Best Choice For Dedicated 4 Way Joystick

[toasty]

OK, I realize there are tons and tons of threads regarding the best joysticks, but most of them seem to focus on ease of switching b/w 8/4 way, ease of hitting diagonals, etc.  I wasn't able to find anything that addresses sticks that will be used only as a dedicated 4-way sticks.

What's the best stick to use for a dedicated 4-way stick that will never be swapped to 8-way?

[markrvp]

Opinions only, but the two most popular choices you see here are:

1.)  Happ Ms.Pacman/Galaga reunion stick
2.)  Wico 4-way leafswitch

The Happ is readily available from anyone who sells Happ parts.  The Wico is no longer sold new, so Ebay is your best bet.  A seller by the ID of Nicade on ebay usually has one or two for sell.

My opinion is that the original Pacman leafswitch joysticks are the best 4-way ever, but they are hard to come by (and not cheap) and the base is large and designed for a metal control panel.

Two other sticks worthy of mention which are actually 4/8 way are the Ultimarc E-stik and J-stik.  Both have square restrictors, so they feel great in 4-way mode.

[RobotronNut]

i spent ages researching this, and reached the same conclusion as markrvp: reunion or wico.

i ended up deciding on the reunion stick. unfortunately, its shaft is too short for a 3/4" wood cabinet, and all the available replacement shafts are longer than i'd like (measured from surface of wood cabinet to top of handle: stock happ super shaft = 2.66", groovygamegear versaball = 2.75", slikstik = 3"; ideal for me is 2").

there is a replacement shaft available from "tornadoterry," but it's just a threaded shaft, and you must use the plastic ball from your original reunion shaft. apparently, this used to work ok, but the reunions that are currently shipping no longer have threaded ball tops. using a lot of force, i can get mine to rotate, but it doesn't unscrew; it just rotates in place.

i also find the click of the microswitches in the reunion a little bit annoying, so i'm going to switch to a wico 4-way. the stock 3.5" shaft (measured up to but not including the ball top) results in a 2" height above the surface of the 3/4" wood panel - exactly what i'm looking for.

the wicos have their own problems:

(1) they're not made any more, and NOS ones are hard to find. (i managed to snag some on ebay)

(2) they use leaf springs, which require periodic adjustment, and eventually wear out and need to be replaced. (there is a now-discontinued "perfect 360" optical upgrade, which solves these problems, but it's also hard to find. i also managed to snag some NOS ones on ebay)

(3) they use a rubber grommet, which will eventually wear out. NOS ones of these are readily available for now, but i doubt any new ones are being made. so even the NOS ones sitting on shelves are now aging and have a limited lifespan. apparently, there is a version of the wico that has springs rather than grommets, but i've never found one of these available anywhere.

anyway, i'm going to give the wico a try. seems like the best choice for now.

another solution would be to find an oscar 4-way restrictor plate and use it with a happ super, perfect 360, etc. unfortunately, these are also no longer made. they also are not aesthetically pleasing, in my opinion.

[markrvp]

The best way to mount a reunion stick in a wood panel is RECESSED FROM THE TOP.  Check Pixelhugger's missioncontrol thread in Project Announcements or c64rulez Pacman Profile cabinet project to see how it's done.

[Kremmit]

Betson sells a Reunion with a longer shaft and a red balltop.  They sell it as the Space Invaders / Qix stick.  I don't think it's in their catalog, but you can call them and get it.

Here is the thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=24743.0

[destructor]

J-Stik from Ultimarc has excellent 4-way mode. I can reccomend it. For 4-way games I use this stick.

[RobotronNut]

Betson sells a Reunion with a longer shaft and a red balltop.  They sell it as the Space Invaders / Qix stick....

i forgot about that one. will give it a try.

[nostrebor]

Opinions only, but the two most popular choices you see here are:

1.)  Happ Ms.Pacman/Galaga reunion stick
2.)  Wico 4-way leafswitch

My list would be:

1.)  Wico 4-way leafswitch
2.)  Happ Ms.Pacman/Galaga reunion stick
 

[RobotronNut]

finally got my ms pac reunion sticks working nicely in my wood panel, using the tornadoterry shaft and a 1 3/8" mcmaster-carr threaded ball, as suggested by markrvp here.

for any joystick geeks out there, the top of the ball is about 2 3/16" from the surface of the 3/4" wood panel.

i also got one of the betson sticks (part # 47-9075-07). it's 2 11/16" from top of joystick base to top of ball, so it would be just under 2" in a wood panel.

[captainpotato]

J-Stik from Ultimarc has excellent 4-way mode. I can reccomend it. For 4-way games I use this stick.

I'll second this. It's also good for wood panels, as long as you route out a little on the underside of the CP.

[markrvp]

finally got my ms pac reunion sticks working nicely in my wood panel, using the tornadoterry shaft and a 1 3/8" mcmaster-carr threaded ball, as suggested by markrvp here.

for any joystick geeks out there, the top of the ball is about 2 3/16" from the surface of the 3/4" wood panel.

i also got one of the betson sticks (part # 47-9075-07). it's 2 11/16" from top of joystick to base to top of ball, so it would be just under 2" in a wood panel.

Most excellent!

[RobotronNut]

Most excellent!

as Senior Joystick Geek, your help was indispensible.

- RobotronNut (Joystick-Geek-In-Training)

[MythTrip]

In regards to 4-way sticks, anyone have the "CUSTOM 4 & 8 WAY BALL TOP "SUPER JOYSTICKS"
from Tornado Terry's site?  I'm interested in just the 4-way mode and I have a 3/4 inch MDF panel
on my MAME cab so I will need the extended shaft. 

Is the control tight?  I will be using it for games like Ms Pac Man, Dig Dug, Frogger and Donkey
Kong.   Thanks.