removing rubber grommet on a 4 way wico

[3dmacman]

After a little dumpster diving, I found a control panel with an original wico 4-way leaf joystick. I can't seem to dislodge the joystick from the grommet. I soaked it in wd40, I think the metal is rusted to it. I don't want to use a hammer on it, but it won't budge. Any suggestions out there?

[leapinlew]

I just want to say that it is not broken. Wico joysticks do not break.

[shardian]

So you have the joystick disassembled, and the grommet is "stuck" in its setting. I believe the two I refurbished were also stuck a bit, but far from permanent. I'd recommend putting a screwdriver into the opening and yank around on it. Your replacing it anyways, so who cares if it gets busted.

[3dmacman]

Actually I am not replacing the grommet or joystick shaft just removing it from the old metal panel.

[shardian]

Oh, so you mean you can't get the shaft out of the stick because it is hitting the grommet in some way?
Please clarify with a pic or something.

[Paul Olson]

He means that the shaft and the grommet have become one piece due to rust, and he cannot remove the joystick from the panel because of this. 
It sucks.
OP - I have not found a solution that leaves the grommet intact if it is really stuck. I think they either come apart relatively easily or you will need to replace the grommet after you ruin it. If the joystick is fully functional and you can live without taking it apart for cleaning, I would try to cut the panel and leave the joystick whole. Those grommets are kinda hard to find (cheaply at least).

[jcoleman]

Penetrating oil FTW!

[Kremmit]

I've seen somebody post that you should soak it in Pepsi.    Never tried it.

Sadly, I have tried the hammer.  If you do resort to a hammer, here's what'll happen:  The hammer will smash the end of the joystick shaft, making it mushroom out a little bit, and squashing the e-clip groove.  Then, even if you dislodge the grommet, the mushroom effect will keep the shaft from sliding out, and you won't be able to get the e-clip back in the groove.  If I were to do that again, I'd leave the e-clip in while I was using the hammer, so the groove doesn't get deformed.  Then I'd just expect to have to grind the mushrooming off of the bottom of the shaft.

You could also just cut the control panel, remove the stick whole, and then only install this stick in panels where you can fit the joystick ball through the hole.

[leapinlew]

I've seen somebody post that you should soak it in Pepsi.    Never tried it.

Sadly, I have tried the hammer.  If you do resort to a hammer, here's what'll happen:  The hammer will smash the end of the joystick shaft, making it mushroom out a little bit, and squashing the e-clip groove.  Then, even if you dislodge the grommet, the mushroom effect will keep the shaft from sliding out, and you won't be able to get the e-clip back in the groove.  If I were to do that again, I'd leave the e-clip in while I was using the hammer, so the groove doesn't get deformed.  Then I'd just expect to have to grind the mushrooming off of the bottom of the shaft.

You could also just cut the control panel, remove the stick whole, and then only install this stick in panels where you can fit the joystick ball through the hole.

sadly indeed

[3dmacman]

All went well, I went with the rubber mallet and removed the joystick with no mushrooming on the end. I then attached the joystick to a drill and ran some sand paper over it and removed all the rust from it. The inside of the grommet had to be sanded as well as it was rusted up good. So now I have a perfectly functioning joystick and metal control panel. I need to gather all my excess arcade parts and have a sale, I have two metal panels and a wood panel, and a bunch of comp sticks and buttons.