Lube for Joysticks?!

Constellation

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I thought I read somewhere that every so often you should lubricate your joystick. I have a DKJR - and I doubt it's ever had a drop on it, so what type of lubricate should I buy?
 
I avoid White Lithium Grease. It does attract dust and dirt and dries out. I generally use something silcone based.

Nintendo used Lithium grease and that is why the joysticks get all gunked up. I'd suggest completely taking the joystick apart and clean it. Clean the pivot ball area out so that it is completely clean before adding anything.
 
After a thorough cleaning, I use a drop of 3-in-1 oil.

Agreeing with mhaaland. This is what nintendo documentation recommends, and I recently did a full "scrub-down" on both of my DK sticks, followed by applying a single drop of 3-in-1 prior to re-assembly. Both sticks are like butter now.
 
Agreeing with mhaaland. This is what nintendo documentation recommends, and I recently did a full "scrub-down" on both of my DK sticks, followed by applying a single drop of 3-in-1 prior to re-assembly. Both sticks are like butter now.

Do you have a link that shows where Nintendo recommends that?

I don't see that printed in any manuals and they shipped with white lithium grease.
 
Do you have a link that shows where Nintendo recommends that?

I don't see that printed in any manuals and they shipped with white lithium grease.

He may be quoting my page, that is what I recommend. I have not found any information on what Nintendo recommends, they just say "Lubricate every 3 months" in the manuals after DKJR. And yes, they used white lithium grease on them, but like others have mentioned it really gets gummed up over time.

https://mikesarcade.com/arcade/njoysticks.html

Figure 10 on the above mentioned page is from the Punch-Out!!! rev 1 manual.
 
Do you have a link that shows where Nintendo recommends that?

I don't see that printed in any manuals and they shipped with white lithium grease.

Apologies, they don't say which lubrication. Guess I'd just read 3-in-1 so much that it stuck in my mind that way.

I'm sure you've seen this, but this is what I was mis-remembering said to use 3-in-1 (page 14):

http://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/.../manual/Formated/Popeye_-_1982_-_Nintendo.pdf

Either way, I'm still standing by 3-in-1 based on personal experience. :)

:edit: ^ I think you're right Mike. I had seen that figure as part of your page, and co-mingled the two in my memory.
 
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+1 for silicone grease.

(Aka spark plug boot grease, or dielectric grease). Can be found at any auto parts store. One tube will last you forever, as you only need a little.

I use it on all of my Tempest spinners, Monroe sticks, Battlezone sticks, Pole Position shifters, steering wheels, and pretty much any other arcade controller. Super slick, stays put, and doesn't gum up.

Some other folks use white lithium grease, but personally I like the silicone better.
 
If you're going to go the silicone grease route AND you have Sanwa or other asian-style sticks (or intend to have them) in your collection, then this might be a good bridge for that gap:

https://www.focusattack.com/shin-etsu-g-40m-silicone-grease-100g/

Dow Molycoat 44 or Molykote 44J and Shin-Etsu G-40M all have the same mill specs.

I've got the Shin Etsu for my Sanwa's, and I will probably die before I use even half of that tube.
 
Super Lube. Clay Harrell turned me on to this stuff (get it?) for EM pinball machines. I cleaned up my DK joystick and used a thin layer of this stuff and it works great! Doesn't dry out like white lithium, and thick enough to not make a mess while applying.

http://t.harborfreight.com/85-gram-super-lube-grease-cartridge-93744.html

so I have 3in1 oil, white lithium grease, adn I just went and bought this stuff from harbor freight. (based on this thread).

Do I just take a small amount and rub it into the 'pivot ball' (for lack of knowing proper terminology) and call it a day? I've already completely disassembled and cleaned the joystick. (nintendo).
 
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