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Ultrastik 360 Octagonal Restrictor / Happs Concave vs. Convex Review
csa3d:
Last night I received my circular restrictors for the u360. My restrictors cam without instruction on how to install them, but with a quick trip to ultimarc.com, It was 90% clear. After beginning the retrofit, it only took me two wrong attempts until I figured out which end of the post went in the base, and in what order everything needed layered to work properly. I'll chalk one of those mistakes up to be too excited to install the parts too quickly.
Each kit comes with 4 metal posts. Now, these posts from a quality standpoint, are not what I'd consider timeless manufacturing. The post material is way too SOFT (aluminum perhaps?). This probably would not have been a problem, if the screw threads actually FIT the existing joystick base threads better.
I ordered 2 kits for my two sticks. The first stick, three of the four posts screwed into the base with hand power alone. The fourth hole required plyers to screw the post in far enough so the PCB mounting pegs all aligned properly. Not only do plyers chew up the post material, but I end up with a bent post. Thank heavens the post material is soft enough to bend back into alignment with your hands. The 2nd stick required all 4 posts to be screwed in with plyers. I was quite worried two of these posts were going to snap off in the base before screwing in far enough to actually support the PCB properly. I'm 100% convinced that given the effort it took to install these bases, that I will never be able to actually remove the posts and use the default plastic stand-offs nor the screws that came with the unmodified stick. Be prepared to make this a permanent part of your arcade experience.
After you finally get all your posts screwed all the way in without snapping any off, your next challenge is to get the PCB to mount on the opposite threaded ends of each post. With both of my kits/sticks, the PCB didn't just SLIP down over the 4 posts. As a matter of fact, gentle force isn't quite what I'd call it either. The first stick, I pushed hard enough to become concerned that that PCB was going to snap in half, chip, or something bad. You figure you've invested 100$ into the sticks/springs/handles/tops BEFORE even getting this kit.. it becomes scary thinking that you can mess this up in a number of ways, due to poor manufacturing.
Your best bet is to get a rounded file, or exacto knife, and try to scrape away some of the PCB holes to make seating the PCB a gentle process. I did this for the 2nd stick. The first one wasn't coming off after having it half way on. Now that your PCB's are over the posts properly, enjoy the cheap plastic "washers" which fit just about as good as the posts screwing into the base.
At the end of the day, and 1.5 hours later, I'm happy that everything works. The kits do exactly what I had hoped they'd do - shortening the throw of the sticks. I'm also an avid frogger fan, so the throw is just about perfect for said twitchy games. My only complaint thus far is that I now have to get used to a plasticy feel of the stick contacting the restrictor plate, which now feels cheeper then it originally did oddly enough. Should the restrictor be made of a harder metal, I feel that the stick wouldn't now feel as flimsy as it does. Maybe I'm being overly picky, but it's worth noting.
I hope others have a better installation experience then myself. Doing it over again, installation probably would have went better if you completely remove the stick from your control panel, and use vice grips with a soft padding when installing the posts. Then again, you probably just upped the potential to snap off the threads in the base permanently.
Happy moddin'
-csa
SailorSat:
As a side note:
I've used those white caps to screw the new posts in.
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote ---After you finally get all your posts screwed all the way in without snapping any off, your next challenge is to get the PCB to mount on the opposite threaded ends of each post. With both of my kits/sticks, the PCB didn't just SLIP down over the 4 posts. As a matter of fact, gentle force isn't quite what I'd call it either. The first stick, I pushed hard enough to become concerned that that PCB was going to snap in half, chip, or something bad.
--- End quote ---
Did you miss my advice above?
--- Quote ---I just had to screw the posts into each PCB hole before I installed them to widen the holes a little. (Do this a few times until the holes are widened enough for you to slide the screws in and out before installing.)
--- End quote ---
csa3d:
--- Quote from: GinsuVictim on June 27, 2008, 05:24:28 pm ---
--- Quote ---After you finally get all your posts screwed all the way in without snapping any off, your next challenge is to get the PCB to mount on the opposite threaded ends of each post. With both of my kits/sticks, the PCB didn't just SLIP down over the 4 posts. As a matter of fact, gentle force isn't quite what I'd call it either. The first stick, I pushed hard enough to become concerned that that PCB was going to snap in half, chip, or something bad.
--- End quote ---
Did you miss my advice above?
--- Quote ---I just had to screw the posts into each PCB hole before I installed them to widen the holes a little. (Do this a few times until the holes are widened enough for you to slide the screws in and out before installing.)
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
Yes, I didn't read the review section prior to installing. So w/o reading this post, I've recreated a flaw in the design of the posts. Since these are custom manufactured items, I see no reason why they weren't designed to fit the PBC which was meant to be seated on the pegs. Good tip, but in my mind it's still poor product execution. :dunno
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote from: csa3d on June 27, 2008, 05:45:59 pm ---
--- Quote from: GinsuVictim on June 27, 2008, 05:24:28 pm ---
--- Quote ---After you finally get all your posts screwed all the way in without snapping any off, your next challenge is to get the PCB to mount on the opposite threaded ends of each post. With both of my kits/sticks, the PCB didn't just SLIP down over the 4 posts. As a matter of fact, gentle force isn't quite what I'd call it either. The first stick, I pushed hard enough to become concerned that that PCB was going to snap in half, chip, or something bad.
--- End quote ---
Did you miss my advice above?
--- Quote ---I just had to screw the posts into each PCB hole before I installed them to widen the holes a little. (Do this a few times until the holes are widened enough for you to slide the screws in and out before installing.)
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
Yes, I didn't read the review section prior to installing. So w/o reading this post, I've recreated a flaw in the design of the posts. Since these are custom manufactured items, I see no reason why they weren't designed to fit the PBC which was meant to be seated on the pegs. Good tip, but in my mind it's still poor product execution. :dunno
--- End quote ---
Agreed.
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