Hey guys need some help on a comparison of these two sticks…LS-33 vs LS-40 in regards to engage distance.
My modded namco with a stock LS-33 is probably still my favourite stick to play with. According to kowal’s measurements it seems the LS-33 has the shortest engage. However reading measurements from slagcoin as well as older threads on here…people are saying its the LS-40 that has the shortest engage of the japanase joysticks.
It’s also said that motions are very unforgiving on the LS-40 and a bit too error prone for use in fighters. I don’t find this is the case with my LS-33 though. I dunno…maybe its my play style. I tend to just flick the joystick with my fingers rather than grip it and move my whole forearm…if you can imagine what I mean.
What’s the consesus as of today on which of these 2 joysticks has the quickest engage?
I was looking in to buying the LS-40 a few yrs back for this particular reason but am thinking now I might not need to?
A tight engage being “too prone to errors” boils down to the player and what they’re used to. You just have to learn to be more precise.
As for your more specific question, I haven’t used a 33, but the 56 (which is my favorite lever) uses the same microswitch assembly. I sold my 40 a while back, but I seem to recall the 56’s engage being slightly tigther. I’m also thinking the stock 56 has a shorter throw- not 100% sure though. The 40 is honestly a great lever as well, I just preferred the 56.
LS-33 vs 56 is odd because the main differences really affect joystick play.
LS-33 has a shorter shaft, is mounted higher, so the pivot area is higher, center of rotation is higher, the actuator is also slightly bigger diameter. it’s gonna feel like a lot more throw than LS-56, even though they are identical in many ways. the pivot style of the 33 and lighter spring also affect engage, it has a really light spring, so a lot of the tension of the ls-33 comes from the micro switches themselves. (this personally was my main issue, it deflected a lot)
that said, LS-40 is a weird comparison, they have the same mounting method, but they differ in shaft height/length
it’s a rough estimate but clearly the LS-40 shaft (left) is longer overall in the actuator (bottom) sides, also bigger diameter (if actuator is counted).
Also the micro switch spacing itself is different and ls-40 having an overall bigger actuator (less throw). All these spacing differences will cause the feeling of having shorter engage, even though on paper ls-33 might have the shortest one, the many aspects of the way it’s measurements are, the spring tension, height, etc. will make it feel less “faster to engage” than the ls-40 when properly mounted on a panel (which in this case, both are meant to be mounted flushed to a thin metal panel, with the pivot as close to the surface as possible)
Thanks fellas I appreciate the input. I think you may be right in regards to how it actually performs as opposed to the measurements on paper. That being said, the LS-33 does “feel” like it has a large throw even compared to a JLF. I think this might just be due to it’s compact size and the looser spring tension especially. The loose Spring on it does also make it feel like it has a large dead zone although I know it might actually not. Interestingly, the engage measurements for the Seimitsu’s LS-40, LS-55 and LS-56 are all listed as the same.
Apparently the force required to engage for a LS-56 is 207.5g whereas the LS-40 is 170g. So I think this might just be perceived due to the stronger spring tension of the LS-56(stock). From what I’ve read it’s spring is even more tight than a JLW-TM-8. Unfortunately, to me this would be absolute overkill seeing as I play on the LS-33, which is a lot looser than even the JLF. Force required to engage for a LS-33 is only 100g. I guess it’s all relative.
In any case, I still really like the LS-33 in the namco but I might just give the LS-40 a try to see if it does feel like it has a tighter engage. I think it’s the most popular KOF stick which is what I play so it deserves a shot anyway.
The 56 doesn’t really feel that stiff, IMO. Installing a 58 spring (or just buy a 58 to begin with, the spring is the only real difference) is also an option, it’s a very low tension spring.
jlw spring is like ls-38 , which believe me is not like 56, besides, 56 has shorter throw, less travel, your spring wont get much stretching in general, unlike the jlw where you get to feel the tension due to the larger throw.
if anything the 5x series levers, due to the closer tighter microswitch placement, a lot of the tension comes from the microswitch itself (some say its grindy because of that)
Interesting. I might have to try out all the 5x models as well with various springs to get a feel for the differences and see what I end up preferring. The JLW, although it felt very solid…was just horrid to play with imo. Especially for quick DM motions in KOF like qcfhcb. JLF was good for the most part but I think this is why ultimately I preffered the looseness of the LS33. Will reserve judgement till I try em all out though.
Just for reference, here’s the differences in the 56 “family”:
56: tighter spring
58: lighter spring, translucent balltop/shaft (cosmetic only, parts are interchangeable with 56)
60: omron switches, 58 spring (reportedly, haven’t used one myself), no 01(5 pin PCB) variant
62: short lever like the 32, stock octagonal gate, light spring
So yeah, there isn’t much reason to buy each model in the line- just get the different springs and and both gate types (if inclined) to test the waters.
Oh, another thing worth noting- the 56 family is very compact like a jlf, the 40 has a larger body like the 32.
Thanks for the info Camacho… idiocracy lmao classic movie btw…i’ve just come to find out I already own the LS-56-01
I was just researching which OEM sticks would fit a LS-56/40/55 as a drop in replacement. I own 2 of those old green and black PS2 virtua sticks. They apparantly came stock with the LS-56-01 and seimitsu PS-15 buttons. Can’t remember how I felt about them. Will have to get them out tonight and see what they’re like. Seems my curiosity has paid off atleast lol…
It works like this, at least by feel.
56/58 = fastest engage (ultra sensitive)
40 = shortest throw (engage in middle ground between 56 and 32)
The range of diagonals are bigger than cardinals in both sticks which makes them kinda unbalanced for fighters, great for everything else.
It depends on what you have as top, battop makes sticks taller so it feels a bit less stiff.
Ls33 and 55 have a completely different type of pivot. He centers perfectly and rigidly. The bearing never perfectly centers. This gives the impression that with moves such as the forward, forward - the feel on road is shorter (because the joystick will never return to a central position). This is a false feeling. When you drive the front and back to regain the “lost road” fell will appear twice longer. Nothing is lost in nature, It must come back. True is Ls33 is fast JP stick ever. Personaly I use them with stronger spring and 4me is best JP stick.
A hard spring also gives a false sense of faster engagement and throw
all is similarly with stronger springs, stronger spring on faster centering - shit gives. And all people believe it helps and stick is faster. This is false, it does not give anything… especially on the bearing pivot
Measurement of throw and engagement in joysticks with rubber or bearings is a mismatch… dozens of measurements, to get an average measurement.
