Williams Joystick Parts

D_Harris

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I'm working on a project for a friend and while going over my batch of joysticks from games like Joust, and StarGate I decide to see if it were possible to complete all of them.

I have 1/2 dozen bases and a lot of sticks, but was wondering if it was easy to get the proper size leaf switches as well as the metal strips which appear to be spring steel.

There is also what looks to be cardboard strips in between the metal strips and the leaf switches.

Lastly, there are the rectangular dust covers and "C" clips +bushing to keep the joysticks from pulling out.

Any thoughts on what is available and where would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York
 
I'm working on a project for a friend and while going over my batch of joysticks from games like Joust, and StarGate I decide to see if it were possible to complete all of them.

I have 1/2 dozen bases and a lot of sticks, but was wondering if it was easy to get the proper size leaf switches as well as the metal strips which appear to be spring steel.

There is also what looks to be cardboard strips in between the metal strips and the leaf switches.

Lastly, there are the rectangular dust covers and "C" clips +bushing to keep the joysticks from pulling out.

Any thoughts on what is available and where would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York

Arcadeshop has a rebuild kit for Williams joystick's.

williams-joystick-kit.jpg


I know they sell new joust sticks.. Not sure about the c clips or red ball sticks.
 
The parts shown in that picture are actually the parts I already have a lot of.

It's the other things I mentioned that I'm looking for.

I guess that the dust covers and the bushing above the "C"-clip can be made out of plastic. The "C"-clip itself is no doubt standard and can be sourced.

But there are metal strips that act as springs, and also what looks and feels like hard cardboard strips between those metal strips and the leaf switches.

(I already have a ton of joysticks for Joust, StarGate and Robotron).

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
Some of the joystick assemblies I'm referring to are in the pic below.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 

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For the cardboard strips, you could get 'fish paper' from The Pinball Resource.

As far as the spring steel pieces go, I've never seen these available repro or new. If there was a roundabout size that would work in most applications, but with no holes drilled, that would be nice..the holes could be drilled for different applications.
 
Arcadeshop has a rebuild kit for Williams joystick's.

williams-joystick-kit.jpg


I just installed this rebuild kit from Arcadeshop in my Stargate just last week. Worked like a dream - cleaned up all the sloppy play in the stick. I reused the Joystick, the c-clip and the leafs. The rebuild kit was worth every penny.

-Muel
 
Arcadeshop has a rebuild kit for Williams joystick's.

williams-joystick-kit.jpg


I just installed this rebuild kit from Arcadeshop in my Stargate just last week. Worked like a dream - cleaned up all the sloppy play in the stick. I reused the Joystick, the c-clip and the leafs. The rebuild kit was worth every penny.

-Muel

I 2nd that.. I used the kit in my Stargate and the joystick is tight. Totally worth the $.
 
The spring metal strips have never been reproduced AFAIK. There is an old operator hack that seems to work quite well. Basically, it goes like this, take an old hacksaw blade and cut it to the same length as the original spring steel. Drill the matching holes to secure it and then mount it just like the spring steel. It sounds like a hack (and it is) but the hacksaw blades are tempered spring steel and feel just like the original ones.

In the old 2 way joysticks, the part that wears are the pins on the square post that translates the joystick movements to the leaf switches. The round pins wear and the hole in the retaining frame wear as well. This accesntuates the sloppy feel of the joysticks.

The picture below shows moderate wear.

picture.php


ken
 
Thanks. The hack saw blade idea is good to know.

Any ideas on how much the opening at the top of the main housing contributes to slop as it wear larger over time?

I just noticed that I have two different kinds of leaf switches, and was wondering if two of the NOS ones I have are reproductions.

One uses the metal spring strip between the pivot arm and the leaf switches and the other uses smaller, weaker metal spring strips on the outside of the leaf switches.(See images).

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 

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