Help tightening up a sloppy Galaga 2 way joystick

Radford119

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I just purchased a Galaga and noticed that the joystick had some play in it. I didn't see a centering grommet like the pac man joysticks to replace. How do I tighten up the action to make it feel new?

This is the first Galaga I have owned so I don't know if anything is missing that is making the stick loose. Does anyone know of any exploded parts diagrams to see what parts should be there? Thanks
 
Pretty sure those sticks center with thick steel "leafs" in the switch stack. And then there are rubber bump-stops to limit travel. It may have regular leaf switches on it. I don't know if proper replacements are available. I'm pretty sure I've seen a thread somewhere about this topic. Hit up google.
 
I believe Darren is correct. There is a steel return spring in the leaf stack. If those are bent the stick won't center correctly. It's best to buy new leaf switches with the steel return.
 
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While the return/tensioning leafs do wear out......my experience, the slop is usually caused by the pivot points wearing (same issue as Williams joysticks). There's a metal (round) pin that runs through the joystick's outer housing. Over time, this pin oblongs the connection points at the outer housing. To make matters worse, this pin also runs through a "U" bracket that the actual joystick shaft mounts to. This add two more piviot points for the pin to oblong out. Usually, it's this "U" bracket that takes most of the force. I only know of two "real" solutions......Deal with it (yeah, not really a solution), or replace the worn part(s). Here's new "U" brackets...
http://videogameparts.com/product.sc?productId=341&categoryId=55

Edward
 
While the return/tensioning leafs do wear out......my experience, the slop is usually caused by the pivot points wearing (same issue as Williams joysticks). There's a metal (round) pin that runs through the joystick's outer housing. Over time, this pin oblongs the connection points at the outer housing. To make matters worse, this pin also runs through a "U" bracket that the actual joystick shaft mounts to. This add two more piviot points for the pin to oblong out. Usually, it's this "U" bracket that takes most of the force. I only know of two "real" solutions......Deal with it (yeah, not really a solution), or replace the worn part(s). Here's new "U" brackets...
http://videogameparts.com/product.sc?productId=341&categoryId=55

Edward

20 bucks? I think I got my entire Galaga control panel for less than that. :D

I was looking at my spare joystick and even though there is rust I have to take care of mine exhibit no kind of slop. Is it vertical or in/out slop that is usually a problem?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
20 bucks? I think I got my entire Galaga control panel for less than that. :D

I was looking at my spare joystick and even though there is rust I have to take care of mine exhibit no kind of slop. Is it vertical or in/out slop that is usually a problem?

Basically, those nice round bushings that the pin goes through......they slowly turn from round, to egg shaped.....thus, giving a loose/sloppy feel (depending on how "egged out" the bushings are).

Edward
 
There's no need for anyone to fire up a lathe and make chips.

As I expected, the bushings couldn't be any more standard-off-the-shelf. They're 1/4" ID, 3/8" OD, 1/4" LG with a 1/2" flange OD. I pressed mine out without any difficulty. McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) sells these bushings for 62 cents each, item 6338K411.

Hate to see people ordering $20 parts due to a couple of cheap worn bronze bushings.
 
There's no need for anyone to fire up a lathe and make chips.

As I expected, the bushings couldn't be any more standard-off-the-shelf. They're 1/4" ID, 3/8" OD, 1/4" LG with a 1/2" flange OD. I pressed mine out without any difficulty. McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) sells these bushings for 62 cents each, item 6338K411.

Hate to see people ordering $20 parts due to a couple of cheap worn bronze bushings.


Thank you!!! Order placed.
 
notable derailment: since you mentioned that the same problem happens on Williams sticks, my Defender joystick wobbles up and down. is that a 62 cent fix too? :D

what would I need to fix that if need be? (part #)
 
notable derailment: since you mentioned that the same problem happens on Williams sticks, my Defender joystick wobbles up and down. is that a 62 cent fix too? :D

what would I need to fix that if need be? (part #)

Williams assemblies were made a little different. They didn't use brass bushings......the pivot pin rides on the actual metal housing...slowly elongating the round holes. ArcadeShop sells a nice Williams rebuild kit. It's $35.00, but you get a nice bit of stuff for that price.
http://www.arcadeshop.com/pics/williams-joystick-kit.jpg

Edward
 
notable derailment: since you mentioned that the same problem happens on Williams sticks, my Defender joystick wobbles up and down. is that a 62 cent fix too? :D

what would I need to fix that if need be? (part #)

I've never owned a Williams joystick, so I have no idea.

Ed says they lack bushings. It MAY be possible to drill out the hole and install a bushing, but there are a lot of IFs:

-IF there the bracket is wide enough
-IF there is clearance for the bushing flange and body
-IF the shaft will fit a standard bushing diameter
-IF you can hold the bracket on the proper hole axis while drilling it out

Might be easier to have someone fill the elongated hole with weld and then you can drill that out...
 
Old thread but I wanted to say thanks.

I replaced the brass bushings on my Galaxian joystick with ones that DarrenF listed. The stick was still a little loose until I put some plumbers tape at the end of shaft to keep it tight in the center hole of the bracket. Now it feels like a new joystick!
 
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