SearsRoebuck Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Hey all, getting back into Colecovision after a few years away, and I was told that Yurkie retired from modding, so I would not be able to get his nice controller ball tops again. So I am wondering if anyone either knows what he used for these, or has a comparable solution that is something like them. I really liked the ones that I had (and I regret selling them) and would like that set up again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+evg2000 Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 I have some of the knobs that I believe he used, don't remember where I got them. I think you have to remove the top of the CV controller, then use a threading die to thread the shaft and then install the knobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Another AA member has found an alternative ball top that doesn't require any pre-threading and can be used to screw directly onto the stalk of the original controller once you remove the flat top original top. I've not tried it myself but it was available locally from a common source for them and I'm told works quite well! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SearsRoebuck Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 2 hours ago, -^CrossBow^- said: Another AA member has found an alternative ball top that doesn't require any pre-threading and can be used to screw directly onto the stalk of the original controller once you remove the flat top original top. I've not tried it myself but it was available locally from a common source for them and I'm told works quite well! Do you have them? If so I may send you my controllers when 'we're ready'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 I do not have them. As I stated another AA member told me they found a local source for them to get some similar. I've not gone to look for myself as yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattyboombatty Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 On 3/16/2020 at 12:21 PM, -^CrossBow^- said: Another AA member has found an alternative ball top that doesn't require any pre-threading and can be used to screw directly onto the stalk of the original controller once you remove the flat top original top. I've not tried it myself but it was available locally from a common source for them and I'm told works quite well! That was me! I found terrific ball knobs at good ol' Ace Hardware in the parts drawer section. Others praised Knobs Direct which now seems owned by Monroe Engineering. Simple steps: Use a hair dryer (or heat gun) to heat up the aluminum sticker on top of the disc knob. Use a guitar pick or iPhone take-apart spudger tool to remove the sticker without damaging it. Unscrew using a Phillips #2 point. Grab yer knob and TWIST! Stays securely. I've yet to see a knob become contorted or stripped. Enjoy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 21 minutes ago, phattyboombatty said: That was me! I found terrific ball knobs at good ol' Ace Hardware in the parts drawer section. Others praised Knobs Direct which now seems owned by Monroe Engineering. Simple steps: Use a hair dryer (or heat gun) to heat up the aluminum sticker on top of the disc knob. Use a guitar pick or iPhone take-apart spudger tool to remove the sticker without damaging it. Unscrew using a Phillips #2 point. Grab yer knob and TWIST! Stays securely. I've yet to see a knob become contorted or stripped. Enjoy! I knew it was you, but you found them and I was letting you give the details on your terms. Thank you for finding these and providing the info! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattyboombatty Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Here too, is a classic thread on some knobs. @KevinMos3 placed a group order and distributed them to participating AA members. That was a lot of fun playing with balls! You'll see some great pics posted by KevinMos at this link, but this had more to do with the CV Flashback controllers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 (edited) I also found mine at Ace hardware a few weeks ago (and also was telling CrossBow about them). They are about 1-1/4" OD, and the internal threads are 5/16-18. Just use a little force and screw them onto the shafts. The brass inserts in the knobs will cut the threads for you. The only thing you need to do is adjust the position of the ball as you are threading to make sure it goes on straight. Edited March 21, 2020 by Bobby Nelson 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
128Kgames Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Any part # for those knobs? They look pretty darn good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Ask and ye shall receive my friend! https://www.hillmangroup.com/us/en/Fastening-Solutions/Specialty/Household/Knobs-%26-Handles/Ball-Knob-(1-1-4"-Diameter-x-1-2"-Height-with-5-16"-18-Female-Thread)/p/550KB66 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 (edited) On Amazon you can get a 2-pack of them for a few cents less than I paid at Ace hardware...well as long as you don't have to pay shipping. Edited March 25, 2020 by Bobby Nelson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOYPIGG Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 (edited) On 3/24/2020 at 9:31 PM, Bobby Nelson said: On Amazon you can get a 2-pack of them for a few cents less than I paid at Ace hardware...well as long as you don't have to pay shipping. You have the link for Amazon ball knobs thanks. Edited April 6, 2020 by TOYPIGG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 I went to get the link and suddenly the amazon page says “currently unavailable” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ other folks must have grabbed them. But if you do a google search for “hillman 55410 knob” you should find some results. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Here is another option for the proper knobs. Shipping might get ya a bit if you're only buying two but these are what you're looking for: https://www.mcmaster.com/6046k35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 On 4/10/2020 at 1:17 PM, Bobby Nelson said: Here is another option for the proper knobs. Shipping might get ya a bit if you're only buying two but these are what you're looking for: https://www.mcmaster.com/6046k35 Be advised that I just ordered 4 of these. 2 for a client that is wanting ball tops on their controllers while I have their CV here for service, and two for myself. In the end it was just shy of $20 total with shipping from McMaster. In fact, the shipping cost more than the 4 knobs did. Also while the knobs certainly feel solid, mine have very noticeable seams along their equators that you can be felt as well. So while the knobs themselves might be cheaper, they come out the same price wise as the ones from ACE if you can find them once you factor in the shipping etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Thanks for posting that pic! Dang!!! I thought they would be identical but you’re right, they’re not exactly the same. I guess the Ace/Hillman knobs are the first choice. The Mcmaster knobs were something like $1.80 each so shipping was $12????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLic0ne t0aD Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) I did this mod a few years ago, back when that large knob order was placed.. here's what I learned: Don't waste your time creating plastic threads. I bought a set off of Yurkie, before then, back when I wasn't as self reliant as I got to be later on, mod wise and they lasted maybe a week at best. It was a pain to extract the plastic nub out of there. At least they didn't last long for me, but I'm usually hard on stuff. ? Instead, I recommend taking the plastic joystick and hollowing it out, through the bottom with a drill bit. Grab a 1/4" - 20 X 1" (course threaded) bolt (or whatever size I.D. your knob is), cut the head off the bolt and run it up through the hollowed out middle part. Next, epoxy (JB weld, etc) the bolt to the base, through the bottom/inside, leaving about 1/2" of thread sticking out of the top of the plastic base, to be able to fully thread the knob until it nearly bottoms out. Also make sure it's not sticking out through the bottom, allowing enough space, like how the original "cup" part was, which pivoted on base part inside the controller. After the epoxy is dry and controllers reassembled, it'll be bulletproof! Wish I had pics - it's would explain a 1000 words. I'll see what I can do though, but I'll have to dig them out, as I haven't used them in a long time (I use a NTT data pad and/or arcade controller nowadays). Hope this helps! Edited April 16, 2020 by SiLic0ne t0aD . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 These other tops we are talking about have a larger thread diameter and don't require having to use a tap and die set. You can literally just screw these right onto the shaft once you remove the original tops. It will thread down to the 1cm or so that the originals cleared. You can feel the seams on the ones I ordered but otherwise I've never enjoyed using the CV stock controller more than I am now! The knobs were 1.80 each. I ordered 4 of them. 2 for a Client whose CV I'm working on now and rebuilding their controllers. And 2 for me. The actual order came to $7+ change. Then there was just under a $1 in tax and the shipping made up the rest. So yeah...I if I want to get more in the future, I need to see if my ACE stores happen to carry them but just don't list them online. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruggers Customs Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) One of these days, I'll get around to designing some 3d printed aftermarket joystick type handles for the coleco. I have a few sets of coleco controllers in my inventory that have some really snazzy gray joystick top controllers. I would like to recreate those. Or maybe make some ball type extensions that slide over the existing shaft and you can attach them with the screw that the old disc knob was attached with. Put it to the belt sander to make it super smooth and buff it to a polish shine. Edited April 16, 2020 by Ruggers Customs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metzger130 Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Our ACE doesn't have those knobs and they look great. I would like to find something like those. Anyone have any links to something like that? Links I see have knobs, but no hardware for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metzger130 Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Also, with the links it looks like it's just the ball your buying. Do you have something between the ball and the controller? Looks like a small shaft maybe? I hope this makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Nelson Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 The shaft is already there on your controllers. We’re removing the disc that is there originally and putting these knobs on instead. No hardware needed, the knobs have a threaded insert already in them so you just screw them on the original shaft. Did you ask your ace store if they could order the knobs for you? (Just curious) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metzger130 Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 Person I talked to at ACE couldn't find them on the webpage so he couldn't help me. get them. Any idea what the part number would be or anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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