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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: shardian on June 19, 2006, 11:28:19 am

Title: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 19, 2006, 11:28:19 am
I have a new Ms. Pacman/Galagareunion stick that has a problem. When I move straight from left to right, or from up to down, The stick "pops" loudly. The motion is VERY clunky and is not going away with time. I have taken out the stick, and looked it over. It appears there is a grommet (I guess that is what it's called) inside the sealed case that is causing the problem. Is there anything that I can do to fix this?
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Kremmit on June 19, 2006, 01:42:22 pm
No grommets in there.

A Reunion (or Super) will clunk if the pivot cone is installed wrong- Is your cone installed on the handle above the joystick base, with the wide end facing down?
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 19, 2006, 03:46:33 pm
Yes, I believe I remember looking up into the joystick and moving that part around. It did appear that the lip part of it was facing down. If I pressed up on it and then moved it around, the clunking went away. How do I remove that part to turn it around?
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Kremmit on June 19, 2006, 07:05:24 pm
Remove the e-clip, pull out the handle, flip the pivot cone, replace the handle, replace the actuator, replace the e-clip.
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: RickDIII on June 19, 2006, 07:12:21 pm
Yep, its the pivot cone.  You've got it in upside down.  I only know because I did the same thing at one point. 

Good luck!

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Kremmit on June 19, 2006, 11:23:07 pm
I only know because I did the same thing at one point. 

Heh.  Me too.
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 20, 2006, 07:55:42 am
Ok, I took this thing completely apart and played around with it for awhile. I have determined that what is making the clunking is the spring grabbing onto the plastic shaft it sits on. It was assembled correctly in the first place. Now what?
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 20, 2006, 08:59:42 am
I am thinking about selling this and getting a mag-stick-plus...
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Kremmit on June 21, 2006, 01:27:12 am
Something's not right, or it wouldn't be doing that. 

Have a look here.  http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/super_joy_e.htm (http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/super_joy_e.htm)
(It's a Super, but they're basically the same as a Reunion.)

Is the spring grabbing the part labeled 96-1421-00, or is it grabbing the raised center section of the bottom plate of the joystick body?
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 21, 2006, 09:35:20 am
The spring itself is catching on the plastic that comes down from the TOP of the main joystick body. I have highlighted the area in the below pic. As far as i can tell, the clunk is caused by the spring hopping up on the lip of the plasticand getting snagged. I am thinking that I could sand tis plastic down, but think I should have to. You know what I mean? If I lift up on the joystick handle and move it around, the clunk doesn't happen.
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Dervacumen on June 21, 2006, 01:53:50 pm
I had the same issue with both the Reunion and the Super.  Since I had an unopened Reunion stick, I compared the thunking one and the unopened one, and found that I had put the dumbell shaped grommet on upside down.  I think that grommet slightly changes the height the stick assembly rests in the body, and that caused the spring to stick.

Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 21, 2006, 02:00:23 pm
I put this one together in every configuration possible. The thing didn't even work any other way. I am convinced it is assembled correctly. Maybe I could put in a washer or something above the bottom e-clip to tighten things up a bit. I'll take some pictures and video tommorrow and maybe we can figure this thing out.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: Dervacumen on June 21, 2006, 09:30:21 pm
I put this one together in every configuration possible.

Thanks!

Man, I'm sorry, 'cause that's a major pain in the ***.  Nothing bites worse than a jstick config that should work but doesn't.

You may have a lemon.
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: shardian on June 23, 2006, 01:26:55 pm
 :banghead:

Well, I went to do some video/pictures yesterday. After doing some before shots, I started to take things apart. I got to the pivot cone, and noticed that it was upside down. I decided what the hay, and flipped it over again. put it all back together and Voila! It worked. I know for a fact I flipped that dang thing around before and tried it. I must have switched 2 things around because it got worse then. Thank you all for your help. I can now finish my 4-way vertical cabinet in peace.
Title: Re: Ms. Pacman / Galaga Reunion 4-way stick problem
Post by: leapinlew on June 23, 2006, 02:09:25 pm
damn...

Way to hang in there!