The WICO red-ball joystick is the king of arcade joysticks. None other has the certain feel and mystique that this stick does. If you are going to build a machine, and want that true arcade experience, settle for none other.
They are not without their problems however, but with a little TLC, and a little knowhow, this joystick can deliver.
It is a fairly simple design. A switch plate holds 4 leaf switches. This is bolted to a mounting plate, which is in turn bolted to the cabinet with carriage bolts. A rubber bushing acts as a fulcrum and a resistance. As you push the handle right, the sleeve on the opposite end of the shaft completes the connection on the corresponding leaf switch.
The difference between a 4-way wico stick and an 8-way? The 4-way has a diamond shaped washer embedded in the mounting plate, the 8 way is round. This restricts the movement of the shaft, and ensures that the sleeve only contacts one leaf switch at a time. This one I replaced in my Ms. Pac cocktail. Used if the on-screen character never has to travel in a diagonal. Visual inspection of the switch plate during operation would reveal if the stick was actually closing contact on 2 leaf switches at once. If this was the case, you could bend the leaf-prongs outwards, increasing the gap.
Replacing the mounting plate can change a 4-way stick into an 8-way. As well, you can drill out the "diamond" on a 4-way plate, and achieve the same thing.
Leaf switches are the most simple of electrical mechanisms. A connection is held apart by the air between flexible strips of metal. Pushing one strip against the other completes the circuit. Releasing pressure opens it. Increasing or decreasing the space between the strips dictates how much travel or pressure must be exerted to close the connection. Grounds for multiple switches can be shared, simplifying wiring.
To remove the shaft, turn the joystick over and remove the "C" clip on the bottom. Be sure that you don’t lose the plastic sleeve or the shaft spring once tension has been released. You can now pull the shaft free of the assembly. The "ball" is fused to the shaft, and next to impossible to remove without destroying it.
To access the bushing, remove the four screws on the bottom of the switch plate. That’s it!
TIP: To restore the finish on the handle shaft, insert the free end of the handle into a power drill. Hold some fine grit sandpaper carefully around the shaft. Activate the drill and move the sandpaper up and down. This will restore a fine shine. It can heat up quickly, so watch your fingers!
The biggest problem with these joysticks is age. As they get older, the rubber in the bushings wears out and cracks with use. Not a real worry since you can replace the entire joystick for $10.
On the positive side, a joystick can sometimes operate for years after developing a crack. The resistance is just decreased.
The Wico is the finest joystick you could use in your cabinet. It is worth the extra effort to locate these over the microswitch models.
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