Best lubricant for X-52?

[Finkeren]

The title says it all.

 

My Saitek X-52 stick is starting to act up, so I would like to lubricate the moving parts down below the spring. However, I'm in doubt about which lubricant to use. Most people online seem to suggest a silicone based product, but not a spray, others talk about using candle wax. What's the best approach, which product should I go for and how should it be applied? 

 

 

[Finkeren]

Sounds like an idea. It's the same thing used for sticky locks right? Any special quality I should go for? 

[Ala13_Kike]

http://www.amazon.com/Labello-Classic-Lip-Balm-stick/dp/B0006PKBLC

 

(not a joke)

[A_S]

Äronix PTFE Paste is amazing

 

@ SuDoKu .. that might even work as hell

 

important is not to use pastic eroding grease or oil. Silicone based stuff is ok.

I prefered pastes as sprays didn´t endure or last long.

Edited April 2, 2014 by A-S

[Desode]

If the Issue is that you can't make fine movement and it feels like it  is sticking ????

Then here is the fix,,and it will Fix it for a LONG time !

 

Chap Stick !! (Lip Balm)

Trust me I have Tried Everything and Nothing else works like that !

Below the Spring is a little Black disc,, It's the inside of that circle on the shaft that is doing it !

 

For the longest time I thought it was the Plastic disc rubbing on the outer edge , but it's not.

Get Some Chapstick and put it around the metal shaft and the center of the black ring with the Spring pushed up.

It will become Smooth as Butter again for a long time !

 

Sincerely Desode

 

Edited May 9, 2014 by Desode

[Panzerlang]

You have to be sure that whatever you use it's not something that will attack the plastic over time. Vegetable-based lubricants are usually super-safe.

[Desode]

I have been using Chap Stick for 3-4 years now with no problems.

I'm telling you all to try it , you will be amazed.

[Pudfark]

I very much agree with :

Extreme_One

 

Dry won't attract abrasive particles and dust.  All of which can turn your wet/paste lubricant into sandpaper.

Though, arguably...if you were to clean the wet/paste lubes off every few weeks and re-apply?  You might get away with it.

 

I would much rather/personal preference for longevity and durability use a dry lube.

My experience with graphite is limited.  I've always thought it to be a very fine abrasive that acted in a manner associated with being a lube?

I don't believe it would hurt anything....at all...and it could be better than the teflon powder that I used....as in the graphite could "polish" the surfaces that

are dragging/friction to such an extent....that they would become very "slick" and no further application of it needed.

 

So, let me know Extreme_One...if that happens....

[Desode]

I have Tried the Dry powder,, Never lasted Near as long as a 1 second swipe with Chap Stick.

 

Are we talking about inside the stick or just the plastic disc under the Spring ?

 

All of my issues have only been with that plastic disc.

I personally have never had any problems with the inside parts and I'm at 7 years on my X52.

 

I will ad that I would not add chapstick to parts inside the stick base, but if the issue your having is with the stick Not moving smoothly with VERY fine movements and it feels like it's catching or rubbing , that is just the center hole around the shaft on that Black plastic dics under the spring.

[HunDread]

I think it's worth sharing this

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=163361

 

I had been trying several lubricants and silicone grease was working ok but far from perfect. 

 

Following that thread above I applied the heavy grease taken from the throttle to the stick. It is awesome! The stick has never been as good as this.

 

The thread says the Nyogel 767A has similar effect. I am going to order one and see.

[Apache600]

Here's my post off of that ED link Black_Sab shared   - Apache600

I just ordered a little tube of Nyogel 760g .... i might have made a bad choice here. Now i'm thinking it isn't the right product.

Update: The stuff works GREAT! At first, i was disappointed with it, but I must not have put enough on. I re-applied a second amount, and was a little more liberal with it, and now it works like a champ.

 

- Apache600

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

if you are talking about the ball.socket in the bottom where spring pushed on.

Tissue with a little olive oil on it then run that into the gap (should not be visibly wet or oily) just look clean

Did this with my Saitek ST 290 pro (still works great after 15 years and 5,000+ hours of hard use)

Edited January 18, 2017 by =r4t=Sshadow14

[Retnek]

I often use petroleum jelly (vaseline) for such technical (!) purposes, technical toys etc (Don't use it in cosmetics - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2584738?dopt=Abstract).Never found any plastics reacting with pure petroleum jelly. It's easy to handle, no problem for the unprotected skin and last's for years. I can't see any tendency to resinify (lubricant becoming gum).