question on wico grommet style red ball microswitch sticks

cleverlyj

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question on wico grommet style red ball microswitch sticks

so, i play a shitload of robotron and have to somewhat infrequently adjust the leafs in my red ball wico sticks, which are good, but the leafs are just wearing out.

so, i've seen various places online that are selling 8 way wico red ball joysticks that are microswitch sticks, but they use the same grommet type setup the leaf sticks use.

what's the quality of these like? being that they use the same grommets and springs that the leaf sticks use, i'd assume they feel the same. but can anyone chime in on this? also, is the clicky clicky of the microswitches in these loud and annoying, or not bad? if i used these, they'd be going in a wooden CP so that would slightly dampen the noise, but i'm kinda debating between throwing down the money on this, or buying all the parts necessary to rebuild my wicos.
 
so, i play a shitload of robotron and have to somewhat infrequently adjust the leafs in my red ball wico sticks, which are good, but the leafs are just wearing out.

so, i've seen various places online that are selling 8 way wico red ball joysticks that are microswitch sticks, but they use the same grommet type setup the leaf sticks use.

what's the quality of these like? being that they use the same grommets and springs that the leaf sticks use, i'd assume they feel the same. but can anyone chime in on this? also, is the clicky clicky of the microswitches in these loud and annoying, or not bad? if i used these, they'd be going in a wooden CP so that would slightly dampen the noise, but i'm kinda debating between throwing down the money on this, or buying all the parts necessary to rebuild my wicos.



These use all the exact same parts as the leaf joysticks except for the bottom plastic piece where the leafs mount (these have microswitches obviously) and the actuator (square instead of round). They do feel different, and they are clicky. If I can dig one up I could send it to you to try.
 
yeah, i found a site videogameparts.com or something like that that sells nos wico leafs, so i'm gonna pick up 8 from them... aside from that, i've already replaced the grommets, so i just need new springs and two new sticks (if mike's arcade still has them...) and i'll have two virtually new wicos.
 
yeah, i found a site videogameparts.com or something like that that sells nos wico leafs, so i'm gonna pick up 8 from them... aside from that, i've already replaced the grommets, so i just need new springs and two new sticks (if mike's arcade still has them...) and i'll have two virtually new wicos.

Leaf switches are cheaper from Bob Roberts.(And you might get a moon pie too). :D

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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Jim, leafs are shotgun slugs, and micros are .22 LRs. :rolleyes:
 
Both of the links were for button leaf switches. Not Wico joystick leaf switches. Both blades are the same length on the wico's. Just order the correct NOS Wico blades from Mylstar.

Actually it says that these can replace the Williams 2-way joystick leafs.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg

So the question is, what's the big difference between these leafs and the original ones on the Robotron Wicos that makes them incompatible.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
Actually it says that these can replace the Williams 2-way joystick leafs.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg

So the question is, what's the big difference between these leafs and the original ones on the Robotron Wicos that makes them incompatible.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Williams 2 way joysticks are not Wico sticks. Not even close. Wico leafs snap in and use a molded switch. These fiber switches are made to be screwed in to hold everything tight. Also the longer blade is going to be a problem on a 4/8 way Wico stick. The correct NOS switches are avaliable for only $1 more from Mylstar.
 
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Williams 2 way joysticks are not Wico sticks. Not even close. Wico leafs snap in and use a molded switch. These fiber switches are made to be screwed in to hold everything tight. Also the longer blade is going to be a problem on a 4/8 way Wico stick. The correct NOS switches are avaliable for only $1 more from Mylstar.

Ok, so what you're saying is that the ones Bob Roberts sells has blades that are too long for the Wico sticks.

Odd that Bob shows leaf switches on a 4/8-way Wico stick.(Leaf switches he says he makes himself).
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/joyleafs.html

Securing them would not have been an issue, because you have to cable tie them anyway.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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Ok, so what you're saying is that the ones Bob Roberts sells has blades that are too long for the Wico sticks.

Odd that Bob shows leaf switches on a 4/8-way Wico stick.(Leaf switches he says he makes himself).
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/joyleafs.html

Securing them would not have been an issue, because you have to cable tie them anyway.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

No. What I am saying is the link you provided is incorrect for the Wico sticks.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg


Bob may make a replacement but they are not listed for sale on his site that I can see. And to quote Bob on them "but they need to be secured in place" with cable ties.

You don't need to secure the original wico switches with cable ties.

My point is why try to make something else work for $4 each when you can get the NOS Wico parts for $4.99 each.
 
No. What I am saying is the link you provided is incorrect for the Wico sticks.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg


Bob may make a replacement but they are not listed for sale on his site that I can see. And to quote Bob on them "but they need to be secured in place" with cable ties.

You don't need to secure the original wico switches with cable ties.

My point is why try to make something else work for $4 each when you can get the NOS Wico parts for $4.99 each.

Actually I posted two links, but Bob is out of the original Wicos: http://www.therealbobroberts.net/wmsleaf.jpg

And then a third that shows the leafs on the Wico. And they are listed for sale. Why would you think otherwise? The prices are there.

And they look to be the same size as the ones in the first link I gave.

Also you said that both blades on the Wicos are the same size. Not on mine or what Bob 's site shows.

And according to Bob, he recommends cable tying the original switches also if the mounts have loosened. Not just the reproductions. I see no problem with cable ties either way.

The bottom line is that he does make switches for the Wico joystick base used in Robotron.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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Wow. Your not going to let this go.

LOOK AT THE FIRST LINK YOU POSTED.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/wmsleaf.jpg

What does the picture say. USED WM's BUTTON Leaf Switch.

Where does it say it is a WICO Joystick Switch? This is a USED Switch for the wooden Williams control panel that was used for BUTTONS. THIS WILL NOT FIT ANY WICO STICK. It is too tall

Second Link you posted.

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg

What does it say? "For use with standard leaf BUTTON holder. Can replace WM's 2 way joystick leafs"
Williams 2-way joysticks are NOT Wico's. They are a metal housing joystick like used on Joust and Stargate.


Nothing in either link says Wico on it.


And the 3rd link
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/joyleafs.html

These are $4.50 each. This is not the way to go when NOS Wico parts are avaliable for only 49 cents more.



Actually I posted two links, but Bob is out of the original Wicos: http://www.therealbobroberts.net/wmsleaf.jpg

And then a third that shows the leafs on the Wico. And they are listed for sale. Why would you think otherwise? The prices are there.

And they look to be the same size as the ones in the first link I gave.

Also you said that both blades on the Wicos are the same size. Not on mine or what Bob 's site shows.

And according to Bob, he recommends cable tying the original switches also if the mounts have loosened. Not just the reproductions. I see no problem with cable ties either way.

The bottom line is that he does make switches for the Wico joystick base used in Robotron.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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Wow. Your not going to let this go.

LOOK AT THE FIRST LINK YOU POSTED.
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/wmsleaf.jpg

What does the picture say. USED WM's BUTTON Leaf Switch.

Where does it say it is a WICO Joystick Switch? This is a USED Switch for the wooden Williams control panel that was used for BUTTONS. THIS WILL NOT FIT ANY WICO STICK. It is too tall

Second Link you posted.

http://www.therealbobroberts.net/fibersw.jpg

What does it say? "For use with standard leaf BUTTON holder. Can replace WM's 2 way joystick leafs"
Williams 2-way joysticks are NOT Wico's. They are a metal housing joystick like used on Joust and Stargate.


Nothing in either link says Wico on it.


And the 3rd link
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/joyleafs.html

These are $4.50 each. This is not the way to go when NOS Wico parts are avaliable for only 49 cents more.

What's wrong with me me trying to find out why certain "button" leaf switches wouldn't work in a Wico joystick?

You're concentrating too hard on the first two links. You already said what you had to about them.

But you cannot dismiss the third link. I only gave it as an option, which is what it is. You cannot arbitrarily dismiss it just because you wouldn't use it.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
i just wish all these leafswitches and parts weren't so expensive. between these leaf switches, new grommets, springs, and the new sticks i'll probably get, i'll have almost $100 into two joysticks.
 
i just wish all these leafswitches and parts weren't so expensive. between these leaf switches, new grommets, springs, and the new sticks i'll probably get, i'll have almost $100 into two joysticks.

?!?

In that case I'll sell you a complete Robotron control panel. Shipped for $80. :D

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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