Mag-Stik question

[bkrownd]

  I got a Mag-Stik from Ultimarc, which doesn't come with any documentation.  I'm trying to figure out how to remove the knob so I can mount the Mag-Stick through the hole in my control panel, but the knob doesn't seem to screw off the end of the shaft.  The knob is too large to pass through the hole in my panel, and I also want the dust washer on the top side of the panel anyway.  If the knob can't be removed from the shaft does the whole joystick shaft have to be removed, using the nut at the very bottom?  I have e-mailed Ultimarc, but while I wait I thought I'd ask here too. 

  edit: sorry, it's a Mag-Stik PLUS

[Nephasth]

Pull the C-clip off the bottom of the shaft.

[bkrownd]

Thanks for the reply.  I actually don't see a c-clip anywhere - do I have to remove something to access it, such as the microswitches or the main mounting flange?  I'm worried I'll remove the wrong thing and screw the joystick up or break some plastic bit. 

[bkrownd]

  I guess I need to specify that it's a Mag-Stik Plus

[drventure]

The C Clip should be at the end of the shaft of the stick.

Use a small screwdriver to pop it off (and be careful, they'll fly off and it's easy to lose!)

The little plastic pieces on the shaft should the slide off, and the centering spring etc. Shaft should come right out.

[drventure]

Wait. Magstick pluses are a bit different.

Does your look like this



You should be able to just take that nut off the end of the shaft.

Be sure to keep track of the little bracket things. That's what engages to switch from 4 to 8 way.

[bkrownd]

Sorry about the confusion - yes, that's a photo of the beast

The nut is on pretty tight.  Has anybody tried removing the shaft?  I don't want to potentially release all the spring loaded bits etc until I hear from someone who's done it or from Ultimarc.

[drventure]

There's not a lot of parts. Just pay attention to how they come off and you'll be fine.

I used a rag and vice grips to hold the shaft while I took the nut off. You don't want to scratch the chrome on the shaft.

I believe the magstick plus knobs are molded on so that they won't unscrew when you change from 4 to 8 way (you have to pull up and put some torque on the knob to change it, and I could easily see that constantly unscrewing the knob.)

[bkrownd]

 

Thanks!

  Ultimarc pointed me towards a page on their site I hadn't seen before, with exploded diagrams:  http://www.ultimarc.com/controldiags.html

[drventure]

Perfect. That's what I was looking for on the ultimarc site but couldn't find.

[bkrownd]

  I got the mag-stik in, though removing and replacing the sticky nut twice was hard on the plastic parts.  The fairly soft plastic of the slotted collar got chewed up on the edges of the slot as I turned the nut.  It took a bit of force on the wrench to turn the nut, and the soft plastic wasn't really up to holding the shaft against that kind of force without deforming.  The knob also got a bit more loose on the shaft, so it's really difficult to switch from 4-way to 8-way as intended.  I'll just have to use the slider on the side of the unit to switch 4-way/8-way.