Just helpful hints & what I've found. If you have a warranty, use it. Mine was absolutely filthy inside with rubber particles & bits of ferrite or some electrically attracted debris. After a thorough cleaning mine worked as it did when new. I'm am a ham radio operator and household fixer-upper/shade tree mechanic, with some years of tinkering under my belt. If this is beyond your ability don't do it unless you're going to trash it anyway and want to try learning on it.
Adult supervision for minors.
1. Supplies- Canned Air or canister vac with corner attachment, Q-Tips cut in half, 1-Hemostat, Alcohol, small screw driver set, then Unplug it. DOH! no, really some youngster might it.
2. There are three screws in the grip under the palm of your hand when gripped, remove them. The one above the trigger is smaller. There will be 2 more in the base of the grip which act as a collar around the vertical spring loaded shaft. There is a small snap tab under the grip near your wrist when in use. Lift it gently with a jewelery screwdriver or other small tool. DON'T snap it off. When all done it will split in half. Watch how it comes apart.
3. The two halves will split away leaving the top grip plate & wiring attached. Advanced settings button #1 thumb switch should stay in place. Note how it is held in place so it goes back that way. It snaps in place. The trigger should stay on the pin in the left grip half.
4. You'll probably find 8 small self threading screws in the base around the flat bottomed plate removing them allows one to lift the upper cone plate with the optional 6 buttons #5-11. This plate is plugged into the base. Mark the plug end with a permanent marker so you don't try to reverse it. It will now. lift carefully off the stick & over the top plate & wires to be set aside.
5. Note the rubber boot has 2 holes & a notch for alignment when closing up after cleaning.
6. The 4 chrome screws in the white frame can be easily removed to lift & clean the frame if desired.
7. No specifics about cleaning. I cleaned everything I could see. The grease under the grip attracts the black debris. After months of use it was splattered everywhere.
8. Reassembly is a bit tricky. Start with The 6 button chrome cone & reverse the process. Mine went together easily. Then Grip halves, the base alignment lugs on the inside of the collar,the trigger, thumb button, rubber boot, compression spring barbs(at the base of the vertical shaft -the 2 ends fit on each side of a protrusion inside the Rt grip) must stay aligned while pressing it together. Don't force it... when it's right it will pop together easily. Make sure, before setting the screw back in place, that everything is straight, the thumb button, trigger, twist, all "Feel" right, & no wires hanging out between the grips.
I hope this helps especially for those with tight $$$ right now. Plus you could have a good back-up stick, right? No More of this-
