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Post by gauze on Jan 20, 2017 14:18:43 GMT -5
Hi, I'm going to get some new springs manufactured and I wanted to check what sort of interest there is in these. If I offered them for 4 springs for $5 postage paid in the US would any of you buy them? Let me know here so I can decide how many to order. I did a lot of research and you cannot just buy replacement springs for this application off the shelf, even places with thousands of different springs do not have the exact match but I found a place that'll do a short custom run so I thought I'd try to help "the scene" out
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 20, 2017 14:29:08 GMT -5
How easy are these to replace? I have a joystick that has a problem with centering and I think replacing the spring may help out the issue.
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Post by gauze on Jan 20, 2017 14:52:48 GMT -5
It's a bit involved but it's not difficult. Peeling up the top overl;ay to get into the stick is the most difficult part. You have to then open up the potentiometer which requires prying up 4 metal tabs (I have had luck doing it with the edge of a razor blade to get it started then using a flathead screw driver to bend it out), removing the pots inner working from a plastic shaft, putting a new spring in and then reassembling. it's better than a non-centering stick.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 20, 2017 14:54:54 GMT -5
It does sound involved but not anything overwhelming.
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Post by ls650 on Jan 20, 2017 21:19:59 GMT -5
I've replaced the spring in mine at one point. It's not at all difficult: the hardest thing is getting at the screws under the label faceplate of the controller without ruining it.
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Post by TrekMD on Jan 20, 2017 22:44:01 GMT -5
The particular controller I'm talking about has no faceplate label. I ordered one that sticks to it with static, so removing it is not going to be difficult.
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Post by Vectronic on Jan 22, 2017 1:06:13 GMT -5
I would be interested in ordering a set for sure. Although I don't have a current need to replace any of my 4 controller's springs, I like the idea of having replacement parts on hand just in case I ever need them. This is why I have bought replacement sound chips, BIOS chips, and such as my own personal "bomb shelter" from potential future Vectrex "fall-outs".
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Post by Rapetou33 on Jan 22, 2017 11:15:31 GMT -5
I also would but I am in France ...so what about the shipping? Any French or European people Interested?
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Post by gauze on Jan 22, 2017 16:18:12 GMT -5
Some german guy talked about doing euro orders but looking at letter rates to EU from US it's only $1.15 (vs $0.47 domestic) so I could send them to euro too I guess. I don't know if having small metal parts would be cause of letters disappearing though. I'll let you know if the german guy works out when I get these in.
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Post by Rapetou33 on Jan 22, 2017 17:12:25 GMT -5
1,15 USD is ok for me. Hope too that security and customs let the letter go its way ... So please count me in for a set.
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Post by VectorX on Jan 22, 2017 18:19:19 GMT -5
^Just as long as they're just springs, NOT springs with a suspicious-looking circuit board and something ticking
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Post by Vectronic on Jan 22, 2017 20:53:32 GMT -5
Some german guy talked about doing euro orders but looking at letter rates to EU from US it's only $1.15 (vs $0.47 domestic) so I could send them to euro too I guess. I don't know if having small metal parts would be cause of letters disappearing though. I'll let you know if the german guy works out when I get these in. If you are sending them in letter envelopes, make sure you sticky-tape the springs onto a piece of paper (in the center of a tri-folded sheet of paper) or else mail-sorting machines could chew up the springs or worse - jam the machines! I have sent small metal parts in envelopes before and have had this happen. You do not want to be receiving nasty letters from Postal Services, trust me. This method works with no problems.
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Post by gauze on Jan 23, 2017 16:31:12 GMT -5
I was going to put them in 2x2 resealable plastic bags then inside a trifolded sheet of paper.
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Post by Vectronic on Jan 23, 2017 22:59:03 GMT -5
I was going to put them in 2x2 resealable plastic bags then inside a trifolded sheet of paper. That would most likely work fine as well. How many springs does a Vectrex Control Panel need? I've (luckily) never had a spring go yet, and so, have not taken one apart, but for a single Control Panel joystick, how many springs would you need to replace if the joystick stopped self-centering?
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Post by VECTREXER on Jan 24, 2017 22:55:42 GMT -5
^Just as long as they're just springs, NOT springs with a suspicious-looking circuit board and something ticking Because Vectrex gamers send VecBombs through the mail right? Hey, that might be an interesting game theme. It's your job as the mail terrorist to send items through the post to the destination most likely to open your letter/package on the other side. You can also send through friendly items in order to entice the destination to trust your letters/packages. Sit too long in one place and the government agent may find and arrest/kill you. During the game you would have to move between locations. Doing so would cost in either score total or special item usage. During agent interaction sequences there could be options to run, fight, or just ignore the "possibly meaningless" knock on the door. That is, if there is a knock on the door. Any agent battles, even the one that are won, would cause an increase in the likelihood the agents would find your next location quicker. So would a return too quickly, a location you have been at before. I am sure there are lots of other good things for this game. Especially if it's implemented for either the Vectrex32 cart, or the VecFever cart. Huge world space and lots of CPU port for more interesting battle sequences.
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