Dodgy/broken joystick? (Seimitsu LS32)

[s_busby_uk]

After some - frankly quite standard - arcade action the other day, the P1 joystick on my machine - a Seimitsu LS-32 - decided to stop working in the Right direction. I did some fiddling with the connections (which may or may not have helped), and managed to get the thing to work provided the joystick isn't all the way (ie, it's "engaged" but not at the full extent of the "throw", which seems to be a complete deadzone), but this isn't optimal for frantic gameplay and it doesn't work 100% of the time either.

My question is if you think my joystick is knackered or if it's likely something else I can fix (be it in software or with some rewiring). I mounted my joysticks from the top and they're covered by some adhesive PVC and acrylic, so if I can avoid having to replace it that would be great, but clearly I will do if that's the general consensus.

(I should also point out that my machine hasn't really had all that much use, so these sticks are not exactly years old and battle worn.)

Thanks in advance.

[mgb]

Did you mount it so that you can replace microswitches as needed?
You may just have a bad switch.

[s_busby_uk]

Gah, I'm not at home to check but depending on how they are removed (if they slide out sideways or not) there may not be enough room to change them without removing the whole stick.

Still, thanks for pointing out that it may just be a switch! That could at least save me spending £20 joystick! Think I may even have some spare switches around to replace...

[mgb]

when you get home, check it out.
when mounting sticks, its really important to do it so they're serviceable because switches will go bad and sticks will bind.
put up some pics of how its mounted when you can.

[s_busby_uk]

Here you go.

If it's a case of unscrewing that bottom plate and slotting a new one in then I think I'm ok...?

[mgb]

Yeah, I don't see any reason you'd have to destroy your overlay above. 
    For your current issue, try swapping a micro switch (even if you swap it with another one in the stick)
 Also make sure the stick isn't binding for some reason.
Even if you did have to replace the stick at some point, you can keep the sticks mounting plate in place and just replace the parts from a new seimitsu rather than destroy the overlay.

[s_busby_uk]

Great, good to know it's easy enough to look into!

Quick q though: what do you mean by "binding" in this instance?

[mgb]

By binding, I mean something just not moving smoothly.
Like maybe a messed up spring or something like that.
Does the stick seem to move smoothly?

I had a joystick once that just didn't move right. But I never really put my finger on what it was that prevented it from smooth movement.

[s_busby_uk]

Yeah for all intents and purposes the joystick appears to be just fine in how it moves, it just doesn't engage Right properly.

Haven't had a chance to fix yet - have to disconnect some buttons before I can have a proper crack and I need to make sure I remember where all the wires go!