Sinistar 49 Way Joystick - Play Questions

JODY

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I have my Sinistar all working and adjusted but one thing bothers me. The 49 way joystick has quit a bit of play in it in the center position. I have looked at diagrams and photos online and it appears my joystick shaft is missing a retraining clip on the end. That does not explain the looseness though.

The Sinistar manual and photos I have seem online of original and reproduction spiders show a small round hole in the center of the spider and the joystick shaft going through it. The spider on mine has a square hole in the middle. The square is turned 45 degrees so it basically is a diamond shape. The shaft then has play in it and because of the diamond shape the amount of play is different depending on the direction of stick movement.

Anyone know if this is a reproduction spider and if so am I missing some part(s) that are supposed to be on the end of the shaft to get rid of the play? I know I'm missing at least a retraining clip. I was also missing a retraining clip on the end of one of the spider legs when I bought the machine and bought one at a hardware store.
 
The other strange thing about the stick is the lack of a recess at the end to put a retraining clip on. The stick is also missing a washer just above the spider.

Unless anyone has any ideas, I'm considering filling the diamond shape in the middle of the spider with silicone caulk then drilling a small hole in the middle for the stick. Except for the play due to the diamond shape, the spider seems fine. In searching I have not seen another example of a spider with a diamond shaped center.
 
Pictures?

This may have been a reproduction spider. The original ones have metal grommets on the 4 "legs" and in the center. They were normally grey or black.

I believe Wizzes Worksop made some repros a few years ago that were solid silicon rubber that were white.

Edit: just checked and he is still offering them:
http://www.wizzesworkshop.com/cart/product.asp?intProdID=20
sinictr.jpg


ken
 
I found Wizzes Workshop over the weekend and went ahead and ordered one. I'll post a pic when I take the existing spider off. The existing one is a dark red color. Hard to see anything now as it is still on the stick in the control panel. The other strange thing about the stick is there is no retainer ring on the end of the stick shaft for a retraining clip. Have not had issues with the spider slipping off on the bottom. If it ever does, I'll need to get a new stick or attempt to make a slot for a clip.
 
I received the repro and took a side by side photo of the old and new. I still need to get it off my camera and upload. After installing it, it broke playing the first game. Broke about the middle of the left arm. Anyone else have this experience?
 
This photo shows the original spider (reddish color) as well as the new repro (white). The first repro broke. Replaced it and on the second game almost doubled my previous high score. The first repro that broke seemed to be too stiff. The second is better. Compared to the original spider, the repro does not have the play in the middle so it is more accurate moving around in the game.

The original had the larger diamond in the center. Is a part missing from there?
 

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