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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Thurman on June 30, 2005, 12:27:29 pm

Title: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Thurman on June 30, 2005, 12:27:29 pm

My Happs 49-way is squeaking really loud.  I was playing Berzerk and it was so loud that my girlfriend thought that they added some dogs barking to the game.   ::)

The squeaking is coming from the plastic sliders.  I've searched around the forum and have seen a few people suggest lithium grease for plastic-on-plastic.  So can I just unscrew the plastic sliders from the joystick and then apply the lithium grease?  I'm not familiar with lithium grease so any tips on how to apply it?

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: KenToad on June 30, 2005, 01:13:14 pm

I would love to say something definitive on this one, but I have never used lithium grease.  From what I have heard, it's probably the right stuff to use.  I don't think you will be any danger of degrading the plastic or rubber on your joystick. 

Whatever happens, let us know. 

Sorry you've got such a squeak. :)  Are these with rotary adaptor or not?

Cheers,
KenToad

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: RandyT on June 30, 2005, 01:30:15 pm

You might also try a shot of silicone spray right into the grooves.  That stuff is amazing and there's no mess to worry about.

RandyT

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Kremmit on July 02, 2005, 01:18:59 am

My granpappy would have just spit on it.

I prefer the lithium grease, myself.  It's what I used on the sliders in my 49-way.  Just use a light coating, and don't get any in the optics.

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: 19rjs99 on July 03, 2005, 11:34:59 am

Try using graphite powder... It is a dry fix and will not "cake" up later on.

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: RandyT on July 04, 2005, 12:17:20 am

Quote from: 19rjs99 on July 03, 2005, 11:34:59 am

Try using graphite powder... It is a dry fix and will not "cake" up later on.

Be careful with the graphite.....It's conductive!

RandyT

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Kremmit on July 04, 2005, 12:57:08 am

Quote from: RandyT on July 04, 2005, 12:17:20 am

Quote from: 19rjs99 on July 03, 2005, 11:34:59 am

Try using graphite powder... It is a dry fix and will not "cake" up later on.

Be careful with the graphite.....It's conductive!

RandyT

Lithium grease is non-conductive.

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Thurman on July 06, 2005, 09:33:42 am

Quote from: KenToad on June 30, 2005, 01:13:14 pm

Are these with rotary adaptor or not?

No rotary adaptor.

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Thurman on July 06, 2005, 09:40:43 am

UPDATE:

I decided to go with the lithium grease.  The good news is that the squeak immediately went away and the joysticks feel much smoother now.  The great news is that this also helped my joysticks return to center much better than they were before.  I had been having problems with 4-way games because the joysticks didn't return to center very well.  The grease also fixed this problem!

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: KenToad on July 06, 2005, 09:55:21 am

Awesome, I'm going to go get some lithium grease today. 

Also, did you put it in the slider grooves, directly on the grommet?  How did you apply? 

Cheers,
KenToad

Title: Re: Greasing a 49-way
Post by: Thurman on July 06, 2005, 11:46:11 am

I applied the lithium grease into the plastic slider grooves using a q-tip.  The q-tip was initially too thick so I cut off the fuzzy tip and just slid the stick back and forth in the groove.  Seemed to work pretty well.   ;D