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Cleaning Microsoft Sidewinder

F

Flying Buckeye

Charter Member
My Sidewinder Joystick seems to be wearing out. The control inputs in some spots have lost sensitivity and have made flying a bit difficult. I am not sure I want to spend the money for a new stick if I can get by with the one I have. Would simply cleaning the inside of the stick solve the control issues? I have tried disassembling the stick before, but I can't figure out how to get to the sensors in the stick.

Would cleaning the stick solve the sensitivity problems or would I be better off buying a new stick? If cleaning would help, how do I clean a Sidewinder?
 
This might be of some help. I had several webpages bookmarked on maintenence and repair of the MS Sidewinder, but this is apparently the only one still active.

http://home.comcast.net/~dyrgcmn/OddEnds/SW3D.html

It's been a few years since mine has been taken apart and cleaned and to be honest, I don't really remember how it came apart and went back together other than it wasn't that difficult. One thing that I did was to put thin coats of silicone grease on the plastic wear surfaces and I feel that's one reason mine has lasted for 10 years. But, it's showing wear now and doesn't center well at times. I actually having more problems out of the hat switch and some of the buttons have to be pushed just right.

Mine has screws holding the handle together and it comes apart quite easy.

I've got a like new Sidewinder Precision Pro 2 stick that my wife Vickie got at a yardsale for a back up, but I really hate to retire the old one.
 
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