Battlezone centering bellows

Steverd

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Since I got my new Battlezone working, I am not restoring the controls.
They are very floppy and do not center. So I started looking for some centering bellows. I just found out that Wizzes Workshop still has them in stock for $12. The web page was a little old looking, so I thought I would email first. I got a response within 24 hours.

http://www.wizzesworkshop.com/cart/product.asp?intProdID=19

Anyone else have these in their Battlezone?
 
I thought they felt fine. I put them in a BZ I sold to Demogo, so you can check with him on his opinion, since he's more of a BZ enthusiast than I was...
 
I thought they felt fine. I put them in a BZ I sold to Demogo, so you can check with him on his opinion, since he's more of a BZ enthusiast than I was...

Me too. I had them in one of three Battlezones and I couldn't tell the difference except the centered. :dunno:
 
Some folks say they're too stiff and have suggested drilling a few holes in them to help loosen them up. Perhaps they are a bit stiffer than what brand new ones felt like 30 years ago (or even aging NOS ones now). However isn't also possible that folks just got used to playing with aging/worn bellows over the years so any new replacement would feel too stiff?

Since it's the same bellow in Food Fight and Red Baron I searched the forums for threads on these and it seems that most are very pleased with these, but a few found them to be too stiff. At $11 each I say just buy extras and if you don't like the way they feel drill a few small holes in your extras until they feel right. Either that or step up to the plate and pay$60 each for NOS examples.
 
I thought they felt fine. I put them in a BZ I sold to Demogo, so you can check with him on his opinion, since he's more of a BZ enthusiast than I was...

They seem reasonable to me but I'd gone probably 30 years from playing my last BZ BITD so I don't have a lot to compare with. :)
 
I bought a pair of replacements from Tom (Wizzie's Workshop) and happened to have a second Battlezone with a good set of bellows in it to compare them to. I thought they were perfect and I think I'm picky about how arcade controls feel.

While replacing them, I also cleaned the joystick assemblies and re-lubricated them with plastic safe grease. It's also important to remove the old grease from the nylon ball and spring assembly in the base of the joystick, and re-lubricate those too.

If all that's done, then the stick feel will be excellent with either NOS or Tom's replacements.
 
I bought a pair and only replaced the one that was torn. The Wizzes bellow was a little stiffer but compared to how sloppy it had been with a torn bellows, there was not comparison.

On the other hand, I couldn't pull the left stick back and let the game go in circles while I went for a beer :(

ken
 
Some folks say they're too stiff and have suggested drilling a few holes in them to help loosen them up. Perhaps they are a bit stiffer than what brand new ones felt like 30 years ago (or even aging NOS ones now). However isn't also possible that folks just got used to playing with aging/worn bellows over the years so any new replacement would feel too stiff?


Hum didnt kow about drilling holes in them.. I put some of these in my BZ.. Thought they were too stiff, but they were way better than loose sticks.. I replaced them later with NOS bellows...
 
They seem reasonable to me but I'd gone probably 30 years from playing my last BZ BITD so I don't have a lot to compare with. :)

Yeah, I have no memory of how it felt BITD also. All I know is that now my controllers do not center at all. You push them forwards, they stay forwards, pull them back and they stay back!
 
Yeah, I have no memory of how it felt BITD also. All I know is that now my controllers do not center at all. You push them forwards, they stay forwards, pull them back and they stay back!


Steve they should work fine for you.. If you want you can compare them to my NOS...
 
Hum didnt kow about drilling holes in them.. I put some of these in my BZ.. Thought they were too stiff, but they were way better than loose sticks.. I replaced them later with NOS bellows...

I don't remember which poster it was, but someone who had previously said they were too stiff was satisfied after drilling a number of small holes in it. He didn't post a pic or share more info IIRC. As such I would advise using a small bit and drilling a limited number to start with ;).

Also, FWIW, I just confirmed with TomW yesterday that he still has these.
 
had a pair of wizzes in mine. Were too stuff until i drilled some small holes in them. But wiz is your only option, and we are lucky to have a guy still making this stuff legitimately.

FYI you can thank wiz for the first runs of mcr to standard brick power supply adapters.
 
I just got a set. Quick shipping and I think they feel great. Not sure if there as good as nos and don't care they work great and the price was right. Just my .02
Tony
 
My four arrived just a day ago. They look like they'll work just fine, but it will be another week before I receive a few parts I just ordered to finish the rebuilds.

I bought a pair of replacements from Tom (Wizzie's Workshop) and happened to have a second Battlezone with a good set of bellows in it to compare them to. I thought they were perfect and I think I'm picky about how arcade controls feel.

While replacing them, I also cleaned the joystick assemblies and re-lubricated them with plastic safe grease. It's also important to remove the old grease from the nylon ball and spring assembly in the base of the joystick, and re-lubricate those too.

If all that's done, then the stick feel will be excellent with either NOS or Tom's replacements.
Thanks for the tips Mike :D!
 
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