom bearing.  Once I took it apart and put it back together correctly it works very well.  Oh, I added a small 1/4" flat-washer between the rubber o-ring on the bottom and the large weight the encoder mounts to, this raises up the counter-weight off the bottom bearing housing.  Not sure what they were thinking.

My corrected assemble is attached.

 - Mike -

[stones]

happ does not make these spinners they were ordering them from slikstik direct

Happ has told me the contrary, but either way, Slikstik company or no, they're made to order and readily available. It's just a shame they're all made incorrectly.

[stones]

pcb: Nicely done sir.

[patrickl]

Yeah, that they assembled the thing wrong could be the problem too. Either way there has to be a small ring on the bottom. You might be able to put one there yourself if you can find one.

To be honest I didn't like the Tornado spinner that much. I like Arkanoid and the tornado spinner doesn't really work well for that. It doesn't have the necessary resolution (ie you need to spin the spinner too much to move the bat) I bought the Spintrak and that works a lot better.

[genesim]

I second the Spintrak and it uses the same tops as the Tornado.   Quality all around!

[metaHipster]

pcb: thanks! 

I've mentioned the problem to Happ Controls and IMMEDIATELY got a human response offering a replacement shipment with prepaid return shipping!  That's what I call service!   We'll see if the next one has the same problem and if so, I'll use pcb's trick with washer and verifying axle orientation. 

It spun amazingly smooth when the weight wasn't on the bearing housing so anything that minimizes that should fix it.  I was even picturing some spring/coat hanger attachment to put a single point of upward pressure on the bottom of the axle beneath the bottom frame since just pushing up with my finger made it spin like a champ   Your solution seems far simpler and less prone to slipping.  Weird they're not putting these together properly.

[metaHipster]

I like Arkanoid and the tornado spinner doesn't really work well for that. It doesn't have the necessary resolution (ie you need to spin the spinner too much to move the bat) I bought the Spintrak and that works a lot better.

have you tried messing with the mame analog settings? (tab-menu)  Seems it usually defaults pretty low and should be able to go up to 200 i think.

[patrickl]

I like Arkanoid and the tornado spinner doesn't really work well for that. It doesn't have the necessary resolution (ie you need to spin the spinner too much to move the bat) I bought the Spintrak and that works a lot better.

have you tried messing with the mame analog settings? (tab-menu)  Seems it usually defaults pretty low and should be able to go up to 200 i think.

The sensor wheel just doesn't have enough teeth to work properly in "high resolution spinner" games like Arkanoid.

[pcb]

pcb: thanks! 

I've mentioned the problem to Happ Controls and IMMEDIATELY got a human response offering a replacement shipment with prepaid return shipping!  That's what I call service!   We'll see if the next one has the same problem and if so, I'll use pcb's trick with washer and verifying axle orientation.

No Problem, I had emailed the same picture to Happ and got a very cryptic response back.  Hopefully they have the assembly correct now, using a slightly bigger, fatter o-ring, which would eliminate the washer.

 - Mike -