WTB - Battlezone Parts - Joystick Rods and Joystick Bezels

Cuda

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2011
Messages
1,410
Reaction score
169
Location
Olathe, Kansas
Rating - 100%
50   0   1
WTB - Battlezone Parts - Joystick Rods and Joystick Bezels

I need 4 of the Rods in the picture below, they hold the ball on the Joystick in a Battlezone. I could use other parts but really like these rods best if I can find some.

I also need a new harness for the control panel.

Found a Harness, now just need a couple of Bezels with all 4 screw pegs left on them.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3459.jpg
    IMG_3459.jpg
    568.8 KB · Views: 26
Last edited:
I need 4 of the Rods in the picture below, they hold the ball on the Joystick in a Battlezone. I could use other parts but really like these rods best if I can find some.

I also need a new harness for the control panel.

I found the Harness thanks to a super generous KLOV member. People on here restore my faith in the good of people willing to help other people.

Newthing34 is an awesome person.
 
can i get a better picture on shafts. I believe i still have some if they match up. picture is blurry.
 
Every BZ stick I've refurbed has had roll pins to hold the balls on the shafts. They are hollow pins with a split down the side, which can be compressed and inserted into a hole. (It's basically a C-shaped piece of metal, rolled very tightly.)

Some sticks have a single long one (which is harder to remove and insert), while others have two shorter ones, that go in from each side. But either will work.

They are a fairly common part, and you might even find them at Home Depot, or possibly an auto parts store.
 
Every BZ stick I've refurbed has had roll pins to hold the balls on the shafts. They are hollow pins with a split down the side, which can be compressed and inserted into a hole. (It's basically a C-shaped piece of metal, rolled very tightly.)

Some sticks have a single long one (which is harder to remove and insert), while others have two shorter ones, that go in from each side. But either will work.

They are a fairly common part, and you might even find them at Home Depot, or possibly an auto parts store.

Yes i can find the smaller ones with the splits at the hardware store, but I prefer the original rods that were a solid metal bar that went all the way through.
 
Yes i can find the smaller ones with the splits at the hardware store, but I prefer the original rods that were a solid metal bar that went all the way through.


I stand corrected I think the smaller rods may have been originals? Or were the solid rods used on the side without the wires and the smaller ones one the fire button side since it would allow for the wires to flow up through the shaft.
 
Yes i can find the smaller ones with the splits at the hardware store, but I prefer the original rods that were a solid metal bar that went all the way through.


I've never seen those, and I've rebuilt many original sets of these sticks. All original sticks I've seen used the roll pins (either one long one, or two shorter ones).

Not saying the solid pins weren't original, but they don't seem to be common, at least in my experience, and what I've seen in other threads here.

What holds the rods in the balls and the metal shaft? (Are they just press-fit in, and the tension from the plastic balls holds them?) Or are they loose fit, and the structure of the stick (i.e., the plastic case) is what keeps them together?

Just curious, as this is a variant I haven't seen.
 
I have opened up a half dozen or more used battlezone sticks looking for good grommets and all of those sticks had a roll pin through the pivot ball fwiw. I've never seen a solid rod in either Food Fight or Battlezone though I'm sure it's possible. Here is a blown up pic from the Battlezone manual:
 

Attachments

  • rollPin.jpg
    rollPin.jpg
    77.9 KB · Views: 5
I've never seen those, and I've rebuilt many original sets of these sticks. All original sticks I've seen used the roll pins (either one long one, or two shorter ones).

Not saying the solid pins weren't original, but they don't seem to be common, at least in my experience, and what I've seen in other threads here.

What holds the rods in the balls and the metal shaft? (Are they just press-fit in, and the tension from the plastic balls holds them?) Or are they loose fit, and the structure of the stick (i.e., the plastic case) is what keeps them together?

Just curious, as this is a variant I haven't seen.

They are kind of nice because they are the exact size to where the plastic case holds it in place and it slides easy in and out of the ball so there is less wear on the ball as it allows the ball to move with the stick.

I am restoring 3 Battlezones right now and i didn't keep track which controllers came from what machines but I have 3 of those long rods, that is why I wondered if they were in one side and the rolled pins where in the other side.

But I got the manual and it clearly shows the rolled pins in the manual. I will just replace these with the rolled pins so its original to the manual.
 
Joystick Bezels

While I have all you BZ experts attention, I could use a couple of Joystick bezels, if any of you have them. I have 2 that are busted with only 2 screw pegs on the bottom, they will work but probably won't last long so I might as well start looking for replacements.

I saw the metal repros the guy does for like 40.00 each but i can't afford those.
 
Interesting on the rods. Did the 3 games come from a common location/arcade/etc? I wonder if someone could have just done some mod to multiple machines. The fact that you have 3 is curious, as it either means one person put them on multiple machines, or they somehow came from the factory that way. If you know any more about the history of the cabs, I'd be interested to know.

One tip with the roll pins - When you install them, put them in so the rounded part faces down (i.e., the slot faces up), so the rounded part rubs against the sides and bottom of the slot in the case. If you put the slotted side down, it'll be sharper and wear against the case faster.

Also, use some 100% silicone lube when you reassemble. You can get it at any auto parts store for like 8 bucks, and it works better than anything else I've tried on these sticks (and any other stick that uses lube). It's sticky and stays where you put it, and you don't need to use very much, as it's very slick, and doesn't dry out.

As for the bezels, your best bet is to repair and save the ones you have. They aren't easy to come by, especially unbroken ones. I've repaired them by JB-Welding the broken legs back on (and you can be missing one leg and they'll still work ok). And you don't need to tighten them super hard when securing them, as that will crack them again.

The metal ones are expensive, but they are the best way to go, as any plastic ones are likely to break eventually. The plastic for the bezels and stick bases is brittle, and has gotten more so over 35+ years.
 
Interesting on the rods. Did the 3 games come from a common location/arcade/etc? I wonder if someone could have just done some mod to multiple machines. The fact that you have 3 is curious, as it either means one person put them on multiple machines, or they somehow came from the factory that way. If you know any more about the history of the cabs, I'd be interested to know.

One tip with the roll pins - When you install them, put them in so the rounded part faces down (i.e., the slot faces up), so the rounded part rubs against the sides and bottom of the slot in the case. If you put the slotted side down, it'll be sharper and wear against the case faster.

Also, use some 100% silicone lube when you reassemble. You can get it at any auto parts store for like 8 bucks, and it works better than anything else I've tried on these sticks (and any other stick that uses lube). It's sticky and stays where you put it, and you don't need to use very much, as it's very slick, and doesn't dry out.

As for the bezels, your best bet is to repair and save the ones you have. They aren't easy to come by, especially unbroken ones. I've repaired them by JB-Welding the broken legs back on (and you can be missing one leg and they'll still work ok). And you don't need to tighten them super hard when securing them, as that will crack them again.

The metal ones are expensive, but they are the best way to go, as any plastic ones are likely to break eventually. The plastic for the bezels and stick bases is brittle, and has gotten more so over 35+ years.

Thanks for the tips, that is great. I don't know the history of the machines other than I know I got them from 3 different states so I doubt they were all from the same operator but anything is possible.
 
I could use a couple of Joystick bezels, if any of you have them.

I'll check to see if I have any left, but when I sold most my battlezone loot last year those bezels were the first pieces sold and loads of extra PMs came in. Cool to hear there's a more durable metal repro out there even if it is a bit pricey. I'll PM if I can find another :)
 
I'll check to see if I have any left, but when I sold most my battlezone loot last year those bezels were the first pieces sold and loads of extra PMs came in. Cool to hear there's a more durable metal repro out there even if it is a bit pricey. I'll PM if I can find another :)

That would be great, thanks for checking!
 
Back
Top Bottom