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Please help, my joystick makes a loud CLACK sound/feeling, is it normal?
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RandyT:
The issue seems to be the heavy spring tension of that stick, which creates friction between the bottom surface of the centering part and the socket.  To be honest, I think you stumbled upon the best solution, and probably the way the stick should really be assembled.  The two conical pieces are virtually identical, with the exception that the white one is made from a slippery material.  I think HAPP is putting them together incorrectly.  The white one should really be at the top.

*edit*

Did some more investigating.  Even with the white one at the top, there is still the sound of the part sliding and coming to an abrupt stop at the wall of the socket.  This action is unavoidable, as the part must move in order  to pivot properly.  The spring tension is high enough to keep the part in place, until the stick is tilted far enough to break the friction.  At that point, the part "snaps" into place.  So I think the best solution is what I recommended earlier.  Liberal application of a thick, silicone-based lube to smooth out the motion.  Also, analyzing it outside of actual use might be causing more concern that is warranted.  Put a dozen hours on the stick actually using it, and see if the sound persists.
LightningBolt:
I know this is going to seem like me dragging this on but:

- got a custom pac-man stick from tornadoterry (the one that uses IL base) and the black bushing fits in nice and tight, no noise or clacking.

- got a super joystick (happ made) from tornadoterry and the black bushing fits similarly

- got another happ made pac-man reunion stick off a different seller on ebay and it had the same clicking/clacking as the original I tried! I switched bushings with the one from the super and the problem stopped but there was too much slop as it seems the actual hole, that the black bushing goes into, is too big now! So I switched the base except for the restrictor plate and everything seems pretty much fine now.

Ya I'm obsessed :P

I'm using the custom pac from tornado terry in my control panel and keeping the happ as a spare.

jimmer:

The problem you've discovered is that there are a few sources (factories) for these sticks and lots of sellers and you never quite know what comes from where. Plus there could be a random element where it's not even as simple as this factory produces clacky ones, this one doesn't.

I've got these sticks ('Happ Super') from Xarcade, IL, and a couple of chinese factories direct. not got one from Happ direct and I've yet to get one with the problem you've found but I can feel the sideways play at the pivot.
LightningBolt:
The clack seems to be a bushing problem but not sure what it is about the bushings that cause it. It's funny to think there are multiple factories I guess arcade stuff is still pretty popular
RandyT:

--- Quote from: LightningBolt on October 30, 2014, 09:20:59 am ---The clack seems to be a bushing problem but not sure what it is about the bushings that cause it. It's funny to think there are multiple factories I guess arcade stuff is still pretty popular

--- End quote ---

Did you try lubing the socket?

It's not as simple as "multiple factories", and that may not even be true.  Injection molded parts come from multi-cavity molds.  Each cavity is slightly different, and the molten plastic flows into the cavities at different points during the "shot".  There will also be minor variations in temperature and other aspects of the run.  While injection molded parts are pretty uniform, given the cost per part, they are not going to be absolutely perfect from one part to the next.

I have a couple dozen of these sticks here, all from the same place (HAPP) and managed to find one that clicked a bit.  The others didn't.  I put some lube on the socket, and the click went away.  You are also dealing with a part subject to some pretty heavy friction.  This means that the dynamic will change once the part starts to wear a bit from use.  Not so different from breaking in a trackball, which mates the ball to the roller, and seats the ball bearings to the internal races.

If you use the stick for a couple of weeks, after you've taken any simple steps (like lube) to mitigate a perceived issue, and it continues to persist, then feel free to obsess about design / manufacturing aspects.   At this point in the overall process, however, it's somewhat pointless.  Sort of like spending time analyzing the weight, grip material and balance of a hammer before you try pounding a nail. :)
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