Look what I found: Joysticks $3 NIB (slik stik)

[vic20owner]

Check this out guys... they have a bunch of them from a warehouse.  I just ordered 2 of them and they only charged me $6 for shipping.

http://www.tias.com/12256/PictPage/1923124712.html

Also, service was excellent... 3 emails confirming the order, the shipping, and a thank you (a real email, not automated).

Seems to be a great mom & pop shop.

[vic20owner]

Yeah but the reason I like them is that they are small and they don't break like the old atari joysticks... they will last pretty much forever.

Not the most comfortable, but indestructible.. great for my 6yr old.

I don't play games long enough to get cramps from them

[vic20owner]

I think he is saying that the shaft goes through an automobile tire valve... thats the rubber part around the shaft!

I love these little things... they are very easy to fix/clean when they start acting up.  Even the fire button can be cleaned if I recall.

[vic20owner]

No rubber around the shaft under the orange ball?

If I remember correctly the rubber is what makes it spring back to the center.

[vic20owner]

You sure it's not a piece of rubber compressed between the ball and the top of the joystick which centers it? Gravity wouldn't center it if the stick wasn't held perfectly level.

Unless yours has a spring in there. Maybe it's a newer version.