Joystick moving up/down

[DarkKobold]

My current wico joysticks are getting very bothersome. They tend to move up and down, getting stuck, and restricting movement. It has become very irritating, and I am wondering if I can get anything, say from Bob Roberts, to fix this problem.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Starting with the most logical stuff:

1) Do you have the little "e-clips" installed on the bottom of the shaft?
Like This
2) Are the spacers installed properly?
Like This

Those are the two most basic reasons this would happen.
If they are installed like that, are the spacers slipping into the center hole?
What is moving WITH the stick?
Are they completely factory, or have they been refitted with some of the new parts that are detailed in the "leaf stick comparison" thread here?

[OSCAR]

If this is a real Wico leaf stick, then make sure you have both the black plastic washer and the metal washer installed.  I've picked up used Wico's before where one or both of them had been removed, probably robbed by an operator to fix another joystick.  Also make sure the rubber grommet is installed correctly, it could possibly be installed upside down.  When properly assembled, the Wico leaf joystick has very little end float, it is pretty difficult to lift the shaft high enough to cause any type of problem.  You may also want to spray a little silicone lube on the end of the shaft before putting it through the grommet if it is sticking.

The base assembly consists of (5) pieces: the base, black plastic washer, grommet, metal washer, and then the cap with the leaf switches.  They must be installed in that order, as well.

This photo shows the order the components should be installed in the base, from left to right.




This pic shows the grommet, the tall side goes towards the balltop.




Assembled base, cap not shown.





The shaft assembly consists of (5) pieces: shaft, dust cover, spring, actuator, e-clip.  Again, they should be installed in that order, with the grommet being between the dust cover (top of base) and the spring on the underside.




The narrow end of the actuator should be towards the e-clip.

[DarkKobold]

I don't have a spring... I am guessing that is the problem...

I checked with BobRoberts. No replacement springs. Ergh. Anyone know where I can find those?

I did see the Wico v. Chinese knock offs  thread. I definately have old skool wico.

[OSCAR]

The spring pretty much just keeps the actuator down where it is supposed to be.  The grommet does all the work in the joystick.

I'd say just go to a  hardware store and look for a spring with a 3/8" I.D. and 5/16" uncompressed length, that should work.

[RetroJames]

Reviving an old thread here,

I looked for this last night as I was troublshooting a problem with one joystick making clicking sounds on the Omega Mame, turned out the metal washer had slid over and was not around the shaft.  Of note though, when i turned the plastic restrictor narrow end down as instructed, my 8-ways turned into 4-ways and were generally stiff and hard to use.  When I turned them fat side down again all was good.  Just my observations.