MySpace wrote:

When I calibrate it, it shakes around in the center a little bit. It might be dirty contacts or a conflict software wìse?

I wouldn't be surprised if the insides of the joystick needed a bit of cleaning. You could also spend a bit of time rolling the centering adjustment knobs back and forth to help out - but a good cleaning would probably be best.

MySpace wrote:

When I plugged it into my PC it didn't got detected. I tried connecting it into the game ports and with a usb adapter from a sidewinder joystick I had. Still it didn't got recognized.
I tried it in my Windows 98 PC which it didn't got recognized with the adapter and connecting it straight to the game port.
I tried connecting it with my modern PC only with the USB adapter, and it didn't got recognized in Windows 7 and XP.

That sidewinder USB adapter only works with joysticks that have USB functionality built in.

MySpace wrote:

Works perfectly, but now the is another problem. When I calibrate it, it shakes around in the center a little bit. It might be dirty contacts or a conflict software wìse?

If it is only "shaking a little bit", I think that is the expected operation. Analog PC joysticks are not known for being precise instruments. Games should tolerate the noise.

I have an old Gravis Analog Pro that has 4-button (actually 5 if you count the trigger, 2 are programmable via the potentiometers) with throttle control, manual adjustment screws, and how loose/tight the joystick can be. In some games, like Secret of Monkey Island, the cursor goes to the bottom right of the screen, and in Police Quest EGA, and other Sierra On-Line games, the same thing happens to the character.

I believe I need to dismantle mine and clean it out since that's sometimes jumpy in Windows itself as well.

Hey that's a great looking joystick! I like it alot! I've been wanting to get an old CH Products Mach 1/2/3 joystick similar to yours for a long time. One of these days, I'm sure I'll find one at a thrift store.

Anyways, as The Goat already mentioned, those USB adapters will only work with MS Sidewinder Precision Pro joysticks. Even then, it will only work with models numbered 57540. Although it doesn't work with your Kraft joystick, you should still hang onto it. In my experience, those adapters can be difficult to find. Also, the Sidewinder Precision Pro is an excellent joystick. Should you ever acquire one, you'll want that USB adapter for it.

If you want to eliminate the jittery centering on your joystick's calibration, you need this ancient utility:

CTFJ V3.20

It only works in Win9x, unfortunately.

If you still want to connect your joystick via USB (I wouldn't), these converters work well:

Rockfire Gameport to USB adapter

Yes this is a necrothread...

Does anyone know of a modern interpretation of this Kraft Joystick that simply works with modern Windows PC's? Preferably USB? It doesn't have to be exactly the same form factor, but it will be for retro Apple games.

valnar,

While not a modern interpretation, the CH Products Flightstick Pro USB is a living dinosaur. Aside from the USB connector, it's the same joystick they've been making for over 30 years. The only thing missing is a 4th axis for rudder, but I don't think the old Mach 1/2/3 sticks had that either.

From an affordability and availability perspective, the Logitech F310 is probably your best-bang-for-the-bucks input device. It can also be switched between DirectInput and XInput modes. They frequently go on sale for about $15 USD.

I still want one of those old CH Products Mach 1/2/3 joysticks. They just look so cool. There's a nice page with descriptions of them all here:

https://dosdays.co.uk/topics/Manufacturers/chproducts.php

Mach II it is.... if I can find one. Thanks!

the Goat wrote on 2018-04-24, 14:10:

MySpace wrote:

Works perfectly, but now the is another problem. When I calibrate it, it shakes around in the center a little bit. It might be dirty contacts or a conflict software wìse?

If it is only "shaking a little bit", I think that is the expected operation. Analog PC joysticks are not known for being precise instruments. Games should tolerate the noise.

I think same. If memory serves, it was normal the little block in the Windows calibration applet was moving around the centre a little bit.
The only time I've ever saw a fixed block on an analogue joystick was with a gamepad that had a d-pad.
It used fixed resistor or a microcontroller or something to generate x/y values.
But other vintage joysticks, such as the CH MACH III that I had, did shake a tiny bit.

valnar wrote on 2025-02-16, 12:13:

Mach II it is.... if I can find one. Thanks!

I used to have an CH MACH III, I think. With the calibration knobs.. It was fine. Also for flight sims and as a mouse replacement (some old DOS paint programs etc).
It could be used in centered mode (joystick goes back to middle) and in uncentered mode (joystick being loose).
The MACH II has a more elegant design, though, I admit.

For some games, I recall there was a dead-zone you could apply for the center position, to avoid unintentional drifting.

Rwolf,

Scroll up a bit:

KT7AGuy wrote on 2018-04-25, 02:27:

If you want to eliminate the jittery centering on your joystick's calibration, you need this ancient utility:

CTFJ V3.20

It only works in Win9x, unfortunately.

In the before-times, I used to own a Thrustmaster ACM Game Card. I seem to recall that it too had some sort of DOS utility to do something similar. Maybe the CH Products game card also had something like that. Unfortunately, I also seem to recall that the usefulness of a game card was greatly reduced after the 486 era.

KT7AGuy wrote on 2025-02-16, 15:08:

Rwolf, […]
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Rwolf,

Scroll up a bit:

KT7AGuy wrote on 2018-04-25, 02:27:

If you want to eliminate the jittery centering on your joystick's calibration, you need this ancient utility:

CTFJ V3.20

It only works in Win9x, unfortunately.

In the before-times, I used to own a Thrustmaster ACM Game Card. I seem to recall that it too had some sort of DOS utility to do something similar. Maybe the CH Products game card also had something like that. Unfortunately, I also seem to recall that the usefulness of a game card was greatly reduced after the 486 era.

The utility works great on Windows 95 and 98, but not 98SE.
And the latter is what most people would use those days, unfortunately. 🙁

So it's hit and miss, I think.
A gameport joystick and/or a GDI game using old joystick API might be supported, likely.
But if either of them depends on USB/DirectInput then maybe not. That's how it reads.

CTFJV320.ZIP contains version 3.20 of the CTFJ Joystick Utility for W95 and W98. CTFJ features improved scaling and deadzone rou […]
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CTFJV320.ZIP contains version 3.20 of the CTFJ Joystick Utility for W95 and W98. CTFJ features improved scaling and deadzone routines and expanded scaling methods over those provided with Windows as well as providing Gain and Range adjustments that allow you tailor your joystick reponse for optimum results with any game or simulation. Before installing CTFJ v3.20, you should uninstall any CTFJ v2.xx or CTFJ v3.xx files that you're already using via the Add/Remove program option in the Control Panel. When it asks if you want to delete the CTFJ300.VXD or CTFJ310.VXD files, say 'Yes'. To install CTFJ v3.20, unZIP the file into a temporary directory and run the SETUP program. After installation, please read the DOC file in the installed directory (usually \Program Files\StickWorks\CTFJ3) before trying to use CTFJ3 (772,728 bytes).

Logitech Users Note: Some users have reported some problems using CTFJ3 with Logitech devices, particularly the force feedback wheels. If you're using one of these units. check TN0001.ZIP (above) for a Tech Note on the problem and it's solutions before you install CTFJ3.

WIN98 SE Users Note: Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) has made some changes in the way that certain types of joysticks are accessed when a game uses the newer DirectInput calls. This primarily affects USB joysticks/controllers when running newer games under W98 SE. In those cases, not all functions of CTFJ will work. Basic centering should still be improved, but the deadzone, sensitivity, and gain adjustments will probably have no effect.

Are you referring to CTFJ V3.20 when you say that it won't work under Win98SE?

It always worked just fine for me under under all versions of Win9x. Although, I did not try it under WinME simply because I don't run it. I would expect that CTFJ should still work fine under WinME though.

Maybe it's got something to do with gameport vs USB peripherals? I only ever used gameport sticks under Win9x and CTFJ, so maybe that's the issue.

WIN98 SE Users Note: Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) has made some changes in the way that certain types of joysticks are accessed when a game uses the newer DirectInput calls. This primarily affects USB joysticks/controllers when running newer games under W98 SE. In those cases, not all functions of CTFJ will work. Basic centering should still be improved, but the deadzone, sensitivity, and gain adjustments will probably have no effect.

I switched to USB controllers after WinXP came out. For me, Win9x = gameport controllers, and WinXP = USB controllers. That's just the way I've always done it.

However, I do have an old Thrustmaster Fox 2 Pro. It's an older stick that was available during that transition-era when gameport was being phased out in favor of USB. As such, it has drivers and software for Win98SE. I'll try it out one of these days and see if it will work with CTFJ, then report back here. It may be awhile...

I had always hoped that somebody would create a CTFJ-like program for WinXP and newer, but it never happened. Awhile back, I posted about this topic here:
Analog Joystick Sensitivity and Input Smoothing/Curving