Star Wars Yoke Parts

[bhille]

I was thinking about getting a Star Wars Yoke from a local vendor, but it's missing a couple of the buttons.  Is there aplace where you can get parts for this yoke or should I keep on looking?

Thanks,  Brian

[1UP]

According to Happ controls site, their trigger and thumb button assemblies work as replacements for Star Wars parts.  I don't know how accurate this is.  If only the actual microswitches are missing, I know that replacement switches are readily available at electronics stores like Radio Shack and Fry's.  My yoke came with all the switches, but they were badly worn so I replaced them all myself.

The button springs can be replaced with springs from cheap ball-point pens (seems like it was Papermate that makes these--the ones with kind of thick ink tubes have the perfect sized springs, but they need to be cut shorter...)

Also, yoke replacement part kits can be found frequently on ebay.

Hope this helps.

[bhille]

Thanks for the tip.  When I looked on Happs site, I found replacements buttons/switches, but none for the "star wars yoke".  Where are they on the site?

I'm gathering it isn't too big of a deal if the buttons/switches are missing, I'm just trying to figure out where to get the parts.  Does "TheRealBobRoberts" (I think that was the name) carry these types of parts?

Thanks again for your help.  I don't know what I'd do without this board!

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks for the tip.  When I looked on Happs site, I found replacements buttons/switches, but none for the "star wars yoke".  Where are they on the site?

I'm gathering it isn't too big of a deal if the buttons/switches are missing, I'm just trying to figure out where to get the parts.  Does "TheRealBobRoberts" (I think that was the name) carry these types of parts?

Thanks again for your help.  I don't know what I'd do without this board!

I think 1-Up means these: http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95430000.htm  They're listed under joysticks (?).  I would see if Happ knows if they would work.

Doubtful if Bob Roberts would have these, but it never hurts to ask.

[1UP]

I think 1-Up means these: http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95430000.htm  They're listed under joysticks (?).  I would see if Happ knows if they would work.

Yup, those are the ones (sorry, I was too lazy last night to dig up the link...)  See, it says they work as replacements for Stun Runner, which was the same exact yoke design as Star Wars if I remember correctly.  Unfortunately, it looks like all Happ has are red triggers, so it's not really authentic.  I'd be interested to know if anyone has used these parts on a yoke...

[HeadRusch]

Red Trigger + $1.25 black Sharpie marker = Black Trigger

[1UP]

Red Trigger + $1.25 black Sharpie marker = Black Trigger

Yeah, it'll stay black as long as you don't use it more than once or twice...  Then your hands will be black...    There's almost NO kind of paint you could use on your controls that would stay put for long.  (There's a reason they mold joysticks in specific colors rather than painting).  Maybe that rubber-coat stuff they have that you dip your tool handles in.  That's more like liquid plastic.  They DO make that in black.  Or you could even mold some black ones from the red ones using resin and silicone.  Sounds like too much trouble though.

[kspiff]

Hm.. unless you did some (major) reworking of the triggers, there is no way they would fit in a Star Wars controller.. the thumb switches are an even worse situation -- I don't think there's any way to use those (and most yokes are missing these).

Sorry to bear bad news, btw, and, yes, I just checked this out again to be sure (bought mine to make faux Assault sticks).  Save the money for a yoke refurb kit.

k-spiff

[bhille]

Save the money for a yoke refurb kit.

Other than ebay, where do you get a refurb kit?

Brian

[kspiff]

Well, I don't know where to get them reliably.. but I can say that www.coin.demon.co.uk has an Atari parts section and a RoadBlasters CP (or they did awhile back) for sale.. personally, though, I didn't order it because the shipping would've brought the item to over $100 [to the USA]..

It seems that the majority of the yoke parts are unique to this controller (and its 'clones') and nobody really produces refurb/repair kits anymore.. this is why when they do actually appear on ebay they are expensive -- last kit's 'buy it now' was set at $60.. for a few switches, bolts, plastic gears, triggers, and rubber switches, this seems a bit high to me.

To replace my own triggers (both thumbs and one finger), I bought and harvested a RoadBlasters CP.. the handles [only] are 100% the same (except for the size of the thumb triggers and their mounting holes -- more sturdy, though).

k-spiff