Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Noir on April 06, 2011, 02:59:28 AM
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Hey guys,
Several joystick including my T-16000's and Saitek's are sold with some kind of lubricant applied on it. After some time this lubricant just dries out and the sticks start to "KWWWEEERK". I've read somewhere that this kind of lubricant is rather special as it's "dry"...Anyone knows what to buy to lubricate my stick without damaging it? (no pun intended :lol)
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Funny you should bring this subject up. My X-52 was beginning to feel a bit awkward today. I'm not even sure if you are supposed to lubricate this thing, but I took a Q-tip & some Hoppe's 9 gun oil and applied a very fine
layer on it. (I do not recommend this to anyone!) I'm just too cheap to go and buy a new stick.
:joystick: Coogan
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Funny you should bring this subject up. My X-52 was beginning to feel a bit awkward today. I'm not even sure if you are supposed to lubricate this thing, but I took a Q-tip & some Hoppe's 9 gun oil and applied a very fine
layer on it. (I do not recommend this to anyone!) I'm just too cheap to go and buy a new stick.
:joystick: Coogan
I killed a saitek cyborg using lubricant for metals, it felt great at first but got crappy after a few day when the oil dried out on the plastic.
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I only applied this to the metal shaft on the stick. Not any plastic parts.
Still in the trial stage with it. So far so good.
Coogan
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I would avoid any lubricant meant for metal! They will usually eat plastics. I know that Hoppes #9 and similar lubes will cause some plastics to turn to a weird gel. If you want a lubricant make sure it's safe for plastic. Some Teflon grease, maybe a molybdenum grease or a careful coating of a spray on graphite.
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I guess I'll have to ask around in a hardware store.
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Silicon dry lubricant spray should work. Stuff can be expensive though, it's meant for professional use.
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graphite always works
(good liuck cleaning the mess though :devil)
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Why not just call Saitek and ask them what they recommend/currently use for a lubricant?
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I trashed my old X-45 by using WD40 on it! Lessons learned!
What I used frequently with my X-52 was a product called Sil-Glyde (http://www.amazon.com/AGS-Company-Sil-Glyde-Brake-Lubricant/dp/B000CIHTPE) which was designed for use with automotive brake caliper slides so that it won't destroy the rubber seals on them. You can also use di-electric grease. Regardless make sure it is a silicone-based lubricant and is safe for use with rubber and you should be ok.
Just be careful to apply only a little bit to a q-tip and then apply it to the base of the stick. If you use too much, it can 'capture' dirt and dust and eventually make the situation worse.
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To lubricate your joystick, KY works well...oh wait...wrong joystick.
Okay, for the joystick you use to play AH, use a silicon based lubricant that you can find at any hardware store or auto-part store. Just make sure that you do not get any of the lubricant on any of the electronics and wipe away any excess lubricant.
ack-ack
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I used garage door opener grease on my old X-45's. I applied it with a Q-tip and it lasted about 6 months each time.
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Best lubricant on the market:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/moolah/anatomy.html
:ahand
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Try a silicone grease. You can usually find it in the plumbing section of a hardware store. Sometimes it comes in a little tube, sometimes a little tub. A little dab'll do ya. It's a non-petroleum based product. Why this is important is because a standard type of grease that is a petroleum based product, will tend to act as a solvent when put in direct contact with a plastic--which is also a petroleum based product. Over time bad things will happen to the plastic that might include softening or turning very brittle depending on the types of plastic and the grease used. It's also bad on things like neoprene rubber (another petro product) o-rings. Tends to break them down fairly quickly. I use the silicone grease on them also and never have that issue.
I've used silicone plumbing grease on my old analog TM Elite pedals (that I run through a radio shack USB adapter) for years with no problems. That I'm still using those pedals oughta tell you how long I've had em :D. I take them apart to clean the pot now and then and re-apply the grease. Just did that about a month ago and everything looks great. I also use it on my CH stick rig, same deal.
Silicone. And you thought it was just for boobies. :devil
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Available at Home Depot
(http://thegluedepot.com/images/products/detail/CRC-2-26-Detail.jpg)
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thanks for the answers guys, its a T-16000
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Dred if he was looking to clean the pots on that thing I'd absolutely recommend the CRC spray. Great stuff. Unless I've misunderstood, I think he's looking to lube the gimbals, etc. on the stick. The 2-26 wouldn't do much for that.
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I trashed my old X-45 by using WD40 on it! Lessons learned!
WD-40 is not properly a lubricant; using it will clean out any lubricant that you had, as well as any residues that are gumming up the moving parts, but it's not designed to be a long-term replacement for proper lubrication. Using it liberally on the gimbals to clean them out, letting it dry, then applying either silicone grease or a dry silicone spray is a much better procedure.