Potentially stupid T-stick plus/Prodigy question

[Patent Doc]

OK, I was rereading Kevin's joystick reviews and it occurred to me that most joysticks engage at 5 degrees including the prodigy and T-stick plus.

[Tiger-Heli]

I think you are missing a lot.   The travel is limited mainly by the amount of travel of the shaft.  A larger actuator would eliminate some "dead zone" (and make it easier to hit two switches), but wouldn't increase overall travel.  A longer shaft would increase actual measured travel (inches) without changing degrees of travel, but would not really be a viable solution.

If you want long throw and 4/8-way switchable, the best solution is probably the 49-way sticks with RandyT's restrictors.

[Grasshopper]

OK, I was rereading Kevin's joystick reviews and it occurred to me that most joysticks engage at 5 degrees including the prodigy and T-stick plus.  If I understand correctly this means that the P360, WICOs, Super, Prodigy, and T-stick all actuate the microswitch/leaf switch at the same time.  It is only the maximum travel (or lack of it) that throws people off with Andy and Randy's products.  My question is this, wouldn't it be a simple hack to increase the size of the restrictor?  I know you'd have to be careful, but conceptually, this just doesn't seem like it wouldn't be too hard.  Am I missing something?  I should say I don't actually own either of these joysticks, and have little idea what they look like internally...I'm just throwing out what seems obvious.  I mean if people hate the short throw so much and the direction is activated in the same spot as a joystick with a longer throw...just increase the size of the physical limitation to accomodate a longer throw. 

I'm sure there is something I'm missing.  Please let me know if you've tried this. I'd love to have an 4/8, but I like a long throw so I haven't been willing to commit.

Patent Doc

Sorry but I think this idea is a non-starter. It's not just the restrictor that would have to be altered but the position of the microswitches as well.

IMHO a better solution would be to fit a longer handle. This would automatically cause the throw to increase and reduce the stiffness.

[NoOne=NBA=]

The restrictor is the size it is to prevent the stick from hitting two switches in 4-way mode.

Increasing the size would allow it act like an 8-way, regardless of the position of the restrictor.

[Patent Doc]

Good points all.