Buttons Newb Question

Steve W

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Would it be possible for one of the fine folks out there to direct me to the item(s) I need off Bob Roberts site...I would like to replace the old larger abrasive feeling buttons that seem to get stuck in the pushed down position on my Elevator Action (Wild Western cab conversion I believe) with some new smoother, not as raised buttons that make that clicking sound when you push them down. Are these the leaf-switch buttons I need? Any help would be appreciated. The buttons on the panel are, by design, spread so far away from one another that I need the buttons that take less strength to press down. Thanks. Oh and assuming I have the right size replacement buttons for the Taito EA CP, I assume it's a really easy swap?
 
Can you open the control panel and take some quick pics of the buttons and their wiring, both from the top and bottom of the control panel?

That will really help.

RM
 
You are looking to replace the nice Leaf Switch buttons you currently have in your Elevator Action with crappy microswitch buttons? Why? I'd recommend you simply remove your current buttons, clean them with alcohol and then try them. If they are still too stiff for your liking, you can adjust the stiffness by (A) adjusting the leaf switch itself or (B) remove the spring in the button.

If you absolutely must replace the nice leaf switches you have with crappy microswitch buttons, that's what you're looking for... microswitch buttons... they will fit.
 
You are looking to replace the nice Leaf Switch buttons you currently have in your Elevator Action with crappy microswitch buttons? Why? I'd recommend you simply remove your current buttons, clean them with alcohol and then try them. If they are still too stiff for your liking, you can adjust the stiffness by (A) adjusting the leaf switch itself or (B) remove the spring in the button.

If you absolutely must replace the nice leaf switches you have with crappy microswitch buttons, that's what you're looking for... microswitch buttons... they will fit.

Just to clarify for the OP, "nice" and "crappy" = FrizzleFried's opinion, rather than an objective assessment.

Personally I don't have a preference between the two types of buttons, so I just go with whichever type the machine originally came with; i.e., I wouldn't put leaf-switch buttons on my SFII machine, and I wouldn't put microswitch buttons on my Ikari Warriors.

And I agree that sticking buttons indicates that they need to be removed, disassembled, and thoroughly cleaned.
 
I would definitely go with the cleaning first. I was going to order a new set of buttons for my Asteroids UR that was in a barn for nine years. It took me a couple of hours, but they turned out really good and believe me they were nasty.

Another opinion I have is against putting microswitch buttons in a game that didn't have them. I'd stick with the leaf switch ones. They are really easy to adjust too.
 
You are looking to replace the nice Leaf Switch buttons you currently have in your Elevator Action with crappy microswitch buttons? Why? I'd recommend you simply remove your current buttons, clean them with alcohol and then try them. If they are still too stiff for your liking, you can adjust the stiffness by (A) adjusting the leaf switch itself or (B) remove the spring in the button.

If you absolutely must replace the nice leaf switches you have with crappy microswitch buttons, that's what you're looking for... microswitch buttons... they will fit.

Quite honestly is I play the game for score and I've found that when I've played it with the microswitch I tend to play better because I play with my hand on both the fire and the jump buttons but they are so far apart that I can only use my pinky finger on the jump and the more raised buttons seem much harder to depress without a lot of strength being executed. Maybe I just need to clean them as suggested. I've played the game with the microswitches though and felt much more comfortable.
 
Quite honestly is I play the game for score and I've found that when I've played it with the microswitch I tend to play better because I play with my hand on both the fire and the jump buttons but they are so far apart that I can only use my pinky finger on the jump and the more raised buttons seem much harder to depress without a lot of strength being executed. Maybe I just need to clean them as suggested. I've played the game with the microswitches though and felt much more comfortable.

The amount of pressure required to trigger the button is impacted by how clean it is, the adjustment of the leafs on the bottom, and the presence of any springs and their tension inside of the buttons.

I would be very surprised if you could not get the existing buttons dialed in to exactly where you want them... It will only cost you a little time to try. If you don't end up not liking it still, order up some of the microswitch buttons. :)
 
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Not to thread hijack too much, but how do you remove leaf switch buttons from a control panel (specifically Donkey Kong). I see how to pop off the C clip to remove the plunger part of the button, but how do you remove the other part? The only thing I can see is to unscrew them from the CP, but they're in there tight and there's nothing to really grab ahold of.
 
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