Bastard joystick... repair?

[Octavius]

I use Saitek Cyborg Gold USB thingamabob.

It worked fine for a while and its actually starting to show age.  I think its only 6 months old.  I noticed a spiking on the y-axis and the tension has worn down (its too loose now).  

I've never cleaned one or did any sort of surgery on joysticks before.  How do I go about doing this?  I've heard the term 'pots' before.. but wtf are they and what do they do?  

Anyone know of any way to increase the tension on the stick?  The center point is very loose and screws up fine adjustments such as long range gunnery and other bunk.  

I know I know, its relatively cheap to go and buy a new one... but I'm a cheap person without the deniro to buy joysticks at my leisure.  Any help with adjusting or refurbishing this thing would be greatly appreciated!  

Thanks in advance,
oct

[capt. apathy]

the 'pot' is like a rotory switch (dial) as you turn it it senses the position it is in.  some sort of linkage will hook this to your stick (one for each axis) so that as you move the stick it rotates the 'pot'.  this is the main electronic part of your stick, the rest is machanical or just wiring to get the pot signal to your pc

[snafu]

Hi Oct,
 I've been using an old (Pre Gold) Cyborg for ages now. (Well over 2 years) Before you start ripping it apart check this first.

The Cyborg has a single spring for tension and when you move the stick a collar under tension from the spring slides up and down the shaft (Must be a joke in there somewhere)

Compress the spring downwards and spray some polish or similar onto the shaft and "Work it well in". I had what I thought was bad spiking on mine about a year ago which turned out to be caused by the mechanical drag on the shaft. a quick spray of silicon polish every few months gave it a new lease of life.

Cost you nothing give it a try.

Not sure about the spring tension though. That would require a strip down to insert a spacer under the spring.
 
TTFN
snafu

[qts]

If it's only 6 months old, it's probably still under warranty. Take it back and get a replacement.

[maddog]

replaced my x36 with a new x45..... emailled Saitek tech support about bad 8 way switch on x36 (3 years old).... they replied they sent one right out.......  So... send them an email..... I have had good response from them.....

[Octavius]

[edited:  should read the whole post before replying]

Will furniture polish work?  I dont have any silicon spray on hand.

[Estes]

I have the same problem with spring tension on x45..Found that scraping a birthday candle up in the part where the spring goes into the joystick handle helps the shaft thing move more freely

[snafu]

You know where the furniture polish is?? I would never let my wife know I knew that. It was bad enough when I stumbled over the vacuum cleaner (JK ladies)

Don't see why it wouldn't work I used silicon polish because it was all I had to hand (It's the stuff used to make dashboards in cars etc shine).

The Birthday candle idea sounds great. I think all you gotta make sure is you don't use something which might "Leak" inside the base and get at the pots or is petroleum (SP)? based which could affect the plastic.

TTFN
snafu