Thrustmaster jitter (only near the middle)

Last night I was experimenting with setups and was trying to run a perfectly straight line. I experimented with steering lock (from 12% to 6% helps at 'dega). Later I went into the CONTROLS and calibrated my "joysticks". I noticed a bit of jitter with my Thrustmaster T1 in the middle of the range. I was getting numbers like 6 to 1000. Right in the middle, a slight twist of the wheel left or right would result in some jitter of the calibration pointer. Similar slight changes in the middle of a sharp left or right turn did not cause jitter. I did not notice anything like this on "joystick 2". Slight Acceleration or slight braking caused very smooth changes of that calibration pointer. I tried my son's T1, same thing. Jitter on the wheel near the middle, no jitter on the accel/brake anywhere on that range. Could this be wear on the T1 wheel due to a long service life? Is there a T1 "tune-up" kit that replaces this worn component? Is it an item that can be replaced by someone of average mechanical skills? -- Best Wishes!!! Robert Huggins Raleigh, NC

>>Last night I was experimenting with setups and was trying to run a perfectly straight line. I experimented with steering lock (from 12% to 6% helps at 'dega). Later I went into the CONTROLS and calibrated my "joysticks". I noticed a bit of jitter with my Thrustmaster T1 in the middle of the range. I was getting numbers like 6 to 1000. Right in the middle, a slight twist of the wheel left or right would result in some jitter of the calibration pointer. Similar slight changes in the middle of a sharp left or right turn did not cause jitter. Could this be wear on the T1 wheel due to a long service life? Is there a T1 "tune-up" kit that replaces this worn component? Is it an item that can be replaced by someone of average mechanical skills?>> I have the same problem with my T2 after 6 months of use. I wrote ThrustMaster and they are sending me an new steering pot and brake spring (had trouble stopping on turn 11 at Sears Point!!). I also saw on their homepage that they offer "Tune-up" kits for the T1. Drop them a note. Michael Day

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>Last night I was experimenting with setups and was trying to run a >perfectly straight line. I experimented with steering lock (from 12% >to 6% helps at 'dega). Later I went into the CONTROLS and calibrated >my "joysticks". I noticed a bit of jitter with my Thrustmaster T1 in >the middle of the range. I was getting numbers like 6 to 1000. Right >in the middle, a slight twist of the wheel left or right would result >in some jitter of the calibration pointer. Similar slight changes in >the middle of a sharp left or right turn did not cause jitter. >I did not notice anything like this on "joystick 2". Slight >Acceleration or slight braking caused very smooth changes of that >calibration pointer. >I tried my son's T1, same thing. Jitter on the wheel near the middle, >no jitter on the accel/brake anywhere on that range. >Could this be wear on the T1 wheel due to a long service life? Is >there a T1 "tune-up" kit that replaces this worn component? Is it an >item that can be replaced by someone of average mechanical skills?

I've a homebuilt wheel and I've noticed this on old pots alot. I asked my dad (A Design Engineer with lots of experience with electronics and mechanics) and he said that pots build up dirt or other debris over time/use. He also suggested the possibility of a 'worn' area and to try and adjust the pot so that that area of the contact points are not used (not allways possible) He suggested trying a cleaning solution or canned air to clean/blow away the debris. I've had pots last less than 1 week, From Altex in Austin Tx, but some Pots from other sources, TinkerTronics, lasted allmost 4 weeks (4/20 to 5/17). So I guess it depends on the cost/worth of the pots themselves. Good luck. Steve PS. I've tried pot values of 100K, 500K and 1M. Anyone with advice on the values? +----------------------------------+------------------------------------ | All the worlds a stage, | ("'-''-/").___..--''"'-._ | | and there's a comedy playing. | '6_ 6 ) '_. ( ).'-.__.') | | May as well enjoy the show. | (_Y_.) ._ ) '._ '. ''-..-' | | | _..'--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' | +----------------------------------+------------------------------------ | Go Dale Earnhardt #3 | Go Rusty Wallace #2 | +----------------------------------+------------------------------------ | Split_S on IRC Split_S on Hawaii sp-s on Warbirds | +------------------------------------------------------------------------

> PS. I've tried pot values of 100K, 500K and 1M. Anyone with advice on the > values? Ive looked at many, many joysticks and steering wheels and have found that all of them use pots of 100k. And their making these joysticks/steering wheels to last for a while, so I see no need in using a different value than the most popular one. Method Man