Replacing buttons on DK Jr.

misterted

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I have a DK JR. and I want to replace the buttons. Please tell me how.

I want to replace this:
DSC04269.jpg


With This:
DSC04270.jpg


But I cannot get the first assembly off the machine. Please tell me how I can remove it and install the new button with micro switch. I think I don't need that whole bracket, correct? I just can't get that thing off.


Next issue, I have the following joystick on it. Not sure if it's original or not but it blows and I need something that't tighter, this one is too loose. First off, is it original? If not, will an original perform better or should I go with something else that you would recommend?

DSC04272.jpg

DSC04271.jpg



Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Ted
 
Just remove that metal nut and the bracket and switch come off together, then push the old button housing out and the new one in. Although they might be different diameters it should still work.

As for the stick, its original, I personally like the loose Nintendo sticks, if you remove it I want Dibs..:D
 
Everything that you need is available at http://www.mikesarcade.com/

Nintendo Parts Page:
http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/...ategory=Game+Parts&subcategory=Nintendo+Parts

The joystick and the buttons are original. Most here would recommend that you keep both. Mike's Arcade sells new buttons and new switches to keep the Donkey Kong panel original. I don't believe that the microswitch button that you photographed will fit either. You will need to drill the hole out bigger. Drilling old plexi is a crapshoot....

He also has all the parts for the joystick to rebuild it back to original new. Or you can buy a complete replacement. Putting a different joystick in there would never look or feel right.
 
I'd recommend staying with leaf switches and staying with the original joystick. To replace the buttons you'll need to drill not only the CPO overlay but through the wood CP itself too. If the joystick is too loose, there is a "spring stopper" piece and a spring that you can probably replace to tighten it up some.

More info on the joystick here: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=83865

That said, if you do decide to go over to microswitch buttons, I need one of those nuts that is holding the leaf buttons in. I'd toss you a couple bucks to throw one in an envelope for me if you have time.
 
The current buttons installed and pictured are not original, they are the wrong color and they are micro switches, they just happen to use the original brackets. I just want the original colored buttons, I don't care how they work. That metal nut won't come out, I keep turning it and turning it and nothing.

I want to replace those buttons with the right colored ones that will fit without having to drill, somebody must sell those.

This joystick feels completely diffrerent from the last DK Jr. I had which also had an original joystick. This one is ridiculously loose.

Help!
 
The current buttons installed and pictured are not original, they are the wrong color and they are micro switches, they just happen to use the original brackets. I just want the original colored buttons, I don't care how they work. That metal nut won't come out, I keep turning it and turning it and nothing.

I want to replace those buttons with the right colored ones that will fit without having to drill, somebody must sell those.

This joystick feels completely diffrerent from the last DK Jr. I had which also had an original joystick. This one is ridiculously loose.

Help!


The Nintendo buttons are smaller than the normal buttons. Mike's arcade sells some that are sanded to fit. They go with the button holder that you currently have on the control panel. The button may not be original, but the holder/switch definitely is.

For the joystick, you need to rebuild it. Its probably the spring in the joystick. The 4-way restrictor looks okay from the pictures, but the new ones are great.

LMK if you have other questions... i may also have some of those parts (I know i have the button holders, restrictor plate, and misc joystic parts.
 
It would be a step backwards to stick a standard microswitch on that panel. Hell, I just paid 3x as much to replace the crappy miscroswitch buttons with stock Nintendo buttons on my Punch Out. You will NOT find a standard mircoswitch button that will fit in that panel without drilling or dremeling a bit. The stock buttons are a hair smaller in diameter than what is available in a standard microswitch.

As for the stick, get a new spring. Stick with stock. Any other stick on a Nintendo sucks IMHO.
 
It would be a step backwards to stick a standard microswitch on that panel. Hell, I just paid 3x as much to replace the crappy miscroswitch buttons with stock Nintendo buttons on my Punch Out. You will NOT find a standard mircoswitch button that will fit in that panel without drilling or dremeling a bit. The stock buttons are a hair smaller in diameter than what is available in a standard microswitch.

As for the stick, get a new spring. Stick with stock. Any other stick on a Nintendo sucks IMHO.

+ Eleventy Billion
 
The current buttons installed and pictured are not original, they are the wrong color and they are micro switches, they just happen to use the original brackets.

I want to replace those buttons with the right colored ones that will fit without having to drill, somebody must sell those.
Again, the buttons may not be the correct color, but the metal holder and the microswitch ARE original. That is what came in the Nintendo games originally. The buttons are available at the link I posted and should drop right in:

Buttons:
http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?sku=PBSET-TKG
 
That stick looks to be the short one from the Vs games.
The longer DK stick has a square end on the shaft like the one on the left.
attachment.php

I would just get buttons,long shaft with ball top and spring from Mikes Arcade and you should be good to go.
Take the joystick apart and clean all the old grease form the pivot ball area and put back together and it should work great.
As stated before only an original Nintendo stick feels right in a DK.
As for removing the broken button just grab it with pliers or channel locks and unscrew the pal nut.
 

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Hi everyone,

I just received the replacement spring for the joystick and I took it apart, put it back together and of course it now doesn't center and also it seems to be sitting too low so it doesn't actually touch the leafs that actuate the micro switches.
I obviously did something wrong.

I have the joystick itself, the collar, the spring, spring stopper and the piece that holds it all together.

The diagram from Mikesarcade isn't clear enough to show me what I'm doing wrong.

Can anybody help?

Ted
 
Hi everyone,

I just received the replacement spring for the joystick and I took it apart, put it back together and of course it now doesn't center and also it seems to be sitting too low so it doesn't actually touch the leafs that actuate the micro switches.
I obviously did something wrong.

I have the joystick itself, the collar, the spring, spring stopper and the piece that holds it all together.

The diagram from Mikesarcade isn't clear enough to show me what I'm doing wrong.

Can anybody help?

Ted

Ted,

I know its a pain, but can you please post some pictures of what it looks like now?

It would help a ton
 
Sure no problem.

Here is the same picture as in my first post in this thread only without the parts in it:
DSC04280.jpg



Here are the parts including the new spring:
DSC04281.jpg



Is this the order (and orientation) in which they are supposed to be inserted? I tried this and every other way and the end falls below the leafs. AAARRRGGGHHH!
DSC04282.jpg



Am I missing a piece? It worked before, poorly but it was seated correctly....


BTW- Thanks, I installed the new buttons.
 
Last edited:
Sure no problem.

DSC04282.jpg

Close. Take the three parts on the left (not including the joystick), and reverse them. Plate first, then spring, then collar, then c-clip.

Take a look at this picture:

DKCU-14-11.gif


BTW, the "ring" (TKG-23-20 above), goes inside the joystick "case" (TKG-23-16 above).

Hope that helps...
 
That did it, that diagram was much better in showing me where everything went.
It works now...thanks for the help I really really appreciate it.

If you get tired of rubbing your knuckles on the CP then get a long shaft stick #TMA 11-8.
 
Also, if it sticks a bunch, I've tried everything from silicon spray to bearing grease to lube it up and none of them has worked that well. What I've found that works best is to remove the joystick completely, take everything apart, simple green the crap out of it, hose it off thoroughly, dry with paper towel/cloth, blow dry it with a hair dryer or air compressor to remove all water and use liquid graphite like you use in a keyhole (home depot) for lube. You will have a perfectly functioning joystick after this, provided all of the parts are up to snuff.

-troy
 
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