I ripped one pin off a wire but I was able to fit it back with just MacGyver know how and electrical tape.
In retrospect I wish I used a sharper head on my needle nose, and also took the plastic protector off when pulling, it makes it come out way easier.
The buttons were also kinda hard to fit in. The last few I used a little drop of baby oil and they popped right in.
I don’t know if the stick is seated correctly, though. It felt like the spring was way more tense before I screw tightened the ball top (where I felt the stick tighten then drop down). I am pretty sure its the correct height, though because I have the stock stick guard/cylinder thingy and it fits perfectly from ball top to the stick hole.
The good news is I can SRK motions on stick now, which I could not do what so ever on the the stock.
I think it’s possible I loosened the spring. Is this possible?
which pin did you rip off?
The Buttons are supposed to fit snugly, I would not ever suggest baby oil.
Baby oil is mineral oil with perfume in it, mineral oil can damage and degrade some plastics, even a drop.
The old spring or the new one?
Over all I am not completely following what you did here and have to operate by assumption.
I am assuming you have a brawl stick, you installed a Sanwa JLF and some Sanwa buttons.
That part is called a shaft cover, it is to protect the metal shaft from dirt and sweat from making it rusty. It is supposed to reach all the way from the pivot (that white plastic piece there) all the way to the ball top regardless of stick height mount. If you are using the exact same mount at the stock mad Catz joystick did at the exact same orientation then the stick should be at approximately the correct height.