did my first bit of arcade maintenance.

[nickfil]

I recently bought a Marvel vs Capcom arcade. The left sick was a lot looser than the right, and was studdering on one of the directions. Shit was just on it's way out.

So- i picked up a euro happ stick and popped that guy in there. Everything was set up with quick connects so it was SUPER easy. Just plug and play. The difference was like night and day. Blew me away. Now the right one feels loose to me. Luckily i bought 2 sicks and i'm going to swap that one out when i get a second to desolder half the connects and throw on some quick connects.

Aside form those quick connects i have to put on, the wiring isn't long enough for some of the buttons on the right side. When the console opens for maintenance, they get really stretched and are actually damaging the cherry switches. Rough. Gotta fix that.

Anyway- my point is this. I've had a saturn chip forever. Never had the guts to mess with solder. Installing that joystick was fun, and wasn't intimidating at all. I just picked up a 'how to solder' kit for 12 year olds and am super excited to jump in this. Get everything wired right and then move on to wiring up some consoles. Maybe make a custom stick. Who says video games don't teach real world skills?

[fuctfuct]

Cool. Just don't try a PS2 first! hehe.

[thetooth]

I've never understood why some people are afrade of electronics work, but good to hear your getting into it

It wont take very long at all to become pro with a soldering iron. good luck

[thecommontask]

Soldering can be tricky to make clean but it is a cinch once you understand what's happening and can control everything. It's amazing how things seem so impossible from the outside but once you get in and try it or read about it all of a sudden it's nearly simple.

[t0yrobo]

Once I finally built up the guts to try it soldering wasn't that difficult. It just takes a bit of practice to to it without making a mess. It can be intimidating for sure though.

[CRTGAMER]

I recently bought a Marvel vs Capcom arcade. The left sick was a lot looser than the right, and was studdering on one of the directions. Shit was just on it's way out.

So- i picked up a euro happ stick and popped that guy in there. Everything was set up with quick connects so it was SUPER easy. Just plug and play. The difference was like night and day. Blew me away. Now the right one feels loose to me. Luckily i bought 2 sicks and i'm going to swap that one out when i get a second to desolder half the connects and throw on some quick connects.

Aside form those quick connects i have to put on, the wiring isn't long enough for some of the buttons on the right side. When the console opens for maintenance, they get really stretched and are actually damaging the cherry switches. Rough. Gotta fix that.

Anyway- my point is this. I've had a saturn chip forever. Never had the guts to mess with solder. Installing that joystick was fun, and wasn't intimidating at all. I just picked up a 'how to solder' kit for 12 year olds and am super excited to jump in this. Get everything wired right and then move on to wiring up some consoles. Maybe make a custom stick. Who says video games don't teach real world skills?

That is true! You do pick up skills. I have done Joystick mods adding Happ buttons to a Zaxxon Arcade Controller to work on PC (as a keyboard Mame Default), PS1 and 2600. Too many wires for toggle switches so I use an IDE cable and base IDE connector between the different system controller cords. I have also soldered a mod chip in the Grey PSX. Chipping the PS1 (Smaller White one) was a real pain for my big paws. Man I hated doing that one.