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jEevion
03-13-2008, 11:52 PM
Hello everyone, I'm new here and just recently took an interest in 2D fighters, well mainly SFIII:3S.

After watching some gameplay clips on youtube I tracked down a copy of the game in the US (I live in Canada) and bought a PS2. I have always used the stock controller.

My PS2 is connected to a receiver, which runs component to a HD projector.

After a while I got pretty good at the game, but realized that I would need to shift over to an arcade stick.

Being in Canada, commercial sticks for the PS2 pretty well do not exist. Without doing much research I ordered an X-Arcade Solo (go ahead and e-smack me) thinking that it was the only real option I had.

Then I read these stickies and called all over the US for an HRAP2 but everyone is sold out (even sites that show as in stock).

Well after reading about how much X-Arcade sucks for fighters, I figure that I can swap out the joystick/buttons and get by. I have been trying to research this for hours and am getting frustrated.

It seems the only thing I have going for me is X-Arcade's support for servicing/upgrading the unit yourself without voiding the warranty. So I researched what would be the best parts to swap out:

Sanwa JLF-TP-8T @ $24
Happ Competition Sorizontal Switch @ $1.70ea.

My question is, do you think that joystick could be swapped out for the X-Arcade Super Clone easily? I see resellers selliing the X-Arcade sticks with the joystick already swapped out, so it must be possible, I just don't want to go through any hassle with modding. I would probably like to go with Sanwa buttons but they look substantially shorter and I don't know if they would fit?

The X-Arcade isn't here yet, should be here mid next week.

I know the Happ Competition stick will fit without mods, a lot of people seem to like it, but too many people seem to suggest that Japanese style sticks are the best.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have search everywhere looking for people who have modded an X-Arcade similar to what I want to do, but can't find anything useful. Thanks, sorry for the big post :)

tl613
03-14-2008, 12:34 AM
Japanese sticks aren't the best, they are just the preference. The Sanwa stick will fit in there, but not as easy as the Happ stick would. From the sound of your post I wouldn't even bother trying to put a Sanwa in there.

Renesis_13
03-14-2008, 12:40 AM
I agree, a happ comp would be a lot easier install and requires no real moding to the X-Arcade wooden case, same goes for the buttons. Look for the old competition ones with white actuator or an IL Euro stick.

jEevion
03-14-2008, 12:48 AM
Thanks for the fast replies!

This website lists the Happ Comp @ $7.95 but it says black actuator:

http://www.lizardlickamusements.com/pages/joysticks.shtml

Would this be fine?

Renesis_13
03-14-2008, 12:53 AM
Those are the crappy ones, scroll down a bit and look at the iL 8-Way Eurojoystick, HAPP had the rights to re-sell the Eurosticks in the states branded as Competition sticks, but they decided to start manufacturing their own Competitions and ruined them up. So just get an Euro stick instead.

kowal
03-14-2008, 06:44 AM
I altered X-stick on Competion, next I altered Comp on Wico microswitch joystick
I Wico fit on 1 groove (for metal panel) it acts better - shorter throw. I altered spring on soft.

jEevion
03-27-2008, 09:31 PM
Hey guys, thanks to all who helped me out.

I got my parts in today and got to work. I had no idea how to do anything going into this, but it didn't take me long to figure things out once I got going.

Before doing the mod:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/PreMod.jpg

Here's what the inside looks like before touching anything:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/Interior.jpg

First I installed the Happ Comp pushbuttons:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/CompButtons.jpg

Here's a pic of the stock joystick:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/StockStick2.jpg

Here's a pic after installing the iL 8-way
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/CompStick.jpg

Here's an exterior pic after the mod:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/CompExterior.jpg

Along with these, I also purchased a Sanwa JLF-TP-8T joystick. So after installing everything, I was up for a bigger challenge and decided to go ahead and install the Sanwa. Besides, both the stock X-Arcade and iL joysticks had throw problems (right throw was very small, left throw was substantial).

So the first thing I did was cut the cylindrical portion off of the stock X-Arcade mounting bracking so that it was one flat piece. Next, I made adjustments to the two lower screw holes to accomidate the JLF. Then I simply mounted the JLF on this bracket and dropped it right in. I don't have pics of the work I did on the bracket (it wasn't very good but it worked) but here are a few:

JLF Joystick installed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/Sanwa.jpg

Exterior with JLF:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/SanwaExterior.jpg

Joystick shaft length?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/jeevion/Distance.jpg

Sorry if some of the pics didn't turn out too well.

My biggest problem was figuring out the wiring for the JLF stick. To connect these wires to the pcb, I kind of cheated and wrapped the crimped ends around the metal end of the wired connection coming from the PCB. I had to go online to find out what wires were what.

It feels about 100x better than the stock X-Arcade, but unfortunately there is still input lag. Serves me right for buying it though.

ulovemikeroch
03-27-2008, 09:37 PM
Holy shit nice job on that mod. You should eventually switch the PCB since it has alot of problems, but damn that was good. The shaft length for that is actually perfect, thats I think how long a proper one should be. Thanks to the thick MDF panelling of American style sticks. But overall great. Installing a Comp Stick and buttons are easy since I did it myself on mines, and its literally just unscrew and install the new stuff. But you made the JLF installation seem so easy and it looks like a good job. Overall it's fucking sweet and I love it. Maybe I should go to it to my own/

tsoteddy
03-27-2008, 09:44 PM
^^^ Doo nice work!!! have a tekken hori stick that i want to mod as well and hopefully it comes out nice as well. Probably i'll do a thread as well to get some help. Overall good sh*t doo, nice job, very nice job.

DevilJin 01
03-27-2008, 09:49 PM
Ew...X Arcade.

Nice mod though.

James123
03-27-2008, 10:40 PM
if you can move the start button away from the gameplay buttons =)

great mod