Joystick Maintenance

[T Square]

Anybody with a Saitek X52 I got a question ? On my stick the collar that the spring rides on around the main shaft of the stick, that makes contact with the base has developed an irritating sqeek when rotating the stick around it's axis. it is not internal because when I remove tension from the spring it goes away. My question is this; Is there some kind of lubricant that won't make a mess or damage the plastic that will quite the sqeeeeek ? I'm almost deaf in my right ear and my left is working very hard to catch up (Doc says to many years at EOR), I don't wear my hearing aid like I should (decreases nagging time dramaticly when not in use) so if I can hear it, must be pretty loud.

[Tako_Kichi]

I'm on my second X52 but I've never experienced the squeaks you refer to.

On my first one I did try applying some silicone grease to that area and the type I used was clear and sold for plumbers use. However I found that it attracted a lot of dirt, dust and hair (we have two cats and a dog so loose animal hair can sometimes be a problem). Any 'wet' lubricant would probably give the same poor results as airborne detritus will stick to it. I cleaned all the silicone grease off again after only a couple of weeks.

I then tried a 'dry' lubricant in the form of candle wax. I took a small candle left from a birthday cake and rubbed it around the ring on the base and onto the underside of the cone. You don't need to use a lot and should avoid getting a wax build up as it can drop off and get into the base.

Talking of which are you sure your squeaking is coming from the cone/ring mating faces and it's not caused by something that has dropped onto the silvery disc on the bottom of the handle and then got trapped between the disc and the underside of the base? The clearance between the disc and the base is very small and it wouldn't take much to get trapped in there and cause problems.

I haven't used anything on my newest X52 and it's as quiet as a church mouse.

[OBIO]

I don't have the X52, but I do have a Saitek ST290 Pro stick. And it has the squeak at the base....where the black ring at the bottom of the tension spring meets the upper surface of the stick's base. I haven't done anything to fix the squeak....simply because I'm afraid that anything I use to quiet the squeak could work its way into the base of the stick and mess something up in there....but I really don't thin there is much in the bottom of the ST290 Pro other than the throttle circuitry...and that is a good 5 inches from where the stick meets the base.

OBIO

[T Square]

Talking of which are you sure your squeaking is coming from the cone/ring mating faces and it's not caused by something that has dropped onto the silvery disc on the bottom of the handle and then got trapped between the disc and the underside of the base? The clearance between the disc and the base is very small and it wouldn't take much to get trapped in there and cause problems.

I thought of that as well But when i raise the disk it goes away so I,m pretty sure it's the disc or ring contacting the plastic base.

I tried a little something I use out in my wood shop on my saw tables it's a dry film lubricant aplied with a rag or spray dries clear and does not attract dust keeps moisture away and makes the table tops slick as ice, now it,s as quiet as a church mouse.

[Tako_Kichi]

Glad you got it sorted.

I use a wax furniture polish (rag applied) on the table of my scroll saw so that the wood slides around easily while I'm cutting. The wax also keeps the moisture away too.

[Navtech]

Just a warning:
Do not use any lubricant from petroleum origin (can dissolve or degrade plastic material !)

[JDTinballs]

I found that by running my fingertip around the two surfaces, disc and base, that it seems to cure it. Firstly, it sweeps away any wayward particles and also the natural grease in your skin may also act as a lubricant.

Jamie

[napamule]

STOP! Don't use any wax or oil lubricant. The 'ideal' and 'modern' thing to use is a sheet of anti-static material that you put into dryer to prevent static built up on clothes. That sheet has an 'oily' substance that is 'friendly' to any/all joystick (plastic) rubbing surfaces. Don't use anything else!
Chuck B
Napamule

[Willy]

I've been using the same old MicroSoft Sidewinder Precision Pro stick since it was new in 1999. All I've ever done in the way of maintenance is the occasional (every few years) disassembly, cleaning and using a very thin coat of silicone grease for fishing reels on the wear surfaces, then reassembly.