So, my X45 sticks pretty badly around the base. I'm not sure if there's a lube to try and use (i've tried skate wax hoping that might help but cleaned it off after it didn't do much) and anything else i've tried hasn't helped much.
I don't know if there's a way to loosen tension from the spring that presses down on that baseplate, but if i could that would be awesome.
It makes landing and lining up shots a bit hairy.
There's not really precise movement so much as there is my suddenly jerking when i apply enough pressure to get it to shoot forward all the sudden.
Not good when you're in a near stall trying to put your plane down on a carrier.
Any help would be appreciated.
I will add a picture so this might make more sense.


Thanks in advance everyone.

Did you try graphite? I don't think you can adjust the spring tension. If you have a dremel you could remove part of the spring with a cutting wheel bit by bit until it is loose enough, rather drastic and irreversible though, and be careful to clean up any metal bits that could wreak havok.

If you do try graphite make sure not to use too much, as it is conductive, you wouldn't want a lot of it getting down into the base. I used it on my stick but actually just used a soft pencil, not the powder like you might use with a lock.

Actually you can adjust the spring tension. I have by adding a 1/8 inch thick wood shim between the top of the spring and the bottom of the stick. Stiffens the looseness of the X45 stick and helps in all my sims. I have sometimes added in addition another 1/16 inch shim, but have now stayed with just the one 1/8 inch which seems to give the best performance. You might want to give this a try if you are one of the unhappy X45 users in RoF.
Good luck,
BadBud
www.simflite.com

If it´s stuck try to lift it GENTLY with two flat screwdrivers on the opposite sides! THen greese the edge that the partial sphere is resting on by rubbing a candle on it. After that you can adjust the spring tension tha way explained above. You should greese that part from time to time to keep it smoothrunning. My advice is NOT to use graphite as it is conductive! It can´t be contained where it should be and it can/will cause short circuit inside the stick!

Try silicone- or even better, teflon-spray. I use it with my x-52. It slides very well and stops the parts from sticking. No risk for conduction either.

Candle wax (as stated above) is the best lube Ive found.
For the spring tension I use small cable ties, if its too loose just snip them off and tie less coils together.

+1 on the Candle wax.

And another for candle wax.

Finally a use for those half melted birthday candles that wind up in the drawer!

I used a red grease fom the local cycle shop. Not exactly helpful comment but it was what is used on cycle parts, some of which are plastic so it won't attack the X45 plastic.

I found candle grease tended to dirty up and wear off quite quickly.

Don't forget, the most important part to lubricate is between the collar and the shaft - that's where most of the friction is.

As it's an X45 I expect it's an old stick long out of warranty but if lubrication doesn't help it may be a duff colllar or shaft which you may be able to replace (or buy their new super-duper X65F

On parts, Saitek UK are very helpful so I expect Saitek US will be too.

You can't ease the spring tension but it will ease up over time.