I am looking into dismantling a MS Sidewinder to use the electronics for my linked-yoke system, but the problem is that I don

Hi Eric, I've got such a device. Rockfire Gameport to USB converter.It is curently available at Conrad. And it works quite allright. I plan to buy another one.

All the stuff you need can be had from the CH Products "commercial" site - this will have what you are after I think...http://www.chproducts.com/oem/index.html:-)