Battlezone joystick centering bellows

hatrick

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Looks like there are two choices out there for these. Ram-Controls and Wizzes Workshop. Anyone have experience with either of these to make a reccomendation?
Are they sold individually or as a pair? Both sites aren't very clear on this.
 
ram controls much more closely resembles the original.

i tried the wizzes workshop ones and was honestly not too impressed with the final feel of them as wall as visual quality..


Ill put it this way, if i get another bz or red baron, i will be getting them from daviea
 
I've tried the Wizzes ones and thought they felt great. People talk about drilling small holes in them to give them a little looser feel, but I thought the firm feel was great and didn't change them. Others have played on it and not noticed a thing.

Of course, Dave didn't have his available at the time....
 
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I'd like the Ram Controls ones for my BZ but I sure hope they aren't $30ea. If that's the case the Wizze's seems to be the way to go at $11ea (or is that for a pair).

- Mike
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I ended up ordering from Wizzes Workshop. Having paid $125 for the entire Battlezone game, I couldn't see spending half that on just the bellows from Ram Controls, although they appear very nice.
 
RAM controls don't have any stock at the moment any way.

Well, I am yet to receive them anyway


EDIT: Ram Controls sent them, received, done, dusted (Yellow prototype, new design wasn't in stock)
 
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Why is it you are the only one that feels great about the feel of these? I've read on at least 3 threads where your the only one to say - these are great! I'd really like to know how many holes need to be drilled and what diameter to make them feel as the original bellows have. Obviously these are not GREAT. they work. So please stop the praises of what just works. Because that which works, great it does not make.

I've tried the Wizzes ones and thought they felt great. People talk about drilling small holes in them to give them a little looser feel, but I thought the firm feel was great and didn't change them. Others have played on it and not noticed a thing.

Of course, Dave didn't have his available at the time....
 
Jeff F in this thread said he thought they felt great, too. Demogo has my BZ now, so ask him what he thinks.

I personally think so many people are used to the sloppy feel of a broken one, and have problems adjusting to the tightness of new ones, so they modify it to something closer to what they had before, but with centering action.

Here's a thread where THREE separate people (besides me) say they feel great on their games, before ONE person mentions drilling holes:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=94874

I think it comes down to personal preference, and if you like it looser, then good for you...
 
I'd personally use any bellow as long as it makes the joystick return to center.

I am curious when Dave from RC plans on actually getting some in stock.
 
Jeff F in this thread said he thought they felt great, too. Demogo has my BZ now, so ask him what he thinks.

I personally think so many people are used to the sloppy feel of a broken one, and have problems adjusting to the tightness of new ones, so they modify it to something closer to what they had before, but with centering action.

Here's a thread where THREE separate people (besides me) say they feel great on their games, before ONE person mentions drilling holes:

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=94874

I think it comes down to personal preference, and if you like it looser, then good for you...

Add me to the list....I like them...no holes necessary.

Edward
 
I was lazy and only put one in to replace the broken one and there is a huge difference in feel between the original ones and the Wizz's ones. I'd love to get a set of Dave's (Ram Controls) ones and do the same thing (one of each) to see how they feel.

Overall, it is probably less important which ones you use as long as you match them up and replace both at the same time.

ken
 
I was lazy and only put one in to replace the broken one and there is a huge difference in feel between the original ones and the Wizz's ones. I'd love to get a set of Dave's (Ram Controls) ones and do the same thing (one of each) to see how they feel.

Overall, it is probably less important which ones you use as long as you match them up and replace both at the same time.

ken

Yes, I agree with this. They both have to be replaced at the same time.

Edward
 
To be honest, I'm not sure how the original ones were originally supposed to feel because... well... they stopped making them ~25 years ago.

I can tell you the six BZ sticks I've taken apart in the past year all had ripped bellows so whoever played those machines before I did played them with very loose sticks.

IMHO, the Wizz bellows are fantastic in BZ. Our Red Baron is a different story because the stick is way too stiff right now... I can't say it's the bellow though because I also rebuilt it with a NOS upgrade kit so it may be tight because of that. It's not impossible to play it just needs some looseness to make it more fun.
 
I guess I'll try them with no holes first. I know my spring tension on Berzerk really gives you a workout, so I have some experience with control tension. With Berzerk however, it's a bit dangerous as you can actually pull the machine back on yourself. Maybe not dangerous for me, but for smaller ppl or children.
 
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