Joystick too stiff

[Kelburn]

I am using my Cyborg Evo joystick (bought about 4 years ago).
It works well but eve since I got it it gets stiffer and stiffer too use. Just now it is far too stiff too use. I pull back (with much force needed due to stiffness) but then the little plate at the bottom of the spring stays up with me needing to push it back down. Is there any way to fix this problem?

[creator2003]

Could alway tie the spring up like we do with and for fs choppers or ive been know to get a bit of wax from the kids product and lube it up ,the spring mite work best though but wax works well like oil ,yes i do have the same stick and these are what ive done with no harm done

[Kelburn]

is there any way to fix this by dismantling it an taking out the crud that is making it stiff?

[Daniel]

I would try putting a bit of grease or lubrication and see what happens.
I know the yoke I have had grease on it when I got it but it has gone away now.

[Zacchaeus]

I used silicon grease on the spring in my sidewinder. The responsiveness now is quite incredible. Wasn't brave enough to rip it out completely, LOL.

[Kelburn]

so how do I go about doing this as the area to use is quite small:



feel free to use my picture to show how to do it as I can't figure out how

[Alfashark]

QUOTE (Kelburn @ Jul 26 2008, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

so how do I go about doing this as the area to use is quite small:



feel free to use my picture to show how to do it as I can't figure out how

Undo the screws that hold the base plate together, same goes for the actual "grip" part of the stick... then once its naked, you should be able to see exactly where its binding up and either remove the spring or lubricate as necessary.
Wax works well, or if you've got some white ceramic grease handy - even better!
I did this to the stick on my X-45 almost as soon as I got it home since the spring tension was far too high and I knew it wasnt going to loosen up much more after a bit of use,

[Kelburn]

So it is safe to remove the covers on the base and handle? Will there be electronics inside that are waiting to leap out making it hard to put back together?

[ZK-MAT]

If you pull the spring up you can easily get a cloth in to clean between the base and the plate under the spring. Put a bit of vaseline on your finger (lip chapstick works as well) and rub it around the area that the plate contacts the base. Then grab a few cable ties and do this to your spring (this is mine):

[Naki]

QUOTE

It works well but eve since I got it it gets stiffer and stiffer too use. Just now it is far too stiff too use. I pull back (with much force needed due to stiffness) but then the little plate at the bottom of the spring stays up with me needing to push it back down. Is there any way to fix this problem?[/quote]

QUOTE

is there any way to fix this by dismantling it an taking out the crud that is making it stiff?[/quote]
dont take it apart its not the crud as you put it its the plastic friction mostly

QUOTE

I would try putting a bit of grease or lubrication and see what happens[/quote]dont use grease with this stick its plastic and is better suited to wax base lube to stop the friction

Yeah well you dont even need to get under it like that ,,have you ever just thought of moving the stick back and forth lube wax or anything that has been said by others and myself in the red arrow areas, only need alittle and you will see that infact it works and will travel down around the ball area ,end of long story ....

wax mine three years ago and still rubs around like a dream and ive been using mine for work about 5hours a day ..
so if you still feel like ripping it apart unnecessarily go right ahead but goggle search the tutorial on doing so

Last edited by creator2003 on Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

creator2003

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[ZK-MAT]

^^^ Mike speaks the truth .... I wouldn't go anywhere near taking it apart. Good pic mate, that's exactly where I lubed mine.... with my wifes chapstick on my finger lol.

[Kelburn]

So Vaseline?
I read on the Saitek forums to rub Silicon Grease as the friction is due to the plastic absorbing moisture in the atmosphere and expanding slightly. They advise like I said Silicon Grease. I will try Vaseline(?) coz I have some lying around

[steelsporran]

QUOTE (Kelburn @ Jul 27 2008, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So Vaseline?
I read on the Saitek forums to rub Silicon Grease as the friction is due to the plastic absorbing moisture in the atmosphere and expanding slightly. They advise like I said Silicon Grease. I will try Vaseline(?) coz I have some lying around

NO! NO! NO!
Vaseline will clog as dust will stick to it, same goes for CRC.
A silicon aerosol would be the way to go.

[creator2003]

So what about just simple wax "hair product "would you say tha same about that ? i use my stick more that most around here for designing meaning i need it to be jar free for slewing and the wax has lasted 3 years smooth as...
something so simple has turned into a this and that topic ,there are many things you could use but with out spending money on such alittle amount of anything that would be the best, half of these things would work for a very long time without damage if you didnt over do it like this topic ...

[ZK-MAT]

AT the risk of overdoing it more....

I tried a silicone spray, works great to lube anything else but did diddly squat on the joystick. Even when sprayed on a cloth and applied directly (no way I could get the spray exactly where I wanted it otherwise). All you need is a tiny amount of something slippery on your finger. I don't think too much dust is a problem looking at the state of our joysticks anyway (close-ups show up the dust a fair bit!)

Now thats my 80 cents

[Daniel]

I just put a bit of a grease on my yoke and it feels much better.
I used a wet lubricant that is designed for bikes but is doing the job fine

[Naki]

Hmm Vaseline, Stiff joysticks ...............

[Anthony]

QUOTE (Naki @ Jul 27 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm Vaseline, Stiff joysticks ...............

I wouldn't use Vaseline for this. My cousins have to use it for their ears (grommets) and it attracts dust and rubbish like nothing else.
When you pull the Vaseline out of their ears it's covered in stuff that isn't earwax.

I'll second what Mike said though.
Before my joystick died it needed a bit of lubrication. I can't remember what I used, nothing out of the ordinary though and it worked fine.
It wasn't this that killed it though.

[Kelburn]

So what to use:
I've got Vaseline, Chap stick but that's about all don't have any wax (hair gel included).
Would it be worth going out to get Silicon Grease as Saitek advises or would Chap-Stick do fine?

[ZK-MAT]

Entirely up to you mate. You're not greasing up the internals of the space shuttle, not even the internals of your joystick, only the bit between two plastic surfaces. Be a rebel amongst your generation, make a decision by yourself, now armed with the options