First, I want to say that I am not spam-ing and I am not being paid to say
this. This is my honest opinion on the TSW2 steering units.
******************************************************************
You know the feeling, the night before Xmas and you cant sleep because you
are so e***d. This feeling has been running through me for over a week
even though Xmas is not around the corner. I have been awaiting my TSW2
Dragster wheel from Thomas Enterprises (http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ [address restored] ), and
guess what ..... it just arrived! Finally, now I get the chance to pop in my
Burnout: Championship Drag Racing CD, wrap my fingers around the butter-fly
wheel, mash the gas pedal to the floor and make my record breaking 1/4 mile
runs. But first, I need to stop jumping up and down with e***ment....
As I opened the box that housed my TSW2 Dragster during shipping, and tore
my way through the packing, I quickly realized how heavy duty this unit was
built. I saw metal, for the first time in a PC steering device. Thomas
Enterprises did not use a cheap, plastic, dragster wheel look-a-like, they
used the real thing. Lifting the steering unit out gave me the tingles as I
eyed the pedal unit which could probably win a head on collision with my
F-150. Both pieces of the TSW2 were built to last. I was not afraid to grab
the units, run down the hallway and throw them to the ground to start
plugging them in, in which I did.
Seconds later, I attempted my first 1/4 mile pass and miserably failed to
complete even a burnout as I forgot to calibrate the new setup.
Calibrating is where my heart just about dropped, Win-95 was not finding my
new TSW2. I decided to take a quick trip over to Thomas Enterprises web page
to see if I could find an answer to my problems. Amazingly, my question was
directly answered right there in the support section. A wire may have shaken
loose during shipping, so I decide to explore the inner workings of the
units to determine which wire it may be. 9 screws later, I have both the
wheel and pedal assembly covers off and find the culprit, a small twisty cap
fell off and two wires were exposed, hey, I can fix that! No guessing what
the problem was, no digging though bundles of wiring, no removing of 38
different screws that I have to keep track of on my carpet while removing a
cumbersome plastic casing that never seems to fit....... uh, sorry...... I
was able to just fix the problem in no more than 5 seconds and continue on.
This is also where I first realize exactly how sturdy the TSW2 is. The inner
workings of this thing is metal as well. There is no bungie cord to break
and the wiring is nicely laid out of harms way. The pedal assembly was even
more impressive as the pedal springs, (that we are so use to breaking from
other units), are the size of a large cigar and will be very difficult, if
not impossible, to break. The pedals themselves and all the working parts
were sturdy metal with no possibility of breakage. Another great thing about
the unit is the availability of parts. If your TSW2 did get run over by a
truck, then you can go down to the local electronics store or hardware store
an be able to find many replacement parts. You dont have to wait 2 weeks to
get that item by special order, just drive down the street and pick up the
part needed. The controller is made in USA and all parts are easily found in
the USA. Then again, I would be more worried about it breaking my truck.
Now, I do finally get around to get some driving done with the TSW2. Though
I cant say it knocked 3 seconds of my best ET, it did give me a better feel
of being in a Dragster or Funny Car. For you road racers or oval racer, the
foot pedals are smooth as silk, and at the correct angles. The foot pedal
base is heavy enough that I do not have to worry about it slipping under the
pressure of my driving. Though I have not yet used the clamping device on
the steering unit, the weight alone prevents much of the slipping there as
well.
All in all, the TSW2 steering wheel is the best constructed wheel that I
have yet had the chance to use. I have no problems believing that it will
last longer than any of my other wheels. The TSW2 is the best buy for the
everyday Sim-racer who wants a quality wheel for the best price.
- Tim McArthur
> First, I want to say that I am not spam-ing and I am not being paid to say
> this. This is my honest opinion on the TSW2 steering units.
> ******************************************************************
<lots of neat stuff snipped>
Tim, thanks, it shows some people have taste :)!
Trev
Tell everyone about it TIM, these things are built like a TANK way to go
TIM.
Bob Hawkins
and
>guess what ..... it just arrived! Finally, now I get the chance to pop in my
page
>to see if I could find an answer to my problems. Amazingly, my question was
>directly answered right there in the support section. A wire may have shaken
>loose during shipping, so I decide to explore the inner workings of the
>units to determine which wire it may be. 9 screws later, I have both the
>wheel and pedal assembly covers off and find the culprit, a small twisty cap
>fell off and two wires were exposed, hey, I can fix that! No guessing what
>the problem was, no digging though bundles of wiring, no removing of 38
>different screws that I have to keep track of on my carpet while removing a
>cumbersome plastic casing that never seems to fit....... uh, sorry...... I
>was able to just fix the problem in no more than 5 seconds and continue on.
>This is also where I first realize exactly how sturdy the TSW2 is. The inner
>workings of this thing is metal as well. There is no bungie cord to break
>and the wiring is nicely laid out of harms way. The pedal assembly was even
>more impressive as the pedal springs, (that we are so use to breaking from
>other units), are the size of a large cigar and will be very difficult, if
>not impossible, to break. The pedals themselves and all the working parts
>were sturdy metal with no possibility of breakage. Another great thing about
>the unit is the availability of parts. If your TSW2 did get run over by a
>truck, then you can go down to the local electronics store or hardware store
>an be able to find many replacement parts. You dont have to wait 2 weeks to
>get that item by special order, just drive down the street and pick up the
>part needed. The controller is made in USA and all parts are easily found in
>the USA. Then again, I would be more worried about it breaking my truck.
>Now, I do finally get around to get some driving done with the TSW2. Though
>I cant say it knocked 3 seconds of my best ET, it did give me a better feel
>of being in a Dragster or Funny Car. For you road racers or oval racer, the
>foot pedals are smooth as silk, and at the correct angles. The foot pedal
>base is heavy enough that I do not have to worry about it slipping under th e
