Virta Stick HG: Help me plz

Hey guys, I looked all over for FAQ's on how to open up the "Virtua Stick High Grade," but I couldn't find anything usefull. Can someone here tell me or guide me to a site that possibly has pictures and documents? Thanks.

Also, I'm a noob when it comes to joysticks but I am just wondering if my stick is salvagable. For some reason the kick button(O) has lost its responsiveness. I can get it to work if I push the button down in the corner at around 5 o'clock, but it doesn't respond quick enough when I push the button down in the middle. So p+k+g does a throw instead because the kick doesn't register fast enough. How annoying, right?

This is the best arcade stick for home use ever and this has me slightly stressed. Thanks for any help.

 

Before you open your stick, you may as well order a button or two or six. I like to buy from here. You need 30mm buttons.

Opening the stick is easy if you have a screwdriver and a 7mm deep socket with a driver. Take the bottom plate off with your screwdriver. Inside will be another metal plate. You can ignore that one. Use the 7mm socket to take the nuts off the bolts that hold the top plate on. You can see the top of those bolts on the playing surface of your stick. There are six of them.

Once the top plate is off, you can get to the buttons. Unplug the ones you want to change, push in the plastic tabs that secure the buttons to the plate, and push the button out through the top plate. Snap your new buttons into place, plug them in, re-assemble.

Tips:

1) Go as slow as you need to.

2) Don't force anything.

3) When you reassemble, don't crank too hard on the nuts. Be more gentle with the screws that secure the bottom metal plate. You're just screwing into plastic so you can strip if you're too rough.

You can probably find pictures in this thread. I realize that thread is about modding (not just fixing) and look through the links. You will find what you need.

The VSHG is durable and you won't break something unless you're really careless. It's also very friendly when it comes to part swapping.

Good luck.


If you are really really nervous about it and you just can't bring yourself to do the repair, you can ship the stick and parts to me. I will swap them for you. You'll need to provide return shipping. If you send it UPS, buy a return label and pack it inside the box. UPS picks up from my office.

 

That is very usefull, thanks for the reply.

I have a couple questions though.

Is it absolutely necessary to replace the whole button, or is it just out of place somehow? (Sorry, I'm new at this)

Also, does that site ship to Canada?

Thanks for the help.

 

Good News & Bad News /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

The good news is; I fixed it!

Bad news is that I broke one of those deep socket washer thingys because it wouldn't get onto the screw properly. I tore the tip of the bolt out. Oh well, I still have 5 of them and it works so I'm extremely happy.

Thanks for the help.