Work vehicle magnetorheological fluid joystick systems having adjustable joystick return positions

A work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system for usage onboard a work vehicle, the work vehicle MRF joystick system comprising:

• a joystick device, comprising:
• a base housing;
• and
• a joystick rotatable relative to the base housing and biased toward a joystick return position;
• an MRF joystick resistance mechanism controllable to vary an MRF resistance force impeding movement of the joystick relative to the base housing;
• a joystick return position (JRP) locking mechanism external to the base housing, the JRP locking mechanism movable between a locked state preventing adjustment of the joystick return position and an unlocked state permitting adjustment of the joystick return position;
• and
• a controller architecture coupled to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism and to the JRP locking mechanism, the controller architecture configured to:
• when receiving an operator adjustment of the joystick return position, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to generate a maximum MRF resistance force substantially preventing movement of the joystick relative to the base housing;
• and
• command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to remove the maximum MRF resistance force when the operator adjustment of the joystick return position is terminated.

A work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system for usage onboard a work vehicle, the work vehicle MRF joystick system comprising:

• a joystick device, comprising:
• a base housing;
• a joystick rotatable relative to the base housing;
• a spring contained in the base housing and exerting a resilient bias force on the joystick urging the joystick toward a joystick return position;
• and
• an adjustable spring support having a first end portion mounted to the base housing and have a second end supporting the spring;
• an MRF joystick resistance mechanism controllable to vary an MRF resistance force impeding movement of the joystick relative to the base housing;
• and
• a joystick return position (JRP) locking mechanism at least partially contained in the base housing and coupled to the adjustable spring support, the JRP locking mechanism movable between a locked state preventing positional adjustment of the adjustable spring support and an unlocked state permitting positional adjustment of the adjustable spring support.