X-52 Joystick Sticking Problems

[Hobo]

I've had my X-52 joystick for over four years now and only recently have I had the issue of it sticking on the plastic plate connecting to the base during the miniscule movement as used in AAR. I have tried graphite and PTFE lubricant, but neither have resolved the issue.

 

I was even thinking about going the route of a patroleum based lubricant; but I do not want a temporary fix and only in turn make the issue larger by pitting the plastic than the issue at hand. Any other ideas or remedies would be nice. Thanks.

[Hobo]

Sorry for the bump. Anyone else have a similar situation with solutions?

[KLR Rico]

I tried teflon wax, silicone lube, graphite powder, and a few others... Even tried different types of material to go between the base and the moving plate. I could never get rid of that ever-so-slight stiction. It definitely makes AAR a bit more challenging.

 

I eventually just hacked together my X52 with my Sidewinder FFB2 and called it a day.

[BTTW-DratsaB]

Hi and welcome to DCS!

 

It is one of the worst features of this stick, and many Saiteks. They don't even put a dust cover over the plate.

 

Aside from lubricants, you can make the spring less stiff by cable tieing a couple of the spring's rings together. This doesn't completely fix it but it is better.

 

There are a couple of other thread about this on here:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=52774&highlight=saitek+spring

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=76678&highlight=saitek+spring

[Hobo]

I'm glad to be here and thank you for the responses.

 

I'm not mechanically inclined so tearing apart the joystick would likely be detrimental to it. Though I do like the hacking of the Sidewinder FFB2 with the x52.

 

I appreciate the links as it looks like I was searching for the wrong keywords. The cable tie fix sounds like it might be the next step.

 

Again thank you for the help.

[BTTW-DratsaB]

No problem :)

 

If you find any good tips, let us know!

[KLR Rico]

I'm not mechanically inclined so tearing apart the joystick would likely be detrimental to it. Though I do like the hacking of the Sidewinder FFB2 with the x52.

 

Just be cautioned that joining the two sticks is about 10x more work than opening up one to tweak it's innards. :smartass:

[Fimble]

I have struggled with this mightily over the years too and the X-52 PRO is worse than the standard X-52 (I have both and now just use the original X-52). Nothing I found worked well either and most lubricants I experimented made the problem worse. Much worse.

 

To date, the best, readily available, off the shelf product to use that works pretty well is good old fashioned, Turtle Wax. I had pretty good results with tire shine products too but the Turtle Wax seems the best.

 

I applied the Turtle Wax to the affected areas (where the plate meets the base) then let it set up for a few minutes while I had a smoke. When I came back I effectively buffed the wax off similar to how you'd do it on a car and to my relief it worked pretty damn good.

 

Your mileage may vary but as far as I know it's harmless to try.

 

Here's a couple of links to the products that have worked for me. Not sure if Turtle Wax is an international, household name like it is in the U.S. If you can't get this stuff then just get your hands on any old car waxing product that isn't in liquid form. Not because it won't work but because I haven't tried that.

 

Turtle Wax

Maguires Tire Shine

[Sarge55]

I'm not kidding here but I used a liquid fabric softener (just a bit on a Q tip) applied to the shaft and it has worked great.

 

I had the same problem when I was using the X-52Pro and spent hours on the forums looking for options, from wax to silicone grease and also read about trying the fabric softener. Got pretty tired of constantly cleaning off crap that didn't work so in desperation gave it (the softener) a try. Works great, just pulled the dust cover off a minute ago and it's still good to go. It's my back up to the Warthog still.

[Fimble]

I'm not kidding here but I used a liquid fabric softener (just a bit on a Q tip) applied to the shaft and it has worked great.

 

I had the same problem when I was using the X-52Pro and spent hours on the forums looking for options, from wax to silicone grease and also read about trying the fabric softener. Got pretty tired of constantly cleaning off crap that didn't work so in desperation gave it (the softener) a try. Works great, just pulled the dust cover off a minute ago and it's still good to go. It's my back up to the Warthog still.

 

Thanks Sarge. I did note your mention of that in another thread but didn't think we had any of that lying around my house. I was wrong. The wife did have a bottle of it in the laundry room so I decided to try it just now. However reading your last post you seem to indicate lubing up the metal shaft. In my case I haven't found that to be the source of the sticking. Rather I found it to be the conically shaped plastic piece that restrains the spring and its contact with the base. Plastic on plastic.

 

Even though I was well pleased with my Turtle Wax results I tried out your suggestion as well. I lubed up the shaft as well as the plastic on plastic area. It really seems to work too. Good tip. Frankly the wax treatment worked great especially after a day or so (presumably after it fully hardened) so I didn't need to apply the fabric softener (all of this sounds crazy in the context of HOTAS doesn't it?) but tried it just the same. No ill effects.

 

Here's an image showing the different areas I think we were referring to:

Edited December 14, 2012 by Fimble

[Sarge55]

LOL... never know what the wife has in the laundry room eh? I had to ask.

 

It was where you have the yellow arrow that I applied it to. It seemed to bind a bit when I used other stuff, didn't try turtle wax though. Glad it seems to be working now for you. Happy flying.

[Fimble]

LOL... never know what the wife has in the laundry room eh? I had to ask.

 

It was where you have the yellow arrow that I applied it to. It seemed to bind a bit when I used other stuff, didn't try turtle wax though. Glad it seems to be working now for you. Happy flying.

 

Indeed! Happy flying to you as well! In addition of course to anyone else whom may stumble upon this thread via good ol' Google!