Is there a way to convert Happ Competition to 4-way?

[BradC]

I was helping my brother build a control panel and told him to buy two Happ competitions, and one dedicated 4-way (like the Ms. Pac-Man replacement joystick) but instead he bought three Happ 8-ways.

Is there a way to convert the 3rd Happ to 4-way? Like an actuator replacement or can I modify the one it came with?

[Namco]

It can be done by adding a restrictor plate somehow, or by changing from a square actuator to perhaps a round one. However I don't know where you'd get a happ competition restrictor plate or a round actuator that will work on a happ competition. I know the ultimate has an actuator that you can probably cut in half to make fit on the compeition, but I doubt you have one of those laying around.

A third option that may work thanks to Happ's awesome customer service, would be to complain that they sent the wrong stick. It is likely that they'd overnight one for free.

[Jack Burton]

I would would just return it and get a proper 4-way stick.  Even with a different actuator a competition is still completely alien in feel compared to a 4 way joystick.

[TOK]

I swore read something about flipping the part inside (95-0197-00) upside down, but perhaps I'm confusing it with another stick since Happ documentation says 8 way only.

[Namco]

I swore read something about flipping the part inside (95-0197-00) upside down, but perhaps I'm confusing it with another stick since Happ documentation says 8 way only.

The one in your picture is a Happ Competition. Flipping that square actuator over probably won't make much of a difference. This is a Happ Ultimate:


The actuator is cone shaped and when you flip it over to use the narrower part of the cone, it's a smaller actuator touching the switches. . A smaller actuator just means more travel in the stick before it triggers a microswitch, and the less likelyhood of triggering two at once. But by no means is it a replacement for a real 4-way with a restrictor plate.

Soooo, the point I"m making is that if you just rig up a smaller actuator, perhaps a round one instead of the big square one, it would emulate the 4-way action of the Happ Ultimate.

[BradC]

Thanks for the input guys. We did try flipping the actuator and it doesn't reach the switches at all. I just thought there might be a piece we could use to limit it to 4-way, as I know there are some joysticks where you just flip the actuator to convert it.

He ordered from GGG, not directly from Happ. I'll just have him buy a dedicated 4-way.

[NoOne=NBA=]

You can turn an unrestricted 8-way to 4-way by just using a smaller actuator, but the result is a big sloppy mess.
The smaller actuator makes the stick engage farther out from center.
It also makes it so that the stick will have dead spots in the corners, and no guides to force you to the true direction.

A dedicated 4-way, or a true 4/8-way switchable is the way to go.
That will give you the diamond shape to make it feel right, and will allow the stick to engage closer to center, like it should.

[severdhed]

a friend of mine just bought happ competitions for his 4 way panel, and he picked up an ultimarc J-stik balltop for a 4way stick. (it has a restrictor plate for true 4way movement, that is switchable from the bottom.)  it feels great as a 4way stick, and seems to have a very similar feel to the happ sticks in terms of stiffness and throw distance.   i cannot tell you how they work in 8way mode, but they are great 4way sticks...i plan on picking one up here shortly for in my next cabinet