Hey guys,
I had faulty microswitch in my candy caps 2p stick. I got it fixed and thought I'd post on some observations in case anyone else finds them selfs in the same bind.
The 29inch candy cab I have has differenct japanese sticks than the ones that ultimarc sells, the mounting brace has two levels to it ( kind of stair stepped) in my cab and the ultimarc sticks are flat. The mounting hardware on the cab is welded to the machine so I was out of luck on just replacing the sticks out right.
I tracked the problem down to two things. One, the sticks was really dirt and this was causing a slight catch in the firball motion.
two, one of the four microswitches would only send a signal once in four tries. After taking the swithc apart and trying to clean it up and having this fail at solving the problem I went to plan B.
I ordered a set of four new switches from happs thinking I could just replace the japanese ones and be done with it.
The issue with this solution, turns out that the japanese sticks seem to have less tension in the spring of the stick and more in the tension of the actual micro switch. This is the reverse on an american stick. The stick is all spring tension and the switch is pretty weak in its resistance.
The end result, a japanese stick with american microswitches was a really loose stick. to loose for my tastes, and way to sensitive. I could bend the switch arms for the sensitvity issue, but I couldn't get the stick tension I wanted.
I eventualy was able to cannibalize a japanese stick for its switches and all was right with the world. I haven't found a place that sells the japanese switches alas.
I think if shawn was able to sell japanes arcade parts he'd find a niche market that isn't being serverd...or maybe not...
in any case, maybe this will help someone.
I had faulty microswitch in my candy caps 2p stick. I got it fixed and thought I'd post on some observations in case anyone else finds them selfs in the same bind.
The 29inch candy cab I have has differenct japanese sticks than the ones that ultimarc sells, the mounting brace has two levels to it ( kind of stair stepped) in my cab and the ultimarc sticks are flat. The mounting hardware on the cab is welded to the machine so I was out of luck on just replacing the sticks out right.
I tracked the problem down to two things. One, the sticks was really dirt and this was causing a slight catch in the firball motion.
two, one of the four microswitches would only send a signal once in four tries. After taking the swithc apart and trying to clean it up and having this fail at solving the problem I went to plan B.
I ordered a set of four new switches from happs thinking I could just replace the japanese ones and be done with it.
The issue with this solution, turns out that the japanese sticks seem to have less tension in the spring of the stick and more in the tension of the actual micro switch. This is the reverse on an american stick. The stick is all spring tension and the switch is pretty weak in its resistance.
The end result, a japanese stick with american microswitches was a really loose stick. to loose for my tastes, and way to sensitive. I could bend the switch arms for the sensitvity issue, but I couldn't get the stick tension I wanted.
I eventualy was able to cannibalize a japanese stick for its switches and all was right with the world. I haven't found a place that sells the japanese switches alas.
I think if shawn was able to sell japanes arcade parts he'd find a niche market that isn't being serverd...or maybe not...
in any case, maybe this will help someone.