Properly adjusting Track & Field leaf switches

debaser138

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
1,029
Reaction score
64
Location
Grand Rapids, Michigan
I have a friend with a dedicated Track & Field upright cabinet that I recently installed all new buttons and leaf switches for him as the person he bought it from had put all micro switches in it. Obviously that wasn't going to cut it.

I'm wondering what is the best spacing to use between the contacts on the switches to get the optimal performance. I bought all new buttons and leafs from Bob Roberts and I'm using the two spacers that were included to mount the plastic assembly to the metal control panel. With this setup, the longer leaf switch doesn't even rest on the bottom of the button. I've adjusted the smaller leaf to make a very small gap between the two contacts but my friend said he's not getting the performance he should. Perhaps the gap needs to be wider. I would be very interested in seeing some pictures of how good players of Track & Field have their leaf switches adjusted.

My friend has one of the top 10 scores on Twin Galaxies for this game so obvious he is a good player but he says the leaf switches are not working as well as they should.

Thanks.
 
no help here, but I would be interested as well. I am bout to restore my hyper sports and it has micro's as well. I got some new bob roberts leafs, and I have struggled to have them adjusted perfectly on the track and field restore I did.
 
I bought all new buttons and leafs from Bob Roberts and I'm using the two spacers that were included to mount the plastic assembly to the metal control panel. With this setup, the longer leaf switch doesn't even rest on the bottom of the button. I've adjusted the smaller leaf to make a very small gap between the two contacts but my friend said he's not getting the performance he should.

Can you grab a pic of the current setup on the one you're working on ?

The leaf closest to the button should be right close to the button without having to bend it any. Generally I only adjust the leaf furthest from the button.
I set most of my leafs at about 1/16" - 3/32" gap or so.

Small gap, quick response, only requires light touch to activate switch.
Larger gap, slower respoanse, requires more finger force to activate switch.
 
Keep in mind that not all plastic buttons are created equal. The difference between button profiles and finishes drives me crazy during restorations; nothing like buying a bunch of short white buttons that look correct, only to receive something totally different.

There are versions that have very poor action with stiff springs, the plastic is milky soap-like instead of the solid gloss of the originals. The edge of the button plunger is sharper than the rounded originals. Unfortunately, these seem to be the type most often stocked.

Whenever possible, I use original buttons because just about every replacement leaf button I've bought in the past several years is crap. FWIW, for a very short time Arcadeshop had perfect versions, but they said the vendor couldn't supply them any longer.
 
also, it depends on the player. If they're a very light button tapper, then you want the gap very close. if they actually manage to let the button all the way off between presses, then a bit more of a gap is ok. I tweaked mine to where i like it, and i can tell you, its a personal taste kinda thing. Mine are set so that they contact at the bottom of the button travel. If i set them closer i don't get off the button enough between presses to make them break contact, and i lose speed. I'm a long way from being consistent, and i'll never compete with Fly, but if i had a game with all my top scores, i'd be in the top 10 i think.
 
Hey debaser. another Pixies fan here.

My guess would be that both leafs need to be bent up so that contact would be made at the beginning of the stroke. He may be a light button presser.

Hopefully, I am wrong. Then someone who really knows will step with the true answer.

I honestly do not know how to adjust leafs. I just have a bunch of them.
 
you need to open the buttons and put a small washer inside to limit the buttons travel. That will get you the performace your looking for.. Then adjust leafs to match the limited range.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. The weather has been so nice all my free time has been spent working outside around the house.

With a game like Track & Field, alot of it depends on how the player presses the buttons. My friend uses a technique where he is using three fingers on each button and almost scratching at each one very quickly. We will just have to experiment to see what kind of gap we need for his game play.
 
Back
Top Bottom