5/24/2023 0 Comments Street fighter 4 arcade sticks![]() If you break the PCB, you're done, so you have to be really careful. The worst part is, the only thing you have to pry against are the microswitches, which are attached to the PCB underneath. You basically have to pry, and hope for the best. This is really problematic, because there's no really elegant way to get the thing off. Obviously, there's a limit, but it's much more durable-looking than I would have initially imagined. Made me realize that you can really slam the stick around, and not worry about putting too much stress on the important bits - the switches, the board they're mounted to, etc. On a tangent - seeing this was interesting for me. Now, your challenge is this: On the bottom of the stick is the "Restrictor Plate" - a thick piece of transparent plastic that restricts the joystick's movement. I was REALLY careful, and still sheared the screw. You can not bend the plate if you're careful. ![]() That's one reason you might be tempted to remove the mounting plate. A note: I have seen a report where someone didn't take off the mounting plate, and while trying to pry off the Restrictor Plate, bent the metal mounting plate. Didn't work out for me, and I didn't realize you don't have to take off the plate 'till it was too late. The screws are basically Loctited into the nuts in the body, and while you might be able to get them all out, it's really a crapshoot. I've read online of MANY other people doing this as well. When I unscrewed them, using a very well-fitting screwdriver, I sheared one of the screws. There are four screws holding the plate to the plastic body of the stick. Don't take this off unless you absolutely have to. Here's a warning: There's a big metal plate on the front of the stick. On the other side of the connector, there's a little bit of a clasp thing - just cut through and pry. Just run the blade along the seam at the top, and when it gets deep enough that you have some leverage, pry gently. This took a bit of doing, and you don't want to pull too hard on anything, so take your time, and be careful. I used a utility knife to cut through the glue, and pry the connection loose. Sounds easy, but Madcatz has glued it into place. ![]() Next, you're going to have to unplug the stick from the cable its attached to. Now, unscrew the four screws holding the stick down. Pull off the circular "dustcap" as well - the little disc - and put both aside. The top should come off without too much trouble. Yeah, I'm sure there's some innuendo to be had there, but whatever. Stick the screwdriver into the notch on the butt-end of the joystick, grab hold of the top, and twist. For that, you'll need the flathead screwdriver. HOWEVER: First, you need to disconnect the ball top from the joystick. On mine, I just stuck the screwdriver in, and turning it immediately broke the seal without any problems. You MAY need to cut this away with the razor blade. The stick's held in place by four screws, which have some red Loctite-like substance on them. So, now you can easily see the stick, the buttons, and the various other bits and bobs. You have a right to be pissed, and you should let them know about it. You will either need to fix it (NOT RECOMMENDED) or return it to Madcatz to get them to do what they should have done from the start. Oh - and a zero-th part: If you find your stick "sticking" in any position - you're not touching it, but you're constantly registering a direction - your stick is screwed. Okay, there's a third part - I'll tell you why you shouldn't do it, even if you're reasonably mechanically inclined. First, I'll tell you I think the guy from Madcatz is a liar, and that it's extraordinarily unlikely that you'll get an Arcade Fightstick SE that actually works properly. There are two basic parts to this Instructable. You might also have read Madcatz's official response, which says that it's a rare occurrence, and most sticks are fine. You might have read reports online that describe how it's prone to breaking - that a loose washer in the stick destroys the thing from inside. Did you get caught up in the recent Street Fighter 4 frenzy? Did you realize that the game's really meant to be played with a high-quality arcade stick? Did you miss out on the chance to buy a Hori stick, or think it's ridiculous to spend $150 to get a high quality peripheral? If so, you might have gotten a Madcatz Arcade Fightstick SE, like me.
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