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Replacing the joysticks on an XArcade Tankstick: Need some info
garnerb350:
This is what i found and her is an excerpt from the review...the page is from
http://www.gizmag.com/x-arcade-dual-joystick-review/11092/
Modding the X-Arcade
There are two popular choices to replace the sticks in the X-Arcade that don't require any modifications.
First up is the iL Eurojoystick, available from Lizard Lick.
Ultimarc's Mag-Stik Plus will also do the trick, and give you the ability to switch the stick from 8-way to 4-way without opening the X-Arcade, allowing you to play games like Pacman and Donkey Kong without the issues that arise when doing so with an 8-way joystick.
And if you're not scared to make permanent modifications to the inside of your X-Arcade, it is possible to add Sanwa sticks.
I also have the tankstick, and when I ever decide to upgrade my joysticks I was going to use this as reference....I myself haven't heard anything about modding the existing bolt holes...from the article i have ...its says that you don't have to....just replace...
If you can find anymore information....let me know...I don't want to end up getting something that wont work...
GeoMan:
From the diagrams posted here:
http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_inst.html
http://www.ultimarc.com/controldiags.html
Magstick has a different plate compared to a U360. Still it is not that hard to install the U360's without permanent modifications to the Tankstick.
Besides being fully programmable you can also connect the 8 buttons to a U360. With the latest firmware update one of these buttons works as a shift key, meaning that you can program 15 different keystrokes with just 8 buttons!
The Tankstick controller also freezes OS X 10.5.6+ (for those like me who also use a Mac) and the U360 controlling the 8 buttons is an ideal solution as it bypasses the Tankstick controller.
StarshipUK:
I am going to update the Joysticks and Push Buttons in one (of my Six) X-Arcade joysticks.
Is there a difference between the Happ Competition Pushbutton with Horizontal Microswitch (convex) and Happ Pushbutton with Horizontal Microswitch (Concave) buttons, and are these both easy to replace in an X-Arcade joystick?
The buttons are here:
http://www.lizardlick.com/pages/pushbuttons.shtml
I am also thinking of getting the Black 1 player and 2 player buttons.
One of my X-Arcades is completely broken and does not register at all, so I am thinking of putting a pair of (Expensive) Ultimarc UltraStik 360 joysticks into it, connecting the buttons through the stick and having a couple of usb cables coming out of the X-Arcade (completly bypassing the internal electronics).
I am also thinking of installing a Spinner in one of them. Does anyone know what spinner's would easily fit in an X-Arcade stick and what games are compatable with Spinner controls?
GeoMan:
I installed a USB SpinTrak (from Ultimarc) with small fly-weight (to make sure that it will fit next to my Tankstick's trackball, replacing the 2-Player button). Installation is very easy, just remove the pushbutton and screw SpinTrak in it's place.
Replacing both joysticks and installing a SpinTrak means that you will need 3 USB cables coming out of your X-Arcade (or you can install a small USB hub into the case so only one USB cable needs to come out of it).
StarshipUK:
Thanks for the info. Do you know where I can find a list of (Mame) games which work well with the Spinner device?