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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Wienerdog on April 16, 2003, 01:06:23 am

Title: Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Wienerdog on April 16, 2003, 01:06:23 am
<edit>
New question is posted later in the thread.

I'm trying to replace the handle on the joystick pictured below.  It is a Xenophobe joystick on a Tron CP.  I'd like to use this 8way leaf stick on my new CP, so I need to get a new handle.

I plan to try rotating the restrictor plates to get the authentic Tron physical restriction, but I have some research to do.
</edit>

(http://home.attbi.com/~morrisonjim3/TRON.jpg)

I picked up a Tron CP on eBay with the knowledge that the joystick housing was gone.  I got the CP today and am wondering what style of joystick was originally on this thing.  I don't recognize the two buttons that are connected to the joystick wiring.  The joystick base looks close to Oscars pictures (http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tron/), exept the red restrictor on the base of the joystick is a square instead of a diamond.

Where did this stick come from?
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: spidermonkey on April 16, 2003, 01:15:45 am
Xenophobe  Bally/Midway  1987     Unfortunately it won't be a very good stick for playing Tron. :-\
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: Wienerdog on April 16, 2003, 01:34:26 am
Good call, that is it.

Why do you say it won't be any good?  What did you do with your Happs 8-way?

The stuffing of the joystick really looks the same as the Tron stick.  I understand that the restrictor is square instead of diamond.  I am wondering if I can redrill the holes in the mounting plate and rotate the restrictor so that it blocks the diagonals as the Tron stick does.  I'll have to pull the stick appart and compare the dimensions of the parts to those that Oscar posted to see if this is feasible.  


Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: spidermonkey on April 16, 2003, 02:01:04 am
Unless you can modify the upper or lower restrictor you will have control problems in the light cycle stage. My Happ stick works because I am using the upper restrictor out of an original tron stick.  I never bothered to change the lower one because it works perfect without it. Do a search for tron sticks in the archives as there are many discussions about this very problem.
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: Wienerdog on April 16, 2003, 09:33:13 am
I'll do a search tonight to see if my idea has been tried.

When I looked at it last night, it appeared that the upper (think black metal underneath the CP top) and the lower (red hard rubber restrictor, held by two sheet metal screws) restrictors  both had room to rotate.  I would have to drill new holes and I still have the check the dimensions of the original Tron restrictors to see if this might work.  Perhaps I should get the joystick hooked up first, lol.

Does anyone sell a replacement handle?  Oscar referenced Arcade Renovations in another thread, but I didn't see anything there.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Wienerdog on April 18, 2003, 03:18:46 pm
I'm trying to replace the handle on the joystick pictured below.  It is a Xenophobe joystick on a Tron CP.  I'd like to use this 8way leaf stick on my new CP, so I need to get a new handle.

I plan to try rotating the restrictor plates to get the authentic Tron physical restriction, but I have some research to do.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: shmokes on April 18, 2003, 03:59:42 pm
Happ sells a Heavy Duty 8-way trigger joystick  that won't be right, but it looks somewhat similar and might work.

$100, though  :-\
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: OSCAR on April 18, 2003, 04:31:15 pm
Oscar referenced Arcade Renovations in another thread, but I didn't see anything there.


They were going to do some repro's, but the deal fell through.  A few BYOAC'rs pre-ordered but then had their $$ refunded later.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Frostillicus on April 18, 2003, 04:32:33 pm
You can buy just the pieces of the joystick you want on happs site.  just plug in the part# in the search box.  You don't have to spend 100 bucks on a new joystick. I bought some pieces from their heavy-duty 8-way stick and they fit perfectly inside my tron stick shell. - i think it's the same handle design, the bases are different.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Wienerdog on April 18, 2003, 06:28:49 pm
Cool, that's what I needed to hear.  I really only need (hopefully) the trigger button and the two handle shells.  I have the shaft and the full base.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Frostillicus on April 18, 2003, 06:52:22 pm
yeah just look at their breakaway views for part numbers and type those in - I didn't even know you could do that until I emailed them with my problem.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Brax on April 19, 2003, 01:40:05 am
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218897438&category=13718
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: kspiff on April 19, 2003, 02:17:19 am
I'm not sure if it would fit, really, but if you just need the trigger stick replacement grips then I would go through www.therealbobroberts.com, btw.. several dollars cheaper..
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: planetjay on April 19, 2003, 02:25:36 pm
Xenophobe  Bally/Midway  1987     Unfortunately it won't be a very good stick for playing Tron. :-\
Why not? They are the same stick. 2 buttons were added and the color was changed. it is the perfect Tron replacement if you don't care about color and the ability to be lit with UV.

Another nice thing about his Tron CP with Xenophobe grip is that he can play Mad Planets which uses the trigger and 1 button on the back as well as the spinner.
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: Wienerdog on April 20, 2003, 01:37:04 am
Another nice thing about his Tron CP with Xenophobe grip is that he can play Mad Planets which uses the trigger and 1 button on the back as well as the spinner.

Spidermonkey,
When you say it won't be a very good stick for Tron, do you mean it won't be as good as an authentic Tron stick, or do you mean it won't be as good as a p360?  It seems to me that the Xenophobe stick is the BEST alternative when an original Tron stick cannot be found.  

Planetjay,
The restrictor plate on the original Tron stick is in a diamond pattern, while Xenophobe (mine) is in a square.  Good point about the button though.  It is also needed for Discs of Tron (which I just realized yesterday).  Hmm, does anyone know if the DOT joystick is the same as the original Tron joystick?

kspiff,
Where should I be looking at Bob Roberts site?  The only handle assemblies I see are more expensive.
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Wienerdog on April 20, 2003, 02:37:22 pm
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3218897438&category=13718
Okay, I got it.  We'll see how it goes.  The new parts would have cost $22 + shipping and tax from Happ (without the lighted buttons, which I already have).  I won the auction for about $30 with shipping.  Hopefully it is in good shape and hopefully this will make a good Tron joystick.  I still haven't decided what I will do with the restrictor yet.  I think I might want to get it running and see how it performs before I consider any modifications.  

Like I was trying to say in my last post.  This should be the best alternative to an original Tron joystick.
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: planetjay on April 20, 2003, 03:02:38 pm
Another nice thing about his Tron CP with Xenophobe grip is that he can play Mad Planets which uses the trigger and 1 button on the back as well as the spinner.

Planetjay,
The restrictor plate on the original Tron stick is in a diamond pattern, while Xenophobe (mine) is in a square.  Good point about the button though.  It is also needed for Discs of Tron (which I just realized yesterday).  Hmm, does anyone know if the DOT joystick is the same as the original Tron joystick?


So are you saying that Tron is a 4way? Mine isn't. Also ever Tron I ever played let me go into the MCP cone at 45
Title: Re:Does anyone sell Tron Joystick Handles?
Post by: Frostillicus on April 20, 2003, 03:10:57 pm
My tron joystick has a diamond 4-way restricotr but it's more of an 8-way minimizer, since I can still go 8 directions but it is very easy to hit north south east and west.  
Title: Re:Name that Tron Joystick button...
Post by: Wienerdog on April 20, 2003, 04:20:13 pm
So are you saying that Tron is a 4way? Mine isn't. Also ever Tron I ever played let me go into the MCP cone at 45