Sanwa lubricant

[Noraj]

Can any type of lubricant (other than the official sanwa lubricant) be used on a sanwa stick?

[Ramon]

Can any type of lubricant (other than the official sanwa lubricant) be used on a sanwa stick?

Noraj:

I've tried a variety of lubricants...
Few from my hardware store. Mainly White lithium based grease. A lubricant that is used on gears, metal parts, etc..etc... Different types and brands.

They seem to work for the moment being (1-2 weeks) but get really dirty and nasty, Nothing has worked exceptionally well so far.

I resorted to getting some Shin-Etsu lubricant (Sanwa grease) and so far that has been the best. and remains smooth and lubricated after a month of applying it (also clean)

I heard some people use Vegtable oil or other cooking oil...but I don't really recommend that...

So, to answer your question...Yes, there is other lubricants you could use, but none of them may have the same effects.

~Goodbye

[Gaijinblaze]

While we're on this topic, where exactly do you apply the lubricant? I have some yo-yo lube w/ teflon laying around that I think would work pretty well but I don't know where to put it on the stick. Do I have to take it apart?

Thanks.

[Ramon]

While we're on this topic, where exactly do you apply the lubricant? I have some yo-yo lube w/ teflon laying around that I think would work pretty well but I don't know where to put it on the stick. Do I have to take it apart?

Thanks.

Gaijinblaze:

It would be necessary to take it apart. Apply it on the metallic washer, and the plastic base, the white half circle dome piece and the base. And the black little plastic part that goes on the metal washer. And it should be set.

~Goodbye

[finkle]

While we're on this topic, where exactly do you apply the lubricant? I have some yo-yo lube w/ teflon laying around that I think would work pretty well but I don't know where to put it on the stick. Do I have to take it apart?

Thanks.

most times where the joystick gets dry is between the black base and the white spherical bushing that the shaft goes through. usually when this happens I remove the small clip on the bottom and slide the joystick shaft upwards allowing the bushing to come up with it and apply a small amount of grease or other suitable lubricant on the bushing.

hope this helps

[DJ-VAN]

I've just been usin petroleum jelly anyone else try that? It seems to work great for the few months I've been using it.

[Phastestpig]

While we're on this topic, where exactly do you apply the lubricant? I have some yo-yo lube w/ teflon laying around that I think would work pretty well but I don't know where to put it on the stick. Do I have to take it apart?

Thanks.

you need KY lub and you put it on the shaft of your stick. no need to take it apart just take the top down.

Gaijinblaze love

[DJ-VAN]

KY has water in it though...

[leaveal]

i think he was kidding. hahah

[Green]

Man, vegetable oil? That's crazy talk. Rancidity in your stick FTL

[elvis_a_presley]

I would *NEVER* use a liquid lubricant on something so small. Get even the slightest amount of dust in there and the whole effect of using a liquid lubricant will be reversed. VERY bad idea.

Try some carbon powder or similar "dry lubricant" if you really MUST use something. I would seriously recommend avoiding using anything at all, and just keeping your sticks well maintained and clean instead.

[Fantomize]

I have used Woodland Scenics Hob-ELube White grease with teflon HL657. It works well and doesnt get dirty. Its made for plastics like models and stuff. It works very close to a sanwas fluent movement, but sanwas original lubricant should work excellent. I have allways wanted to know what the original librucant sanwas use. I want to know wher you got the Shin-Etsu lubricant (Sanwa grease). I would like to get some myself.

[TheRealNeoGeo]

I sell it here:
http://akihabarashop.com/products.html#sanwa-G40M100
contains 100grams. Not cheap though :/.

[Mixah]

i think i might try the vasoline solution...

[final_cut]

i think i might try the vasoline solution...

body butter FTW.

[Mixah]

i just did it... and surprisingly... it's working REALLY well... lol

[elvis_a_presley]

i just did it... and surprisingly... it's working REALLY well... lol

For now. Liquid lubricant attracts dust. Dust in lubricant acts as an abraisive surface. If the stick gets even the slightest bit dirty, you'll be reversing the effect of the lubricant and turning it into a grinding paste (think liquid sandpaper).

When people do liquid cutting (sometimes called "cold cutting"), or bedrock drilling, they do precisely that: send down a lubricant with abraisive particles in it to slowly wear away at the hard substance they want to cut.

Cleaning your sticks regularly would be a much better option than adding a lubricant, speaking in term of the lifespan of the stick.

Again, I recommend against the practice. The short term gain is not worth the long term damage.

[Mixah]

how often do you suggest cleaning?

i was planning on doing it once ever two or so weeks

[DJ-VAN]

how often do you suggest cleaning?

i was planning on doing it once ever two or so weeks

I haven't cleaned mine in a few months- haven't noticed any build up of sediments...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly#Physical_Properties

Semi solids count? I think semi solids would limit the movement of sediments more so than a liquid lubricant like oil. So there would be less friction because of the thickness or density of the solution.



Er not to go totally against what your saying but you need grease or lubricant to create a film on the surface that results in less friction. I guess if sand or something like that was in the grease- it would cause the type of friction damage your suggesting. I think dust particles are too small to cause that kind of abrasion.

If that was the case they wouldn’t put grease or oils in moving parts…

Petroleum Jelly FTW :rock:

[elvis_a_presley]

how often do you suggest cleaning?
Depends on where you are and what the air quality is like. Where I am it can get pretty dusty. I flip open my panel and give it a good clean with an unused paintbrush once a week or so. Keeps it clean and working well, and it's only a few seconds of my time. Might be a bit more effort for custom stick users (my sticks are in a cabinet in an easy-access CP).

If you live in a fairly dustless location, once a month is fine. You should be able to tell when you need to clean just by looking.

If that was the case they wouldn’t put grease or oils in moving parts…
If you look at all the things they put grease or oils into, you'll notice they are not exposed to the outside world. eg: gearboxes, etc. They have a nice protective layer to keep abraisive materials out, and they also change the lubricant on a regular basis via a complete flush, and not just by spraying a bit more oil in there.

If you do oil your sticks, make sure you do it regularly and flush out sediment buildup when you do. It's more effort, but your sticks will last longer.

And again, if you must lube them, consider "dry" lubricants. Locksmiths use carbon powder to free up locks. Do beware that it is semi-conductive, so don't get it too close to your microswitches.

[kofiend]

is anyone with the official grease goin to evo?

[Hellfromabove]

Well, I remember recently my P360 ran out of lubriant. The thing started to grind as I turned it. I Just sprayed some WD40 on the thing and started rotating and using it for a while and everything was back to normal. Should be the same with Sanwa sticks. Also, WD40 is meant to evaporate/ dry up but the lubricant will still be there which is good so if it gets on the stick just wipe away what you can and the rest should go away within minutes. Thanx.

-See Ya!!!

[kofiend]

is anyone with the sanwa grease going to evo? pm plz

[kofiend]

ok i ve tried protroleum jelly, chap stick, no good.
protroleum works good in warmer temps but once it gets cold, it won t perform as good right away, it needs about 10~20 mins to warm up, otherwise its too stiff.
chap stick is no good altogether, the speed the stick moves will be like ass compared to protroleum in optimum conditions.

shin etsu sells a grease thats meant to seal honda windows and blah blah, its essentially the same as the g40m but has a lower operating temp, and 20 degrees below on the higher end. if you look at the shin etsu user guide, its the one that operates closest to the g40m in most aspects. also its about $25 cheaper than the g40m. i m getting mine tommorow. it was the only shinetsu grease that can be ordered from US sites

[M K L]

Don't you realize sanwa stocks that silicone grease solely because it's a japanese product, i.e. readily available over there? You can get silicone grease of any kind anywhere in the world (as I do) and the fact it's from a different manufacturer means nothing.

[kofiend]

i ve tried other brands of silicone, white lithium, all purpose, blah blah blah

ALL of them don t perform the same, whether its operating temp, consistency, whatever, they ll make the stick too loose, too stiff, not correct. shits ain t cheap either.

word of advice for everyone- get the g40m

[vocalninja]

Use CERAMIC GREASE.

All the radio control cars use them on plastic gears etc so check out your local hobby shop. I used to use it on my N64 analogue sticks and it worked a treat.

Looks like this:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGS07&P=0

[mags]

Chapstick works, is cheap, and makes your setup smell good. No joke, it's what I use.

[TheRealNeoGeo]

Someone should buy a G-40M-100 from me and sell 5grams to members here ^_^.