I’ve had my MadCatz Round 1 TE (360) for a while now and lately I’ve noticed the arcade stick (still the stock stick that comes with it) has become loose.
You can wobble it around quite a lot in the neutral position without it pressing a direction, but also if you push it up and release the stick it will rebound and press down as it springs back to neutral - likewise for the other directions. Basically it has become really loose and seems to be getting worse… (Probably caused by frantic game sessions and overuse! :D)
Anyway I was wondering if anyone had recommendations on the best way to fix this? Replace the spring(s) or just replace the whole stick? Obviously if a new spring works then I’ll take that route. Could it be that the buttons are loose too?
You could probably get by with a few replacements here and there, but it could also be the TP-MA PCB that’s losing its tension, too, as the microswitches help give the stick some overall tension. Another thing is that the Pivot cylinder can get mushed from a lot of play, and replacing that will sometimes help, too. Safest route is to get a whole new joystick, but a new spring certainly wouldn’t hurt, either. It’s just that there’s so many components that can take away from the joystick’s tightness.
The buttons could be getting old, too, but still, everything in the TE is designed to take a pretty heavy beating for hours on end in an arcade, and home use hardly compares to some of it. Just replace them if you want.
Hey, I have a similar problem but I have a ruled a few problems out first. To start off, This is a somewhat old joystick. I bought it 2 years ago for my first modding project, And it was working fine but the case was breaking down (butchered mayflash.) I took it apart and started a new case, which, I am almost finished, so I put my countersunk buttons, and joystick in my control panel, and noticed a problem. The jlf was loose somewhat. Like the spring worked fine and everything but, until I hit a micro switch there is would be absolutely no tension on the joystick it would just be flopping around. There was plenty tension when I hit one. I figured since it has not been used for so long the grease probably just dried up so I re-greased it and the problem continues. It didn’t make much sense for it to be the spring to me, but to be sure I combined it with a spare ls-33 spring and the problem is still present.
So to recap:
-It isn’t the spring
-It isn’t the grease
-It isn’t the microswitches.
So with that I assume it is the pivot cylinder? Do you think that would fix my problem? Replacing the entire joystick is out of the question.
Yes as i have done it many times. pivot cylinder on top, small black piece, spring, big black piece, e clip and then micro switch assembly etc… I don’t have a video camera and I can’t be much more descript I basically covered it top to bottom.
I’ll try and describe it better. It’s like a mayflash or an otherwise cheap arcade stick, the slightest touch will make it move, but it won’t click in, and it will still return to center. difference being it is full force after a micro switch is engaged, before that, it just moves around and unless you put a regular amount of force on won’t click.
Mislead you did I. It is a jlf. I have a spare ls33 spring for spring mod, and I was comparing what it feels like to cheap sticks SUCH AS the mayflash.
In his previous posts he’s already tried a different spring. A replacement pivot is like a dollar of Lizardlick. Might as well pick up some other replacement parts like a new spring cover and actuator as well to make the shipping worth it.