Mag-stik Plus problem

[gman314]

Recently, I have been having complications with my Mag-stik.  Let me first state that it is a truly great and responsive piece of hardware.  However, sometimes when I want to switch from 8 way to 4 way (and vice-versa), the actuator doesn't easily activate the switching mechanism.  Twice in the past week, my actual joystick got disconnected from the base because I kept pulling up and turning (and the switch wouldn't activate).  This was a major pain, since the CP on my bartop needs to be accessed from its underside.  At this point, I have my joystick in 8 way mode, and I scared to switch it back!  Anybody else experiencing this problem or have any advice?

On a side note, when I originally disassembled the joystick to install it in my CP, I carefully followed the diagram (on ultimarc.com), and I couldn't locate the part on the diagram labeled "bush".  Since all the pieces fit and the joystick worked (and was somewhat easily switchable at that point), I did not think much of it.  Now I'm starting to think that this "bush" part may be the heart of the problem.  Could it be?

[TelcoLou]

" Now I'm starting to think that this "bush" part may be the heart of the problem."

That's what  said 

But seriously; I looked at the diagram, and it looks like an integral part of the assembly, and shouldn't be missing.

[gman314]

Well, how smooth exactly should the transition be from 4 - 8 way be?  For those of you that have experience with the Magstik plus, I'm going to try to describe what I'm experiencing as best as possible: 
You know how when you lightly pull up on the stick, how you can feel the shaft move about half and inch or so upward (where you actually feel the magnets)?  Well, if I rotate the shaft after lightly pulling, the actuator will not activate the switch.  In order for it to do so, I must pull up significantly harder on the shaft, while rotating (if I'm sitting down while playing, sometimes I need to actually stand up in order to apply the required amount of force to pull up and turn).  The problem with this is that, twice already, the joystick popped off from the base!  A major inconvenience 

If the apparently missing "bush" is the cause of the problem, does anybody know if I can order that piece without have to buy a whole other stick?     

[orion]

The mag-stick plus shouldn't do that. I did take mine apart once to see if there was a way to kind of tweak the play in it and I had a very hard time getting it back together again to where it would work properly. If buy "bush" you mean the lock washer at the end of the shaft under the lock nut, then I don't think that matters much. The problem I was having was getting the spring and the square part that engages the mech back together in just the right order. Mine would just kind of spin and not engage the switching mech. For some reason getting that assembly back together again is more complicated than it looks, it took me about 30 mins to figure it out.

[TheShanMan]

Popped off from the base?! So the nut is coming off? IIRC it's a lock nut, so it definitely shouldn't be coming off.

[Ummon]

If these are essentially the same as the T-sticks, they shouldn't be that difficult. Plus, the 'switch' should be obvious: a noticable 'fitting' of the 'teeth' into the slots and then a definitive 'slunk' and 'stop'. If you don't feel it, don't keep turning. Turn back and try again. Regardless, it should be able to spin indefinitely and not come apart.

[daywane]

can you take pics?
I have a new "T"stick
never used.
( no offence, If you had more posts on been here longer I would just mail it to you to compair)
send me a picture and I will check I with mine.
daywane"at"yahoo.com

[gman314]

Unfortunately, I can't send a picture since I don't have a digital camera (and plus, it is such a pain to get to the underside of my CP), but a diagram is available at this link: 
http://www.ultimarc.com/controldiags.html

The only difference between mine and the diagram is that I don't think mine has the "bush".  Instead, the "rectangular washer", and all of the parts above it, attach onto the bottom part of the shaft.  As you can see, though, it seems as if the "shaft" and the "bush" are the same shape (so I'm not so sure what the problem would be). 
What I think is happening, is that when I pull up and turn on the stick, it loosens the "nut" at the bottom (and consequently, the stick gets disconnected from the base).  Does any of this seem to make sense?

Cute dog by the way, daywane.   

[emerica]

the "shaft" and the "bush" are the same shape

can you say "shaft" and "bush" in the same sentence?

anyway it is part of the shaft (no pun intended). There should be no problem there.

What I think is happening, is that when I pull up and turn on the stick, it loosens the "nut" at the bottom (and consequently, the stick gets disconnected from the base).

make sure you have a nylock nut on the bottom. If not, then there is your problem. That nylock nut shouldn't loosen up during normal use.

edit: I have both a magstick plus and a t-stick plus. Neither of them have this so called "bush".

[AndyWarne]

I am sure this can all be resolved very quickly by email:
andy@ultimarc.com
One possibility: there is a piece which is permanently bonded onto the end of the shaft using high-strength Locktite. This might have come loose although it should not as the Locktite is normally very strong.

[daywane]

I am sure Andy wil get this fixed.
I would like to know what the problem was
thanks

[flinxsl]

Well, how smooth exactly should the transition be from 4 - 8 way be?  For those of you that have experience with the Magstik plus, I'm going to try to describe what I'm experiencing as best as possible: 
You know how when you lightly pull up on the stick, how you can feel the shaft move about half and inch or so upward (where you actually feel the magnets)?  Well, if I rotate the shaft after lightly pulling, the actuator will not activate the switch.  In order for it to do so, I must pull up significantly harder on the shaft, while rotating (if I'm sitting down while playing, sometimes I need to actually stand up in order to apply the required amount of force to pull up and turn).  The problem with this is that, twice already, the joystick popped off from the base!  A major inconvenience 

If the apparently missing "bush" is the cause of the problem, does anybody know if I can order that piece without have to buy a whole other stick?   

Thanks from the future, this helped me figure out how to use it