Rebuilding a Galaxian Joystick

[ChompingQuarters]

My galaxian Joystick is a little sloppy. What is involved w/ rebuilding this Joystick? Just a good cleaning and a new centering grommet? I know it's a 2 way game but everything looks pretty much like my Ms. Pac Man Joystick. Am I correct?

 

[modessitt]

Maybe. If the grommet looks broken, then that's why it's loose. A lot of times, though, 2-way joysticks stay tight and centered by the tension of the leaf switches on either side. You just need to inspect the mechanism, figure out what's handling the centering, and go from there....

 

[ChompingQuarters]

Thanks. I prematurely trying to come up with a plan... I just smacked myself back into "Hold on" mode.

Bill

 

[mspaeth]

My galaxian Joystick is a little sloppy. What is involved w/ rebuilding this Joystick? Just a good cleaning and a new centering grommet? I know it's a 2 way game but everything looks pretty much like my Ms. Pac Man Joystick. Am I correct?

I haven't seen an actual galaxian stick in a while, but I seem to remember it's got centering springs rather than a rubber grommet. Galaga and Williams 2-way sticks just have heavy spring steel added to the leaf switches for centering.

 

[DataSpa]

I know this is a very old thread but I thought I would contribute in order to save some frustration to those who may come to this link the future...

The galaxian two-way joystick from the upright arcade machine does not have a rubber centering grommet like the mrs. pacman machine does. Instead the joystick pivots right and left only and the only rubber components are a couple small rubber bumpers, one on each side of the joysticks maximum range that stop it from hitting the right and left metal sides. When people say "my galaxian joystick is sloppy" they are typically referring to the play that the joystick develops over the years in the up and down direction from standard wear and tear. Once the metal parts are worn away from years of use there is no simple fix (well, none that I have heard of). My solution was to cut a small block of 1/8" thick steel that fits inside the joystick mechanism and limits the movement of the joystick shaft to the right and left direction. This required cutting a 5/16" diameter slot in my piece of metal. Now the joystick can still travel in the full range right and left but will not be able to travel in the up-down direction.

Hope that helps!