Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Dexter on June 07, 2005, 11:34:09 am

Title: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Dexter on June 07, 2005, 11:34:09 am

Hi all,

I have a roadblasters controller that I can salvage the optics, gears etc. from. Is it possible to convert it into a working spinner and has anybody undertook this project before??

Cheers

Dexter

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Samstag on June 07, 2005, 01:17:32 pm

It should be pretty simple.  I haven't taken mine apart yet, but it looks like if you remove the "stops" on the front bottom, the springs inside, and the button wiring, it should spin freely.  It probably has some heavy duty bearings designed more for strength than speed, but it should work fine anyway.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: PoDunkMoFo on June 07, 2005, 03:01:15 pm

Isn't road blasters a 270 wheel.  I think it uses potentiometers not optics.  If so you can't really make it into a spinner.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Samstag on June 07, 2005, 03:31:18 pm

Quote from: PoDunkMoFo on June 07, 2005, 03:01:15 pm

Isn't road blasters a 270 wheel.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: NoOne=NBA= on June 07, 2005, 03:41:43 pm

Be really careful handling that tar stuff that those rubber bumpers turn into.
It's (almost?) impossible to get out of the carpet, clothing, etc...
It will eventually come off of your hands, but I think you have to lose the layer of skin it's attached to first.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Samstag on June 07, 2005, 03:43:28 pm

Thanks for the warning.  Are they really rubber, though?  It looks like mine are steel.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: NoOne=NBA= on June 07, 2005, 04:38:38 pm

What's left probably IS steel.
That big tar smear between them USED to be the rubber that surrounded the steel part.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Dire Radiant on June 07, 2005, 04:54:30 pm

I thought about doing that with mine for a while but after a bit of deliberation decided to keep the whole thing intact. If having a roadblasters panel doesnt float your boat, why not sell it and use the proceeds to buy a spinner?

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Kremmit on June 08, 2005, 03:25:10 am

Convert it to a spinner (Tempest), or a freely spinning wheel (Pole Position)? 

If you're going to make a spinner, you just need to pull the optics and encoder wheel for your spinner, and leave the rest intact.

If you're going to make a 360 degree wheel, just remove the stops, and replace the "yoke" with a round wheel.

Either way, you'll have some sale-able parts left over- be sure to list them here if you don't need 'em.

Or you might find somebody here that wants to trade you a spinner/wheel for it the way it is.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Samstag on June 08, 2005, 05:33:52 am

I'm planning on converting mine (or at leasting using parts) to a star wars yoke.

Title: Re: Roadblasters optical yoke to spinner??
Post by: Dexter on June 08, 2005, 12:03:25 pm

I have enough panel real estate for either a 270 wheel or a 360 but not both, I'll be more than likely converting the roadblasters yoke to a spinner. I was concerned about the resolution of the optic wheel compared to a trackball or even a regular spinner, but I suppose I can always recalibrate.

Cheers guys, I'll let you know how I get on.....