Those little rubber joystick buttons ... where do you get them?

A

AusDave

Well-known member
I have three joysticks on my Haulotte with multiple buttons front and rear with rubber covers which are an integral part of the button operation. The rubber bit is easily removable from the switch when you disassemble the joystick which are all common Rexroth brand joysticks as per the photo of mine below. These sticks are common on backhoes, loaders, telehandlers and excavators. You would think a simple and inexpensive wear part like this would be readily available for replacement but no you might as well be asking for unicorn rocking horse excrement :( 😫

The rubber has a limited life due to usage and uv damage then the little metal bits fall out making them all but unusable. Doesn't anyone else have this problem or is it just me? Are the machines scrapped when the rubbers fail? I asked the Rexroth rep and he suggested new joysticks at $1500 each. It's like buying a new car when the windscreen wipers have perished!
Hope someone else has been down this path and found a source for these rubbers.
IMG_2819.jpeg
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
I have three joysticks on my Haulotte with multiple buttons front and rear with rubber covers which are an integral part of the button operation. The rubber bit is easily removable from the switch when you disassemble the joystick which are all common Rexroth brand joysticks as per the photo of mine below. These sticks are common on backhoes, loaders, telehandlers and excavators. You would think a simple and inexpensive wear part like this would be readily available for replacement but no you might as well be asking for unicorn rocking horse excrement :( 😫

The rubber has a limited life due to usage and uv damage then the little metal bits fall out making them all but unusable. Doesn't anyone else have this problem or is it just me? Are the machines scrapped when the rubbers fail? I asked the Rexroth rep and he suggested new joysticks at $1500 each. It's like buying a new car when the windscreen wipers have perished!
Hope someone else has been down this path and found a source for these rubbers.
View attachment 43649
tried contacting Rexroth direct Dave .... sounds like your average rep.(tile) :rolleyes::cry: ...... totally NFI :mad:
 
Shovelhands

Shovelhands

Well-known member
That’s the same joystick as a lot of JCB kit, but they don’t sell the buttons separately either as far as I know?
 
Left hooker

Left hooker

Well-known member
Easier to find another make of button that fits than finding original ones
 
Jimbo69

Jimbo69

Well-known member
There was somebody on the backhoe operators page on Facebook got theirs replaced with another type of button. I’ll see if I can find it.
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
 

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B

bobthebuilder

Well-known member
will great exportations of tetbury ,or david king help ?
 
A

AusDave

Well-known member
Thanks for all the feedback guys and I have found a solution :D
First I researched the hell out of buttons on the Internet and found one manufacturer that makes all kinds of buttons with some similar to what I needed so I knew there was an answer out there. I noticed some JCB joysticks used a similar button so I went to my JCB supplier here in Australia. It's not the JCB official channel but a JCB parts importer and wrecker who have given me fantastic support in the past for odd parts and spares for my various 1CX machines. Here's a link to their site if you're in Australia and want JCB parts and knowledgeable service https://www.rousehilltractors.com.au/ Jim is the guy who has been really helpful to me, good support for any equipment is hard to find these days.

Anyway I sent Jim a picture of my joystick as per my original post on this thread and he thought he may have something that might suit. The button came as part of a switch assembly which cost around $30 so I ordered two to see if they would work. I've posted the pic below of what I received and what I have done. The switch is a sealed unit unlike my Haulotte switches which are able to be disassembled. The rubber button was obviously placed in the barrel of the switch first, then the little loose metal plate followed by the switch itself. Epoxy is then poured in after that sealing the whole unit.

I found that I could use a pair of pliers on the plastic around the edge of the rubber button and pull it out enough so I could gently pull the rubber button out of its retaining slot. Then it's just a matter of disassembling the Haulotte joysticks, disassembling the switch and replacing the rubber button. Should be good for another decade, or longer if I keep the sun off them when not being used :D(y)

One could replace the entire button assembly as suggested by others in this thread, even with another type of button as there are plenty of suitable buttons out there. However I didn't want to start cutting my loom and soldering in different buttons. Happy with the feel of the original buttons so I'm keeping them that way.
IMG_2823.jpeg
 
N

nickvb

New member
Thanks for all the feedback guys and I have found a solution :D
First I researched the hell out of buttons on the Internet and found one manufacturer that makes all kinds of buttons with some similar to what I needed so I knew there was an answer out there. I noticed some JCB joysticks used a similar button so I went to my JCB supplier here in Australia. It's not the JCB official channel but a JCB parts importer and wrecker who have given me fantastic support in the past for odd parts and spares for my various 1CX machines. Here's a link to their site if you're in Australia and want JCB parts and knowledgeable service Jim is the guy who has been really helpful to me, good support for any equipment is hard to find these days.

Anyway I sent Jim a picture of my joystick as per my original post on this thread and he thought he may have something that might suit. The button came as part of a switch assembly which cost around $30 so I ordered two to see if they would work. I've posted the pic below of what I received and what I have done. The switch is a sealed unit unlike my Haulotte switches which are able to be disassembled. The rubber button was obviously placed in the barrel of the switch first, then the little loose metal plate followed by the switch itself. Epoxy is then poured in after that sealing the whole unit.

I found that I could use a pair of pliers on the plastic around the edge of the rubber button and pull it out enough so I could gently pull the rubber button out of its retaining slot. Then it's just a matter of disassembling the Haulotte joysticks, disassembling the switch and replacing the rubber button. Should be good for another decade, or longer if I keep the sun off them when not being used :D(y)

One could replace the entire button assembly as suggested by others in this thread, even with another type of button as there are plenty of suitable buttons out there. However I didn't want to start cutting my loom and soldering in different buttons. Happy with the feel of the original buttons so I'm keeping them that way.
View attachment 43932
Hello,

I am in Australia also with a JCB 3CX Backhoe. Do you know what the part number is for that button? RHT are saying that I have to buy a new joystick?

Much appriciated.
 
A

AusDave

Well-known member
Hi Nick.
I didn't have any problems getting what is called a "Joystick Button Switch" from Rouse Hill Tractors. I spoke to Jim who has always been very helpful.
There's no number on the packet with the switch which may have a grey or orange button. However it does have a bar code which I could sms to you.
You can contact me on 0411572725 if you need any help.
 
N

nickvb

New member
Hi Nick.
I didn't have any problems getting what is called a "Joystick Button Switch" from Rouse Hill Tractors. I spoke to Jim who has always been very helpful.
There's no number on the packet with the switch which may have a grey or orange button. However it does have a bar code which I could sms to you.
You can contact me on 0411572725 if you need any help.
Thanks, I'll give Rouse Hill Tractors a call tomorrow. Otherwise i'll get in contact.
 
ACEngineering

ACEngineering

Member
These are the joystick buttons your looking for. Genuine Rexroth 2 wire switches. Beware there are 4 wire button switches aswell that look similar joysticks.

1707651127539.png
 
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