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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: existonfile on October 28, 2008, 09:01:21 am

Title: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: existonfile on October 28, 2008, 09:01:21 am

Hi everyone!  I've been thinking about making a MAME cabinet for about 2 years now and this past weekend I finally went to the amazing Arcade auction at Timonium Fairgrounds in MD and picked up a cabinet to gut.  I was taking apart the control panel to salvage the working buttons and joysticks before I rebuild the control panel and I got stuck at the joysticks.  How do I remove these??? :dizzy:

I thought you could just unscrew them, but they don't want to budge.  Anyone have any tricks or tips on installing and removing joysticks?

Thanks in advance!

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: Bluedeath on October 28, 2008, 10:20:28 am

can you post a picture of the underneath of the panel?

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: SirPeale on October 28, 2008, 11:16:52 am

I'm betting there is an "E" clip on the very bottom.  Pop it off with a jewelers screwdriver (but cover it with your hand, they fly off and get lost very easily) and the shaft should slide right out.

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: existonfile on October 28, 2008, 11:21:42 am

Wow, thanks for the quick response!  Duh, I should have posted the images, first but here they are:

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/habboharbl/both_sticks.jpg)
Underside of the panel.  As you can see I have removed all the buttons and wiring.  I'm thinking about replacing this piece of wood as well so I can design my own stick and button layout.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/habboharbl/left_stick.jpg)
Closeup of the left stick, which I just unscrewed the 4 screws holding it to the wood.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/habboharbl/right_stick.jpg)
Closeup of the right stick, which I went a little further and took off all the microswitches and the "bottom" of the joystick.

Any suggestions?

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: SirPeale on October 28, 2008, 03:42:23 pm

Quote from: existonfile on October 28, 2008, 11:21:42 am

Any suggestions?

Hey, if you're going to completely ignore my advice, then I can't help you.

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: existonfile on October 28, 2008, 08:47:37 pm

Is there a technique to removing these easily?  I got one clip off of the right stick, but it took me awhile and I was afraid of breaking the clip/my screwdriver.

Sorry I didn't see your post until after I put up my pics...  ;D

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: SirPeale on October 29, 2008, 06:55:29 am

You definitely won't break the clip, nor your screwdriver as long as it's made of hardened metal.  Most jewelers screwdrivers are.

Title: Re: Newbie joystick help!
Post by: Bluedeath on October 29, 2008, 08:39:22 am

use a small flathead srewdriver and pull out the eclip, if you are afraid to losing it just pinch the middle of  e clip with a pair of long nose pliers, don't apply force to the pliers just follow the movement while you are sliding the  E clip out