Argh!!! Dirty pot in Force RS

Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for lubrication is causing the problem. This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. Eldred's cup! Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... TIA! Kendt Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

In article <0jd75.12812$[email hidden]>, "GTX_SlotCar" <[email hidden]> wrote: > The lubricant in tuner cleaner won't hurt the pot. There may beanother > problem so try this: Get into a calibration program, either thesteering > calibration in something like GPL or N3, or Windows Controller Panel.As you > turn the wheel left and right, does there appear to be a dead spotwhere you > can move the wheel 2 or 3 degrees but it doesn't register incalibration? > Get back to me with the answer, okay? > Thanks - but it's behaving differently. When I turn the wheel left, it jumps back towards the center (watching in calibration + DXTweak). It only seems to be when turning left, so I'm guessing the resistance in the pot is going up as it hits dirty spots. I just sprayed it down again and it seems OK for now. Out of curiousity, what's the other problem? One change I have made is installing a new Logitech Wingman USB joystick. The problem occurs even with the stick unplugged, but I haven't tried re-installing the RS drivers yet. Thanks again! Kendt Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

If you've used a good tuner cleaner, such as Radio Shack's, and it is still jittery, I would say you have one of two problems. A loose solder connection in one of the wires, or the pot is going bad. -- Don Burnette Dburn in N3 and Legends ICQ# 74084566 <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8jjjtk$8ke$[email hidden]... > Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty > potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a > little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the > forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner > cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for > lubrication is causing the problem. > This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. > Eldred's cup! > Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... > > TIA! > Kendt > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

The lubricant in tuner cleaner won't hurt the pot. There may be another problem so try this: Get into a calibration program, either the steering calibration in something like GPL or N3, or Windows Controller Panel. As you turn the wheel left and right, does there appear to be a dead spot where you can move the wheel 2 or 3 degrees but it doesn't register in calibration? Get back to me with the answer, okay? -- Slot www.slottweak.com Tweaks & Reviews <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8jjjtk$8ke$[email hidden]... > Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty > potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a > little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the > forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner > cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for > lubrication is causing the problem. > This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. > Eldred's cup! > Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... > > TIA! > Kendt > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

As I'm still using a TM Nascar Pro, I have A LOT of experience with all kinds of methods of cleaning pots. The best way to clean them is to disassemble the pot and clean the surfaces with a pencil eraser. It is easy to do, just bend the tabs back. The tuner cleaner just removes the lubrication and will cause the pot to wear out prematurely. -Tony- [email hidden] wrote:

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> > Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty > potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a > little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the > forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner > cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for > lubrication is causing the problem. > This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. > Eldred's cup! > Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... > > TIA! > Kendt > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

If the problems occurred about the same time you installed the joystick, maybe it would be worth uninstalling the stick drivers and seeing what happens. You might also want to try unplugging the pot from the circuit board and measuring the resistance on each side while rotating it. That would let you know for sure whether or not it's the pot. The other problem I was thinking of is an enlarged hole in the steering shaft where the pot shaft connects to it. It happens on these wheels sometimes. The pots are fairly high quality carbon units. If it is the pot, cleaning should work. It would be unusual for high quality pots to be that damaged if you've only had the wheel a short time. -- Slot www.slottweak.com Tweaks & Reviews <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8jjpb7$c7n$[email hidden]... > In article <0jd75.12812$[email hidden]>, > "GTX_SlotCar" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > The lubricant in tuner cleaner won't hurt the pot. There may be > another > > problem so try this: Get into a calibration program, either the > steering > > calibration in something like GPL or N3, or Windows Controller Panel. > As you > > turn the wheel left and right, does there appear to be a dead spot > where you > > can move the wheel 2 or 3 degrees but it doesn't register in > calibration? > > Get back to me with the answer, okay? > > > > Thanks - but it's behaving differently. When I turn the wheel left, it > jumps back towards the center (watching in calibration + DXTweak). It > only seems to be when turning left, so I'm guessing the resistance in > the pot is going up as it hits dirty spots. I just sprayed it down > again and it seems OK for now. > Out of curiousity, what's the other problem? One change I have made is > installing a new Logitech Wingman USB joystick. The problem occurs even > with the stick unplugged, but I haven't tried re-installing the RS > drivers yet. > > Thanks again! > Kendt > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

Just a moment I thought what bad I have done, that they start to call me as a 'Dirty pot in Force RS'. nevermind (with a lots of frustration from mosport)... Jyrki Laine (aka argh!) GPLRank 85.35 -> St Eldred's rank 14.90 -- <-- (No electrons were harmed in production of this message) -->

On Fri, 30 Jun 2000 20:25:14 -0700 Tony Jester <[email hidden]> wrote: % As I'm still using a TM Nascar Pro, I have A LOT of experience with all % kinds of methods of cleaning pots. The best way to clean them is to % disassemble the pot and clean the surfaces with a pencil eraser. It is % easy to do, just bend the tabs back. The tuner cleaner just removes the % lubrication and will cause the pot to wear out prematurely. Not if you get a cleaner with a lubricant in it. However, doesn't your method (which is usually the best cleaning method) also remove the lubrication? -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. [email hidden] http://www.teleport.com/~mcarver =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Hey, If you want a new pot, just fire and e-mail to tech support. :) [email hidden] Raymond ACT LABS www.act-labs.com On Sat, 01 Jul 2000 02:10:04 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:

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>Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty >potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a >little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the >forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner >cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for >lubrication is causing the problem. >This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. >Eldred's cup! >Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... > >TIA! >Kendt > > >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ >Before you buy.

In article <yYAl5.14221$[email hidden]>, "Cox Cable News" <[email hidden]> writes:

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>It's a bad idea because each time you do it you rub off some of the plating. >This thins out the conductor and soon enough you end up with contacts that >won't be reliable no matter what you do. > >The proper cleaning fluids with the proper application followed by the >proper lubrication is the only proper way to reach your objective AND >guarantee long life. > >-Larry

It's an old habit carried over from my slot car days. I realize that there may be some 'wearing' from doing that, but how often do people REALLY clean their contacts? Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +51.95 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <bCll5.11216$[email hidden]>, "Cox Cable News" <[email hidden]> writes: >It does. > >Rubber erasers for cleaning electronic contacts is an old wives tale, and a >very bad idea. > >-Larry Why exactly is it a bad idea? It works...and I'm FAR from an old wife<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +51.95 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

It does. Rubber erasers for cleaning electronic contacts is an old wives tale, and a very bad idea. -Larry "Michael E. Carver" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9Im75.3334$[email hidden]... > On Fri, 30 Jun 2000 20:25:14 -0700 Tony Jester <[email hidden]>wrote:

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> % As I'm still using a TM Nascar Pro, I have A LOT of experience with all > % kinds of methods of cleaning pots. The best way to clean them is to > % disassemble the pot and clean the surfaces with a pencil eraser. It is > % easy to do, just bend the tabs back. The tuner cleaner just removes the > % lubrication and will cause the pot to wear out prematurely. > > Not if you get a cleaner with a lubricant in it. However, doesn't your > method (which is usually the best cleaning method) also remove the > lubrication? > > -- > **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* > Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. > [email hidden] http://www.teleport.com/~mcarver > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Now that's service. And I don't even own one. Yet :) -Larry "Raymond, ACT LABS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hey, > > If you want a new pot, just fire and e-mail to tech support. :) > [email hidden] > > Raymond > ACT LABS > www.act-labs.com > > > > On Sat, 01 Jul 2000 02:10:04 GMT, [email hidden] wrote: > > >Anyone have recommendations for a *good* cleaner for a dirty > >potentiometer? The wheel pot in my fairly new Force RS has gotten a > >little dirty, and not only does it screw up the calibration, but the > >forces get off-center and jump around as well. I've tried tuner > >cleaner, but it only worked initially. I assume the mineral oil for > >lubrication is causing the problem. > >This is driving me nuts!!! I was all geared up to join the St. > >Eldred's cup! > >Back to SBK2K and MCM2 for a while, I guess... > > > >TIA! > >Kendt > > > > > >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > >Before you buy. >

It's a bad idea because each time you do it you rub off some of the plating. This thins out the conductor and soon enough you end up with contacts that won't be reliable no matter what you do. The proper cleaning fluids with the proper application followed by the proper lubrication is the only proper way to reach your objective AND guarantee long life. -Larry "EldredP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > In article <bCll5.11216$[email hidden]>, "CoxCable > News" <[email hidden]> writes: > > >It does. > > > >Rubber erasers for cleaning electronic contacts is an old wives tale, anda

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> >very bad idea. > > > >-Larry > > Why exactly is it a bad idea? It works...and I'm FAR from an old wife<g> > > Eldred > -- > Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > GPL hcp. +51.95 > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats

you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.