Need advice on joystick replacement

[axewater]

Hello arcade fans ..

I've got an MVS/NEOGEO arcade cab converted to a MAME box, and although it had 2 nice joysticks with 4 buttons each, the player 2 joystick seems to be a little broken... Moving up and down barely works and its basically unplayable this way. So I want to replace it with a similar type of joystick.
I've looked on the Ultimarc site and they have good looking sticks, but they are not similar to the one already installed. What is your opinion on replacing an old stick ... ? Should I just replace both sides with a new type of stick or can I find a similar kind of stick somewhere ? OR maybe all I need to do is replace the microswitches in the stick ?

Maybe I should describe the defect a little better ... When I move the stick in certain directions, there is no click until I move it all the way to the outer limit. And I think sometimes even when it clicks there is no response ! Is this just a problem with the microswitches ?

My wife really likes to play pacman, so maybe its worth getting 2 sticks that can be switched to 4 way .. I'm not sure and would appreciate any comments and experiences.

[HaRuMaN]

Pics would help determining what kind of joystick you currently have.  Take a picture from the top (playing surface) and one of the underside of the joystick.

[axewater]

Ah yes .. pics .. of course ...

Here we go :

full cab :


control panel top side :


control panel bottom side :

[axewater]

*bumb*

Please .. any advice is welcome.
Which joysticks should I order that will be the most like the ones I already have in the cab ?

gr
Allan

[protokatie]

Not an exact replacement, but these are the closest I could find : http://www.modchipman.com/seimitsu-ls5601-p-1734.html

[EwJ]

It sounds like a problem with your switches.
Why not remove the restrictors and have a look?
Post a pic.

[Deadly]

Is this just a problem with the microswitches ?

Most likely.
If you disconnect the wires from the P2 cherry switches and touch each signal to ground and it consistently works then you have eliminated a board issue and wiring issue. You've then proven the cherry switches are at fault which is almost a cetainty from your description.