rec.autos.simulators

by **John Bo** » Wed, 03 Jul 2002 16:34:52

Well, the game is almost up. I love this wheel, but the pedal
springs(levers?) just give up the ghost just after the warrenty runs
out. I bought a second one and then took the first one back
"mistaking" it for the second one saying it was faulty, but I can only
do this so-many times before they cotton in. MS in Australia do not
support thier hardware, and I've gotten no responce from MS in the US
(and I'm not going to give THEM my credit card details just to be
told, we don't either, thank you very much.)

So, has anyone anywhere in the world gotten these pesky little ***s
from somewhere? I need a few dozen (and I can't change my driving
style :)

Regards,
John Book.

by **Andre** » Wed, 03 Jul 2002 20:39:15

John

Two angles here....

Firstly,i have had 8 MS FF wheels now and i have only ever paid for the
first one.Every 9/10 months i return it with two 'faults',the springs have
snapped and the *** on the steering wheel has come loose,i have a 2
minute 'disagreement' and state i have a 12 month warranty and blah blah
blah,dont want my money back,but 'just' want a wheel to drive with,nothing
more and a straight swap would be great.Manager has been called maybe on
half the occasions,but always as a gesture of goodwill he accepts.They
change managers regularly apparently.

Secondly,my brother works as an engineer at a steel factory.He is on his
first wheel but he makes his own springs at work and has used thicker wire
and done a damn good job,so my advice to you is if you havent got the brass
neck that i have,have you a local engineering company,using steel who will
run you off a few springs,better still a spring manufacturer.

Before you ask,highly competitive nature between my brother and I and the
best way is a new wheel each time(my way) but the best way is to do it
yourself and better than MS do it(his way).....so i would NEVER give in to
his way and ask him to make me some better stronger springs.....would i ..?
:-)

Andy

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 00:21:57

You know, I think this is the first case of broken MSFFW Pedal springs I've
ever heard of :)

This is why I keep my old GamePort version around. I have no illusions of
ever getting support from MS, as they have my money and that's all that
company really cares about. It's also why I paid the $9.95 to get the
BestBuy warranty.

I am, however, interested in the answer as well since I might get a set just
in case.

-Larry

by **Chris H** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 03:46:50

Call the 1-800 support number in the information which game with the wheel,
give them your product numbers and tell them what happened. They should
replace the whole thing at no cost, probably shipping it FedEx second-day.
Microsoft definitely stands behind their hardware products.
--
Chris H.

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 03:55:31

In-Warranty isn't the question... Out of warranty is the problem.

And I don't think warranty repairs always go as smoothly as you think,
either.

I've never had to use it, thank goodness, but I've got plenty of experience
at trying to get support from MS to remain guarded.

-Larry

> Call the 1-800 support number in the information which game with the
wheel,
> give them your product numbers and tell them what happened. They should
> replace the whole thing at no cost, probably shipping it FedEx second-day.
> Microsoft definitely stands behind their hardware products.
> --
> Chris H.

> > You know, I think this is the first case of broken MSFFW Pedal springs
> I've
> > ever heard of :)

> > This is why I keep my old GamePort version around. I have no illusions
of
> > ever getting support from MS, as they have my money and that's all that
> > company really cares about. It's also why I paid the $9.95 to get the
> > BestBuy warranty.

> > I am, however, interested in the answer as well since I might get a set
> just
> > in case.

> > -Larry

by **Chris H** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 04:02:53

I had a two-year-old IntelliMouse Optical Explorer, and the cord would short
out. I called and it was immediately replaced. It doesn't matter if a
Staples, BestBuy, etc., warranty was purchased. It is a Microsoft hardware
product, and they'll support it.
--
Chris H.

by **DJR** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 07:20:36

I agree 100% Microsoft replaced my wheel with no hassle at all! Then I had a
problem with the replacement, it made a squeaking noise, they sent me
another one, again no problem...I have had problems with the *** grips
wearing out so I cut down a steering wheel cover to fit it. It my not be a
momo, but it's got stronger ff and no pot. to fail..... btw they don't ask
for the old wheel back either.

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 08:21:01

They have a special repair program for this problem, and it has been well
advertised.

Not a good example of typical service :)

-Larry

> I had a two-year-old IntelliMouse Optical Explorer, and the cord would
short
> out. I called and it was immediately replaced. It doesn't matter if a
> Staples, BestBuy, etc., warranty was purchased. It is a Microsoft
hardware
> product, and they'll support it.
> --
> Chris H.

> > In-Warranty isn't the question... Out of warranty is the problem.

> > And I don't think warranty repairs always go as smoothly as you think,
> > either.

> > I've never had to use it, thank goodness, but I've got plenty of
> experience
> > at trying to get support from MS to remain guarded.

> > -Larry

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 08:23:57

I'm glad to hear this!

My wheel is well out of MFR warranty, though. It's up to Best Buy at this
point if I have trouble :)

-Larry

by **Jim Seamu** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 08:43:35

I have a non-FF sidewinder wheel, and after a month of GPL, one of the arms
on my throttle pedal spring broke. The spring still worked but only had half
the return force, and I got used to using it in the broken state. A month
later the other one broke too, so I phoned Microsoft. They sent me a brand
new wheel and pedals within 3 days (!)

I gave the old wheel/pedals away to a friend and used the new one. Now both
springs have snapped again in the new one, obviously this is a recurring
fault with this equipment. However I'm now used to the feel of the broken
pedals and I can drive with them quite happily, at least, I'm no slower like
this than I was with a brand new pedal set.

So yeah, MS in the UK are great for hardware replacement :0)

But alas, I wasn't able to find any suitable replacement springs from non-MS
sources. :0(

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 09:03:22

Well, I guess things are better than I had heard. Cool!

The question still remains, though. How hard is it, or is it even possible,
to get parts AFTER the warranty has expired ?

That's the real test to me.

-Larry

> I have a non-FF sidewinder wheel, and after a month of GPL, one of the
arms
> on my throttle pedal spring broke. The spring still worked but only had
half
> the return force, and I got used to using it in the broken state. A month
> later the other one broke too, so I phoned Microsoft. They sent me a brand
> new wheel and pedals within 3 days (!)

> I gave the old wheel/pedals away to a friend and used the new one. Now
both
> springs have snapped again in the new one, obviously this is a recurring
> fault with this equipment. However I'm now used to the feel of the broken
> pedals and I can drive with them quite happily, at least, I'm no slower
like
> this than I was with a brand new pedal set.

> So yeah, MS in the UK are great for hardware replacement :0)

> But alas, I wasn't able to find any suitable replacement springs from
non-MS
> sources. :0(

> > Well, the game is almost up. I love this wheel, but the pedal
> > springs(levers?) just give up the ghost just after the warrenty runs
> > out. I bought a second one and then took the first one back
> > "mistaking" it for the second one saying it was faulty, but I can only
> > do this so-many times before they cotton in. MS in Australia do not
> > support thier hardware, and I've gotten no responce from MS in the US
> > (and I'm not going to give THEM my credit card details just to be
> > told, we don't either, thank you very much.)

> > So, has anyone anywhere in the world gotten these pesky little ***s
> > from somewhere? I need a few dozen (and I can't change my driving
> > style :)

> > Regards,
> > John Book.

by **Brad Larocqu** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 12:14:02

One of the buttons stopped working on my sidewinder pro stick (ok ok
shoul;dnt have had a cup of coffee on the same table). I bought it
summer of 2000, so I think there is still a year's warranty left. If I
call MS, they'll jusy send me a new stick? I wont hve to send in the old
one to be replaced?

> Well, I guess things are better than I had heard. Cool!

> The question still remains, though. How hard is it, or is it even possible,
> to get parts AFTER the warranty has expired ?

> That's the real test to me.

> -Larry

>>I have a non-FF sidewinder wheel, and after a month of GPL, one of the

> arms

>>on my throttle pedal spring broke. The spring still worked but only had

> half

>>the return force, and I got used to using it in the broken state. A month
>>later the other one broke too, so I phoned Microsoft. They sent me a brand
>>new wheel and pedals within 3 days (!)

>>I gave the old wheel/pedals away to a friend and used the new one. Now

> both

>>springs have snapped again in the new one, obviously this is a recurring
>>fault with this equipment. However I'm now used to the feel of the broken
>>pedals and I can drive with them quite happily, at least, I'm no slower

> like

>>this than I was with a brand new pedal set.

>>So yeah, MS in the UK are great for hardware replacement :0)

>>But alas, I wasn't able to find any suitable replacement springs from

> non-MS

>>sources. :0(

>>>Well, the game is almost up. I love this wheel, but the pedal
>>>springs(levers?) just give up the ghost just after the warrenty runs
>>>out. I bought a second one and then took the first one back
>>>"mistaking" it for the second one saying it was faulty, but I can only
>>>do this so-many times before they cotton in. MS in Australia do not
>>>support thier hardware, and I've gotten no responce from MS in the US
>>>(and I'm not going to give THEM my credit card details just to be
>>>told, we don't either, thank you very much.)

>>>So, has anyone anywhere in the world gotten these pesky little ***s
>>>from somewhere? I need a few dozen (and I can't change my driving
>>>style :)

>>>Regards,
>>>John Book.

by **The Other Larr** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 12:49:59

You're asking the wrong guy :)

Anyone, anyone ?

-Larry

> One of the buttons stopped working on my sidewinder pro stick (ok ok
> shoul;dnt have had a cup of coffee on the same table). I bought it
> summer of 2000, so I think there is still a year's warranty left. If I
> call MS, they'll jusy send me a new stick? I wont hve to send in the old
> one to be replaced?

> > Well, I guess things are better than I had heard. Cool!

> > The question still remains, though. How hard is it, or is it even
possible,
> > to get parts AFTER the warranty has expired ?

> > That's the real test to me.

> > -Larry

> >>I have a non-FF sidewinder wheel, and after a month of GPL, one of the

> > arms

> >>on my throttle pedal spring broke. The spring still worked but only had

> > half

> >>the return force, and I got used to using it in the broken state. A
month
> >>later the other one broke too, so I phoned Microsoft. They sent me a
brand
> >>new wheel and pedals within 3 days (!)

> >>I gave the old wheel/pedals away to a friend and used the new one. Now

> > both

> >>springs have snapped again in the new one, obviously this is a recurring
> >>fault with this equipment. However I'm now used to the feel of the
broken
> >>pedals and I can drive with them quite happily, at least, I'm no slower

> > like

> >>this than I was with a brand new pedal set.

> >>So yeah, MS in the UK are great for hardware replacement :0)

> >>But alas, I wasn't able to find any suitable replacement springs from

> > non-MS

> >>sources. :0(

> >>>Well, the game is almost up. I love this wheel, but the pedal
> >>>springs(levers?) just give up the ghost just after the warrenty runs
> >>>out. I bought a second one and then took the first one back
> >>>"mistaking" it for the second one saying it was faulty, but I can only
> >>>do this so-many times before they cotton in. MS in Australia do not
> >>>support thier hardware, and I've gotten no responce from MS in the US
> >>>(and I'm not going to give THEM my credit card details just to be
> >>>told, we don't either, thank you very much.)

> >>>So, has anyone anywhere in the world gotten these pesky little ***s
> >>>from somewhere? I need a few dozen (and I can't change my driving
> >>>style :)

> >>>Regards,
> >>>John Book.

by **Chris H** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 12:50:13

That's the only example I have, however I have been told what the policy is
and instructions to the operators. Of course, you don't want to try then it
is guaranteed not to be replaced.
--
Chris H.

by **Jack** » Thu, 04 Jul 2002 14:42:44

Thought I was the only one that ever had the problem. I've asked all the
wrong people, apparently, because no one I asked ever heard of it happening.
Both springs been broken for a year or two. Warranty was over when they
broken and couldn't find a place to get replacements so I use bungee cords
as return springs. The *** on the wheel has worn completely off and this
thing just keeps working like day one. Keep thinking every day it will quit
and give me a good excuse to replace it, but no.

But like "Larry (The Other Larry)" asked-------- " The question still
remains, though. How hard is it, or is it even possible, to get parts
AFTER the warranty has expired ? "

Thanks,

Jack_

---

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rec.autos.simulators

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs

MS Sidewinder Wheel pedal springs