Post #9677

The 3rd function button on my tractor joystick was always jankey, so I decided to give one of these $14 chinese mini excavator joystick handles a shot. The plastic body is M12 and that adapter pipe that comes with it is M14 on the other end. The shank on tractor is an unthreaded 13mm rod. I ordered M13 tap and die set yesterday and they arrived today. It didn't take long to take the joystick off the tractor and I mounted the rod in my hobby lathe. Cut some off the end and turned it so the end was true. Used the tail stock to ensure the die was square on the end of the rod and threaded it about 40-50mm down the rod. The buttons on this joystick handle are real snap action 5amp switches. I had expected them to be a membrane type but they are the real deal for directly operating my diverter solenoid.