Spy Hunter steering question

[demogo]

Hey guys,

My Spy Hunter steering on my upright game is feeling like it needs lubrication somewhere. It makes kind of a "whoo" rubbing sound when you move the steering wheel back and forth. If I push in on it slightly as I move it back and forth, the "whoo" rubbing sound stops so this is definitely rubbing, not the springs.

Anyone taken these apart before and have any suggestions? I'm apprehensive because the wiring inside will be a PITA to get back correctly and everything works great now.

I have dripped a few drops of lubricant on the shaft of the steering wheel that worked so well for my Star Trek spinner but it did nothing.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[demogo]

Bump bump.

 

[Salerno2442]

Steering

Open the control panel, flips open in front on chain. In the back you will see some gears attached to the shaft. Make sure the small gear attached to the pot is properly adjusted. Lubricate as needed.

I just rebuilt my CPO. I'll take pictures if you need them.

Hopefully this fixes your issue.

 

[demogo]

I don't think the groaning sound is coming from the little gear; it sounds like it's coming from somewhere in the metal "cone" near where the springs are. It's really hard to tell exactly where it's coming from but it sounds like metal is touching metal.

I believe I tested it once with the springs disconnected and it did the same thing so it can't be the springs.

 

[demogo]

Bump. Am I the only one who has ever had this issue with Spy Hunter?

 

[Salerno2442]

When I repaired my CPO I removed the steering wheel shaft and wiring. The wiring was not that difficult to replace but driving the steering wheel shaft back through the mount was not fun....

Do you have the black plastic grommets that go in the holes that the springs attach to? If not maybe the springs are causing the metal to metal sound.

 

[demogo]

When I repaired my CPO I removed the steering wheel shaft and wiring. The wiring was not that difficult to replace but driving the steering wheel shaft back through the mount was not fun....

Do you have the black plastic grommets that go in the holes that the springs attach to? If not maybe the springs are causing the metal to metal sound.

Yeah, the grommets are there. And at one point I removed the springs entirely to see if that was the problem.

This must be an unusual problem because no one else has chimed in.

 

[TSB]

Yeah, the grommets are there. And at one point I removed the springs entirely to see if that was the problem.

This must be an unusual problem because no one else has chimed in.

I've got one that made noise, but it's tough to tell by your description if they are the same type of noises. Can you post a video of it making the noise?

 

[demogo]

Okay, here's the video. Ignore the click of the springs, it's always done that and I assume that's normal. The groaning sound is what I'm concerned about and it's much louder with the CP down.

You can still hear it with the CP up where it can be played but it's not as bad. If I push in on the steering wheel while I turn it, the sound almost goes away. It sounds like metal on metal to me but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Salerno2442]

I do know in two locations on the shaft there are white neoprene rings that go between the silver cone at top and bottom. These may be worn which would allow metal to metal to touch. You can find the manual online for a picture.

 

[demogo]

I'm guessing that I'm gonna have to take the entire thing apart to see what's going on?

 

[demogo]

I guess unless someone else chimes in with helpful info, I'd better start studying the diagrams in the manuals as to how they're put together.

I'm REALLY not looking forward to this. (Sigh).

 

[demogo]

OK,

After a couple of years of procrastinating, I had this afternoon off and decided to tackle this project.

First of all, a big thank you to Jacklick and his thread here where he shot video of himself putting the entire steering mechanism back together after taking it apart. I was apprehensive about taking it all apart, then I read comments from people that said it was an awful experience and that made me even more skittish. Jacklick got me over that:

https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=394255&highlight=spy+hunter+control+panel

So the problem was a "groaning" sound like metal rubbing on metal when I turned the wheel so I started with the assumption that the metal shaft was rubbing somewhere and I took everything apart after snapping pictures. The metal shaft ended up looking like this:

You can see wear marks near the top and the bottom of the shaft. I didn't see wear marks anywhere else so I assumed this was just a case where some lubrication was needed. I grabbed my trusty needle tip lubrication pen that Sam Verlander recommended for my Star Trek spinner and generously lubricated the areas that showed wear.

After a false start where I forgot to put the white washer back on the shaft, I put everything back together and rotated the wheel back and forth to distribute the oil.

That was it! No more groaning; the wheel is now buttery smooth when I turn it!

I'm posting this here in case this helps someone else in the future. Who knows, maybe 15 years from now when I've forgotten all this, I'll refer back to the thread myself.

The key takeaway: it's not that difficult of a job. Don't be scared of it. Take pictures and watch Jacklick's video and you'll be good.

 

[lgsteelers]

I'm posting this here in case this helps someone else in the future. Who knows, maybe 15 years from now when I've forgotten all this, I'll refer back to the thread myself.

The key takeaway: it's not that difficult of a job. Don't be scared of it. Take pictures and watch Jacklick's video and you'll be good.

almost 6 years later and still useful thanks!

 

[demogo]

I'm glad that helped, and OMG, I can't believe that was 7 years ago already. Time sure flies.