Sloppy Star Wars Yoke - suggestions?

jehuie

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My SW has started to feel somewhat sloppy lately. I know there used to be yoke rebuild kits available but don't think they are being made any more. Anyone out there have one for sale?

Or would that be overkill? I also see this site: http://www.videogameparts.com/category.sc?categoryId=16

which lists a lot of parts for sale. But before I order a bunch of stuff I'd like to understand what I'm likely to really need. I can disassemble the thing and look but I'd rather not until I'm ready to start the rebuild or else I'll have a completely dead game. Thoughts from those who have been through this?

Edit: I just noticed that page I listed does have a rebuild kit...but it's expensive. You think it's necessary?
 
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Not saying they are, but those parts look like Ram Control parts. They may have bought inventory.

Most of the slop comes from the springs being shot, and the bushings being worn, as well as the shafts.

His parts kit doesn't show the bushings. The springs will help, but yeah those prices are high.
 
Well I've heard they are good kits aside from all the drama that was attached to them. But holy crap....just the 4 springs would be $40 through there. Plus shipping. It's worth that to get the game playing right but I'd rather avoid it if there is an alternative way to tighten up the game play.
 
Well the springs are only going to do so much. They recenter the yoke, and provide resistance to the movement. If they are sprung then you would see slop in the pitch, and rotate. It will feel like there is slack in the first bit of movement of the yoke. If your yoke springs back fairly well, and centers you might not have a problem.

You could always try to put a little more spring in the springs by putting them in a vice and twisting them. But that would only be temporary at best.

Before the Ram implosion, I got a complete rebuild kit for less than the price Videogameparts is asking for less than half of the parts.

Sad.
 
Well my problem is that the graphics on the screen seem to lag behind the movement of the yoke. Maybe bad pots?
 
Could be, but I think the a problem with the pots, would cause jumpiness.

I'm reviving a few year old post because I never got around to figuring this out but I'd like to revisit it. Ok....to clarify, the movement left and right seems fine. But when I move up or down it is indeed somewhat jumpy. Like it's just not tracking smoothly. It won't move and then all the sudden will jump an inch. Hard to control.

Does this sound like just a pot issue then? What pots should I order and how hard are these suckers going to be to replace?
 
I'm reviving a few year old post because I never got around to figuring this out but I'd like to revisit it. Ok....to clarify, the movement left and right seems fine. But when I move up or down it is indeed somewhat jumpy. Like it's just not tracking smoothly. It won't move and then all the sudden will jump an inch. Hard to control.

Does this sound like just a pot issue then? What pots should I order and how hard are these suckers going to be to replace?

may be a stupid question, but have you checked to make sure that the gears are in constant contact with each other? Maybe over time it got loose and is skipping every once in awhile?
 
may be a stupid question, but have you checked to make sure that the gears are in constant contact with each other? Maybe over time it got loose and is skipping every once in awhile?

Nope. I haven't disassembled it at all yet. I was hoping to be able to order anything I was likely to need before disassembling the thing so that I can take it apart and immediately put it back together. I gather they are rather complicated.

Sounds like I may just have to tear into it and see though. Anyone know what pots I need? I'll go ahead and get those at least.
 
Nope. I haven't disassembled it at all yet. I was hoping to be able to order anything I was likely to need before disassembling the thing so that I can take it apart and immback together. I gather they are rather complicated.

Sounds like I may just have to tear into it and see though. Anyone know what pots I need? I'll go ahead and get those at least.

The up and down gears are in the front part of the yoke. Just take the cage off the front and u will see the gears. Only need to take off four screws for the cage to get it off. Thats all u gotta disassemble to check the front gears.
 
You broke the 14 tooth gear mounted to the pot for up and down control. Replace it. There are new repros available for $15.00.
 
Awesome. Thanks guys, I ordered one. How hard is it to replace? Is it a 15 minute job? Or a hours long job? Should I order pots or any other new bits while I'm at it?
 
So my yoke is nice and tight with zero slop, but the axis is off center.
How do I center it without using up new parts?
 
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=170623&highlight=star+wars+centering

This might help. What is said in this thread is true, each time the game is powered up you need to turn the yoke to all the extreme limits to get the logic board to center the crosshairs.

I concur...mine sometimes comes up off-center at power-up, and all I need to do to fix it is to pull the crosshairs to each of the 4 corners of the screen, and that brings it right back to the center.

Easy fix...wish they were all as easy :) .

Jon
 
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