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Since Robotron sticks aren't readily available, what's the next best thing?

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jasonbar:
Thanks for all the helpful replies, guys.

Hhaase: thanks for the tip on huygens' B/S/T post.  We've been communicating & I just sent him paypal.  He can get me 3 complete 3.5" red ball sticks & 1 more minus the grommet.  There's a good deal on the grommets here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170447349603

FrizzleFried: My panel is wooden.  It started life as a SlikStik Quad before I pimped it.  My current 4-in-a-row set of sticks for games w/ double sticks sit a little low.  I'm used to it.

opt2not: Thanks for the Lizard Lick (ewww) link.  I forgot about them.  Took me a while to wade through that page, but I found the 4" sticks: Wico NOS 8-Way Microswitch Joystick, $24.95 each.  I'll see if those 4" shafts alone are available for purchase.

CheffoJeffo: all of this effort is in the name of playing Robotron & Smash TV properly (and a bit of occasional Total Carnage, Lost Tomb, & a couple others...).


Thanks,
-Jason

CheffoJeffo:

--- Quote from: jasonbar on March 16, 2010, 10:14:27 pm ---CheffoJeffo: all of this effort is in the name of playing Robotron & Smash TV properly (and a bit of occasional Total Carnage, Lost Tomb, & a couple others...).

--- End quote ---

 :applaud:

jasonbar:
Howdy-

Huygens came through with the goods--fast shipping, lots of spare parts, good stuff!

I got the goodies in the mail today & spent a while this eve soldering leads to them, fussing with the leafs to make them all symmetric & such.

Got 2 sticks installed tonight & played just a little Smash TV.  This is going to take some getting used to the feel of these sticks compared to the newer microswitch sticks that I was using (different ball size, throw distance, throw effort, diagonal zone size, etc.).

Do you have any recommendation for cleaning the leaf switch contacts & for adjusting them so that the throws & diagonal zones are all symmetric?  I imagine that leaf switches "drift" or "wear out" over time & need adjustment or replacement...?


Thanks,
-Jason

opt2not:

--- Quote from: jasonbar on March 19, 2010, 03:06:38 am ---Huygens came through with the goods--fast shipping, lots of spare parts, good stuff!

--- End quote ---
Funny, i've been having a PM conversation with him for the last few days, trying to get him to sell me those Wico parts rather than going through ebay where he listed them.  :-[ I hope the ones he sent you weren't the same ones.

He said he'd rather go through ebay, than make the sale directly to me! Where's the community love?!  :cry:
Ah well, we'll see in 5 days whether or not I can win this bloody auction, otherwise I'll have to keep looking.

--- Quote ---Got 2 sticks installed tonight & played just a little Smash TV.  This is going to take some getting used to the feel of these sticks compared to the newer microswitch sticks that I was using (different ball size, throw distance, throw effort, diagonal zone size, etc.).
--- End quote ---
congrats on getting the sticks regardless! Now you  must unlearn what you have learned with the microswitch ones. ;)


--- Quote ---Do you have any recommendation for cleaning the leaf switch contacts & for adjusting them so that the throws & diagonal zones are all symmetric?  I imagine that leaf switches "drift" or "wear out" over time & need adjustment or replacement...?
--- End quote ---
I'm assuming when adjusting them, couldn't you just bend the leafs slightly to center and widen?

RobotronNut:
the ultimate robotron joystick: happ P360, with kowal's mod, 4" wico shaft, and springs taken from happ supers. see the page linked in my signature line for lots details and links. also click here for a dissertation on robotron joysticks.

other simpler, cheaper, and usable alternatives i've tried:
  - ultimarc U360 with round restrictor
  - happ super

generally, the characteristics you're looking for are:
  - 8-way (or 49-way or analog)
  - round restriction
  - tight engagement (= small center "dead zone")
  - the right balance of diagonal vs up/down/left/right
  - not too much spring resistance

imho, if you're serious about robotron, you really should try the p360/kowal. the original wicos, with their leaf springs, can probably do as well if perfectly tweaked (and periodically re-tweaked), but i'd rather not fuss with them. the p360/kowal is as good as it gets, and is perfectly stable.

i don't know if kowal is still selling his mod, but if not, it's just a simple metal cylinder, which any good machine shop can make for you.

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