Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: yoshizuki on August 22, 2003, 04:12:55 pm

Title: joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: yoshizuki on August 22, 2003, 04:12:55 pm
Hi,

I just bought a X-Arcade two player arcade controls and... it's awful. damn it...
What's awful is that I keep hearing those *clicks *clicks whenever i move the joystick and push the buttons. Now I know it's the sound of the microswitch, and It felt really cheap for 150$USD!!! Really annoying also. I thought I'd get the same feeling as on an original cabinet controls like Street Fighter III, but hell no. I don't remember hearing so loudly those *clicks *clicks on the SFIII arcade cabinet.

Now I want to replace the joystick with another one, but I wanna know which one to get that truly is the same like on those Street Fighter III and Marvel vs Capcom 2 original arcade cabinets with less hearing of the *click or none at all. Can anyone help?

About the buttons, I was thinking of getting those Happs competition convex pushbuttons. Is the *click sound less loud?
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: CanStick on August 22, 2003, 04:30:47 pm
It is the switches in those that are clicking.  The X-Arcade switches are notoriously "clicky".  You can change just the switches to Cherry microswitches, and that will reduce the clickiness quite a bit...but it will still be there.

Street Fighters and other fighters pretty much all use microswitch based joysticks, but if you really want to get rid of the clicks, you will have to go with some leaf joysticks.

But, I think you will be happier by just replacing the switches, IMHO.

If you do go with Happ's, then the Competition Joysticks seem to be what is favoured for fighters.

Hope this helps!
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: tmasman on August 22, 2003, 04:41:55 pm
CanStick is right...
It's really just the switches attached to the controls that are making the clicky sound.
Look at just replacing those & you should notice a difference.
Also keep in mind...
With a real arcade cabinet, you not only have about 20 times the amount of space inside (to "absorb" the sounds), but you also have an environment typically too loud to hear the clicks.

If you put your ear next to a CP of a Street Fighter, you'll hear the clicky sounds. It's just not echoing right back up to you. mmm...

What I'm saying is that "in theory" a stand alone CP with microswitches is going to be noticably more clicky than a full arcade cabinet. (That and the whole fact that arcades typically have enough ambient sounds to keep you from hearing it).

Replace the switches...
And get used to hearing some clicky sounds... (or get some leaf switch stuff... IMO they just don't feel right playing fighters though...)

I hope that helps...
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: yoshizuki on August 22, 2003, 06:14:57 pm
Now that I think of it, about the greater space inside of a full size arcade cabinet to absorb the sounds, it's clearer now why I don't hear as much clicking compared to the X-Arcade CP :)

So I should get this Happs competition joystick, but do I need to change the microswitches to Cherry microswitch? It doesn't specify if it comes with Cherry microswitches.
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/competition_joy.htm

For the buttons, would this one fits in the X-Arcade panel ?
Competitition Buttons with Cherry Microswitch
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5891xxl.htm
If not, what about this one http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5896xxl.htm ? but it doesn't specify if it comes with Cherry microswitches, then i'll have to change them.

You guys know a website to get Cherry microswitches?
possibly horizontal ones, to fit in the x-arcade panel
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: AlanS17 on August 22, 2003, 06:27:54 pm
Well most people say the only problem with the x-arcade controls is the switches themselves. You shouldn't need a whole new joystick unles you really want one bad.

You can get cherry switches on Bob's site:

http://www. therealbobroberts.com

His prices will almost always be the best around, and shipping is reasonable. The site is admittedly difficult to navigate, but you'll get the hang of it.
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: u_rebelscum on August 22, 2003, 06:50:34 pm
If you really want no clicks on the joystick and have money, you can get the perfect 360 joystick (http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50608300.htm).  Some of the high end cabs used these sticks.
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: Apollo on August 22, 2003, 07:14:18 pm
I agree, cherries are the answer. I have just replaced all my Honeywell micros with cherries and the difference is amazing.
If you are into fighters you don't want leafswitches anyway IMHO. The diagonals just aren't defined enough.
If you have got the money you could try the 360's but changing the switches will do the trick. Go to Bob Roberts he has the best prices generally.
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: CanStick on August 22, 2003, 09:44:15 pm
So I should get this Happs competition joystick, but do I need to change the microswitches to Cherry microswitch? It doesn't specify if it comes with Cherry microswitches.
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/competition_joy.htm

For the buttons, would this one fits in the X-Arcade panel ?
Competitition Buttons with Cherry Microswitch
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5891xxl.htm
If not, what about this one http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5896xxl.htm ? but it doesn't specify if it comes with Cherry microswitches, then i'll have to change them.
 horizontal ones, to fit in the x-arcade panel

I believe that all of Happ's stuff comes with Cherry microswitches...I know that the Competition's definately do.  As for buttons, you want the pushbuttons with horizontal microswitch.  The ones you have in your 5891xxl link above.

Hope this helps!
Title: Re:joystick and buttons replacements
Post by: LurkingLizard on August 22, 2003, 11:07:48 pm
The buttons(concave horizontal pushbuttons) and joysticks(competitions) that I've ordered from Happ all came with Cherry microswitches.

Also, since you're using an X-arcade, and some people here are recommending the P360 joysticks, it should be pointed out that the circuitry of the X-arcade is not compatible (http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=8651;start=msg63437#msg63437) with the P360s.