Robotron joysticks.

BrokenTrace

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Hey all,

I just picked up a Robotron from another local collector and I'd like to replace the joysticks on it. I played one at the NW arcade show in the high score competition area that had these kick-ass black joysticks that were so responsive. Could anyone recommend a good, high-end joystick that would work in Robotron? I've been looking around and there are quite a few to choose from, I could really use some advice. Thanks.
 
The original joysticks that were in Robotron were 4" Wico leaf switch sticks. If that is what is in there, I would leave them and just adjust them to your desired responsiveness.

The contacts on the leafs need to be cleaned periodically. Do not ever use sandpaper on leaf switches. The contacts are gold plated and sandpaper (even 1000 grit) will take the gold off and they will begin to pit. Use a white business card or an index card. Place it between the contacts and press the button down and hold it. While the button is pressed, slide the card back and forth a few times. If the game was in a bar or other smoking area, you may need to put a drop of rubbing alcohol on both sides to help get the tarry junk off.

Once you are sure the contacts are cleaned, use a pair of needle nose pliers to adjust the contact gap to your desired sensitivity. More gap = less sensitivty. Less gap = more sensitivity. Always make sure the top leaf is making contact with the bottom of the button or the side of the joystick actuator. This will make sure that any button pressure is delivered to the upper leaf. If there is a gap between the upper leaf and the button plunger/actuator, this will translate into having to push the button/joystick further to make the connection.

If you are interested in the Sanwa type joysticks try http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/ the owner is a member here.

ken
 
Ken,

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to clean the switches today and see if that helps. I like to keep my machines as original as possible so hopefully I get better responsiveness from the joysticks after the cleaning. I think I'm going to get a couple of the sanwa joysticks from that website you mentioned too. Robotron's such a fast-paced game, it really ruins the gameplay if the joysticks aren't perfectly responsive.

Thanks,
Brian
 
That is why the leafs should not be bent at all when there is no tension, but instead they should be straight.

So never use pliers or anything to bend straight leafs closer to the joystick shaft, but instead position the straight leaf switches at the correct height so that they are in contact with the joystick when the joystick is centered. Only as a result of this should the leaf be under very slight tension.

This way a very short throw will activate the leafs, and the leaf will have a longer life. Positioning the leafs at the correct height may require proper shimming.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
The original joysticks that were in Robotron were 4" Wico leaf switch sticks. If that is what is in there, I would leave them and just adjust them to your desired responsiveness.

Agreed. If you have the original sticks, leave them in. There are a lot of people looking for the correct length red shafts (myself included).

Clean the contacts on the leafs by putting a piece of cardboard between the contacts and hold the the leafs together and rub the cardboard back and forth. Putting a LITTLE dielectric grease on the contacts after they're cleaned will help keep them from corroding again (so easily).

To adjust the responsiveness (as mentioned above), place shims under where you mount the leafs, just enough to get them where you want them. I actually go for a little bit away from the shaft as I get carried away when I play Robotron and there's NEVER an instance of me just barely moving the joystick... when I play that thing I'm yanking the joysticks to their extremes. So I just adjust them for good diagonals and a throw of about halfway on each axis (before contact is made).

It's all personal choice though, if you want to replace them with microswitches (ugggg...) then feel free to ship me those old joysticks. :D
 
I just picked up a Robotron from another local collector and I'd like to replace the joysticks on it. I played one at the NW arcade show in the high score competition area that had these kick-ass black joysticks that were so responsive. Could anyone recommend a good, high-end joystick that would work in Robotron? I've been looking around and there are quite a few to choose from, I could really use some advice. Thanks.

That was Ken House's Robotron. He is 'AtHomeTech' on KLOV. They are bat top microswitch sticks. Ken's a serious Robotron player and he prefers those to the originals as they hold up a hell of a lot better. The original Wico leaf sticks don't take as much punishment and have to be cleaned and adjusted constantly.
 
If I had another Robotron in my house I'd put Perfect 360's on it and call it a day! Those sticks do wonders for Robotron but the bat is a bit too short.
 
I saw a complete Robotron control panel go for over $100 on eBay just this past week. So I might throw mine on there pretty soon. :D (Or perhaps I should just sell the joystick assemblies).

I also have 4" ball-top shafts in black, dark blue, light blue, as well as red. I even have a pair of original NOS ones, as well as pink. (Of course, I'd never put pink joysticks on a Robotron).

My problem is that I'm still working on my unconventional "Super Williams" cabinet and for the Robotron control panel I'm still having a problem deciding what color I want to go with.

As for for the difficulty in keeping original joysticks maintained. Once some previous owner uses the wrong material to "scrub" the leaf switches clean, the thin plating is gone and you'll find yourself cleaning them very often depending on what is normal for humidity were you are. So then it is best to just get replacements leafs from Bob Roberts and install them.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
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Hey all,

I just picked up a Robotron from another local collector and I'd like to replace the joysticks on it. I played one at the NW arcade show in the high score competition area that had these kick-ass black joysticks that were so responsive. Could anyone recommend a good, high-end joystick that would work in Robotron? I've been looking around and there are quite a few to choose from, I could really use some advice. Thanks.

That was my Robotron at the show. Those sticks are actually X-Arcade joysticks that I modified the switches on and fixed the centering spring.

I'm glad you liked it. They are truely my favorite sticks and I have tried at least 6 sets including perfect 360's (the newer and older styles) short and tall wicos and old and new grommets. Those cheap @$$ X-Arcade ones really play right, the angles are right and with the switches fixed they are fast and responsive.

Forget all the talk about 'It needs wico leafs' or 'Those bat tops are lame'... The proof is in the gameplay.

-Ken
 
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I have a friend who has been playing MAME with microswitch joys, and thought it was great. Then came and played my original with the Wico's adjusted properly, and couldn't believe the difference (better) with mine vs his. He has since gotten an original Robotron of his own with Wico's...
 
I have a friend who has been playing MAME with microswitch joys, and thought it was great. Then came and played my original with the Wico's adjusted properly, and couldn't believe the difference (better) with mine vs his. He has since gotten an original Robotron of his own with Wico's...

Properly adjusted, clean wicos with real wico grommets are hard to beat, I'll admin. The short ones allow for very precise firing and movement. The issue is keeping them properly adjusted and clean. I have NEVER played one at a show that I didnt have to get the keys for and adjust.

Stock micos are AWEFUL for robotron. They are to slow, Thats why you have to modify them. if you don't want to mod them yourself, I believe these have been factory 'modified'.

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=309

-Ken
 
Thanks for chiming in about your sticks, that's the info I was looking for. I was hoping to avoid having to buy multiple sticks until I found a good one that worked right.

I stole some time yesterday to clean the Robotron control panel and joysticks. Man, were some of the leaf's tweaked and some pretty good grim chunks on some. A pile of dirty q-tips, paper towels and business cards later and the joysticks are much more responsive. They play great now, but after playing with those newer microswitch sticks, I like the feel much more and am sold on their responsivness.

Brian
 
Have you tried the Wico 360s? They can use the Wico ball top sticks.

The 360s Happ currently sells will also fit the Wico ball top sticks.

Also, the 360's have an optional sleeve that is made for wood control panels that raise the stick up ~1/2" if you find them to short.
 
The 360s Happ currently sells will also fit the Wico ball top sticks.

Also, the 360's have an optional sleeve that is made for wood control panels that raise the stick up ~1/2" if you find them to short.

They dont really fit. The original wico stick shaft is .375 (3/8") dia and the newer shafts are .390 (10mm). If you try and interchange they do not fit and are super sloppy.

A lot of so called NOS grommets for the wicos are not really NOS,, they are just repurposed from some other application and are 10mm thru hole. They why so may 'rebuilt' sticks are so awful.

-Ken
 
They dont really fit. The original wico stick shaft is .375 (3/8") dia and the newer shafts are .390 (10mm). If you try and interchange they do not fit and are super sloppy.

A lot of so called NOS grommets for the wicos are not really NOS,, they are just repurposed from some other application and are 10mm thru hole. They why so may 'rebuilt' sticks are so awful.

-Ken

Has Happ changed the 360 recently? It's been awhile since I have purchased some P360's, but the ones I have are not 10mm diameter sticks and were purchased from directly from Happ.
 
Has Happ changed the 360 recently? It's been awhile since I have purchased some P360's, but the ones I have are not 10mm diameter sticks and were purchased from directly from Happ.

I dont know, I have two sets. The older set has a round base where the sensors are and for a standard WICO top. Those are 3/8. The newer set are square base and look like a happ super on the top and are 10mm bat tops.

-Ken
 

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I dont know, I have two sets. The older set has a round base where the sensors are and for a standard WICO top. Those are 3/8. The newer set are square base and look like a happ super on the top and are 10mm bat tops.

-Ken

The Pic on the left is a P360 Joystick. The pic on the right is a P360 Kit. The P360 Kits were made for Supers, and other joysticks and replaced the microswitches. I have a NOS P360 Kit that replaces the Wico leafswitches.

So after your latest measurements, we are both in agreement that the Wico Balltops will fit the P360 Joystick?
 
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