Trigger Stick rotation-restrictor

This is a modification I came up with, based on Oscar's trigger stick hack.   My mod keeps the stick from rotating freely and ending up facing backwards on your control panel.

Here's what I did:

 I cut off a nail to about 3/8" long.  Then I dremeled a slot into one end of the nail and bent out the resulting tabs to either side.  Then I drilled a hole the same size as the nail all the way through the plastic piece that goes on the stick, inserted the nail from inside the plastic piece, and the two bent tabs hold it from falling out the other side.  (I also put a drop of super glue on the sides of the nail first to help hold it still.)  Then drill a small hole though the metal shaft and use a screw or nail through the other hole (in the back of the plastic piece) to connect it permanently to the shaft.

Next, using a hobby knife you just cut a slot about 1/8" wide into one side of the tube on the top of the joystick base that the joystick shaft goes into.  (You might want to take out the mainspring from the base before you do this)  Make sure to cut all the way down, but not into, the floor of this cavity.  You'll also want to cut away a little on the 'shelf'  around the entrance (as shown) so that the nail can enter the slot when you insert the joystick shaft.
 
Then just insert nail A into slot B!  You may need to cut or file down the nail a little if it rubs the mainspring when you move the joystick around.  The stick should still have full freedom of motion, but it shouldn't rotate more than 1/16" in either direction.
 
BTW, for the shaft I used a thick aluminum tube that I bought at a hobby shop, instead of the nutdriver shaft Oscar used.  These come about a foot long, so you can easily cut it to whatever length you need.  I also drilled 2 holes through the aluminum that fit perfectly with the screw posts inside the grip, for extra strength.  Instead of using the original e-ring to hold it to the base, I used a drill depth guide that is basically a metal ring with a small hex-screw in the side.
 
Good Luck!

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