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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ginno on August 30, 2005, 12:42:50 am

Title: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: ginno on August 30, 2005, 12:42:50 am

Im finding the ball tops on my joysticks are coming loose all the time, I have tried to tighten them and over time they just wriggle loose until they go flying accross the room.

I was thinking glue but this is a bit too extreme if Iwant to remove them one day for repairs etc...

I have the balltops from ozstick...

(http://www.ozstick.com.au/joy_ball.jpg)

Cheers fellas..

ginno..

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: Minwah on August 30, 2005, 06:20:38 am

Take a screwdriver to the underside of the shaft (see the slot), and hold the ball (with a rubber kitchen grip thing is possible) and just tighten the thing up as hard as you can.  That should be good enough.

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: _Iz- on August 30, 2005, 02:10:23 pm

A drop of NON-permanent loctite on the threads before applying minwah's advice will also go a long ways...

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: jelwell on August 30, 2005, 02:45:06 pm

Hear hear for Loctite (http://www.loctiteproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=10&subid=48&plid=153), THE way to go. You can find it at home depot and other hardware stores, as well as online. Make sure you get the one that does NOT require HEAT to remove - just hand tools.
Joseph Elwell.

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: ginno on August 30, 2005, 06:05:21 pm

Has anyone tried teflon tape (the white stuff you put on your tap threads to stop leaks)

Thanks for the loctite idea, i think my old man has some...

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: Bones on August 30, 2005, 06:33:54 pm

I have the same joysticks/balltops and have been unable to tighten them to the point were they won't come undone again either. It's annoying.

Loctite is what I am also going to use. Don't use the range of superglues, use a threadlocking compounds. Loctite 222 is perfect and you will be able to remove them if required with normal tools.

If you use one of the higher grades they will never come off and you will have to use a hacksaw.

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: Minwah on August 31, 2005, 05:38:04 am

Quote from: BrokenBones1 on August 30, 2005, 06:33:54 pm

I have the same joysticks/balltops and have been unable to tighten them to the point were they won't come undone again either. It's annoying.

Really??  Mine are on pretty hard using the method I said above (no locktite).  I think using a rubber grip thing on the ball-top is the key to getting it on really tight.

Title: Re: Secure Ball Tops
Post by: PetitMorte on August 31, 2005, 09:30:55 am

Teflon tape will actually make it *easier* to get the ball off.  It's designed to be "squishy" and fill the gaps in threads to stop gas or liquid leaks.  It also keeps the metal threads from actually touching, and will keep them from gripping as hard as they possibly can.