Simple mods to fine tune your arcade stick

I do love arcade sticks, I find them big and physical and pretty easy to work on.

In this video I go over a few very simple mods you can use to fine tune the feeling of your stick.

All of these can be done with some cheap parts from your arcade stick supplier and a screwdriver

00:00 Introduction
3:15 Change the restrictor plate
3:51 Use a heavier spring
6:30 Grease up your shaft
8:04 Try and oversized actuator
9:03 Final thoughts

Clearly my small channel is not sponsored by anyone but I have used both of these vendors in the past and had a good experience

Just after making this video I made an order for a few more springs, another oversized actuator, a JLF harness and some buttons wires. When something is inexpensive, I always want a few spare in my toolbox.

Make sure you order extra e-clips! It seems like the most basic thing but when one goes flying off into the 17th dimension you are going to wish you had a spare.

You might like some of the other things I do too

[Phantommm]

Thank you, Zez Retro, for this wonderful video! I'm going to modify my stick soon for a better feel!

[dbnpoldermans]

Great tips. I feel the same way. I have many sticks and have modded plenty of sticks.
Instead of buying adapters so that they can be played on other systems, I rather buy sticks for that system.

I really like your content. A very underrated channel!

[sydpam]

Wow!! What a sweet memory of "Time Zone" in George st. Sydney!!

[Jakoliath]

Very cool, didn't realize there were so many details to arcade sticks. That silicon tube will definitely last you a lifetime LOL!

[Evercade_Effect]

Good stuff! Didn't realize that there is a lot you can do to mod your stick. 😉

[jtrevorscott]

The restrictor is huge. There are more than just the two you mentioned. There are four-ways that are _superb_ for many classic arcade games (pac-man, etc.), and two-way (galaga, etc.). They make _huge_ differences for those specific kind of games.

Only other thing, is getting away from micro-switches and going with leaf switches. Again, some games just feel much much better with leaf switches vs micros.

[griftgfx]

As a player mostly accustomed to relatively light j-levers, I find the 2lb spring too heavy. Give a 1.5 pound spring a shot too.

[rxzero]

I never did like the Sanwa JLF even for fighting games. I used the Seimitsu LS-32 for the longest time but I recently have one stick installed with a Seimitsu LSX-Nobi Pro and it worked really well for shoot em ups and most arcade games that uses a stick. It has something like a 2.5 lb spring already installed. I have another stick installed with a Crown 303 Quick release lever which sort of feels like a Seimitsu stick with its stubbier shaft and hinge style microswitches but with a rubber grommet instead of a spring. Eventually I would want to improve the JLF or give it some maintenance as I got it used. Who knows if they ever create a custom PCB that accepts any .187 microswitch that isn't out of stock then I would use that too. I bought my first stick at $60 and another one used at $60 and installed Seimitsu parts on both of them. The good thing about playing on Windows, is that any X-Input arcade stick would do no matter the age.

[TheFrenchy]

well well... Some people like to put grease on their stick..
naughty naughty... By the way : their is one qualtiy of grease fro Sanwa and another for Seimitsu..Just saying..
Oh and I'm surprised : you don't clean the pivot BEFORE applying the grease ??

[LodanZark]

Sanwa JLF it's too overrated... seimitsu ls-40 (neo geo candy cabs default lever in Japan) it's a better choice for non fighting games due to short engagement, short throw, no dead zone, heavier spring by default.
Sanjuks v3 it's also a great lever, even though it's hard to get, and it's mostly appealing for enthusiasts.

[girloninternet]

4lb springs are ridiculous. 1.5lb or 2lb is more than enough.