Preserving a joystick.

[StokesAk]

How can I preserve the life of my joystick, I have had problems with spiking in the past after about only 6 months.

Are there any ways that I could maximize the life on my joystick.

[bravoa8]

How can I preserve the life of my joystick, I have had problems with spiking in the past after about only 6 months.

Are there any ways that I could maximize the life on my joystick.

What brand are you getting?I know that has lots to do with it I have a mircrosoft sidewinder probably about 7 years old and it works great it don't have a spring though but its still a great stick. But no I don't have any tips on how to preserve it

[Spikes]

What stick is it? No real way to 'preserve' it although some people have methods to fix problems with more expensive sticks (such as X52 and CH).

[Auger]

Unless you convert from potentiometers to Hall effect sensors you're going to get spiking eventually.  Metal on metal will wear out, and you'll get spikes or dead zones.  Keep in a relatively temperature stable, low dust environment and the should last 4 or 5 years.  Unless the pots are cheap.  If that's the case, check out DigiKey or another electronic parts supplier for something physically similar with the same ohm rating and replace them.

[Bruv119]

buy a CH one.    Won't need another.

[Krusty]

First let's hear what stick he has before making suggestions.

If he starts his sentence with "Its a Logictech -- " we can cut him off right there and say "get another one"

Otherwise, let's see what he's got to say 

[Bruv119]

i want to get my CH fanboi comment in quick though     

but then again if everyone goes and gets CH gear it will be a level playing field and that wouldn't be good for my K/D.    


errrr  yea get logitech they are well good an real cheap ya know.   

[ozrocker]

If it is Logitech.....
Logitech has a "Clear Calibration " utility on their website. Clears out fragmented calibrations, which causes stick spikes. I used to have a Logitech, and had spike problems till I used that. It's a program that apparently a lot of people did not know is out there. Hope this helps some people.
If you have a Saitek, sometimes spikes will occur, usually a pulll to left/right. If you twist (rudder) left, right , left. Then let center, it self calibrates.
                                                                                                                                                               <S> oz

[Krusty]

Posting this reply (copied and pasted, no less) in every joystick thread there is won't solve the problem.


I tried the so-called utility, and it did nothing when I had a wingman stick. The problem is not anything software can fix. It's a hardware issue. The issue is that Logitech uses cheap hardware, and it dies quickly. Once a pot starts going it is done for, it will never get better, and no software will help.

[BaldEagl]

If you don't use it and keep it in the box it should last forever.   

[Plazus]

How can I preserve the life of my joystick, I have had problems with spiking in the past after about only 6 months.

Are there any ways that I could maximize the life on my joystick.

Easy- quit masturbating so frequently! 

[Westy]

Convert to Hall sensors if you can or buy some spare potentiometers from the manufacturer
or a 3rd party vendor.  Anticipating the same problem aftr my first pot went south in my CH F16
fighterstick I bought about 10 pots to replace any that went bad in the future. So far the supply
has outlasted my online game playing days.

TIP: Whatever you do do not use WD-40 to clean potentiometers out with. It is not a good,
long term solution. Use a can of TV-Tuner/Control Cleaner & Lubricant from Radio Shack for
example to blow junk and oxidation out and to lube the contacts inside.

[StokesAk]

Its the Cyborg X from Saitek

[zack1234]

If you don't use it and keep it in the box it should last forever.   

I have brand new logitech force feedback 3d pro in box, very good as a paper weight