F1 sim steering wheel...

Can anybody help me here? I have an F1 Sim steering wheel and pedal unit and the sealed switching unit at the base of the wheel is frankly ****ed.... Does anyone out there know of a web page / email address where I can contact digital edge direct? Any help would be VERY much appreciated...otherwise TOCA 2 will drive me insane.... Thanks in anticipation... Paul

On Wed, 14 Apr 1999 22:11:46 +0100, "Paul Simcox"

Quoted text (7 lines)

>Can anybody help me here? >I have an F1 Sim steering wheel and pedal unit and the sealed switching unit >at the base of the wheel is frankly ****ed.... >Does anyone out there know of a web page / email address where I can contact >digital edge direct?

<<SNIP>> Try http://www.digitaledge.co.uk/f1simindex.htm they used to be at www.indysim.com but dont know if that link is still available. Digital Edge is a subsidiary of Zye Technologies I think. Hope this helps. Steve

I don't know how the companies are related, but Ballracing Developments also sells the F1 Sim wheel AND replacement parts (including a new steering return mechanism for the F1 Sim and GP500 models). You can find them at: http://www.interactiveracing.com/ Enjoy! -- JB On Wed, 14 Apr 1999 22:11:46 +0100, "Paul Simcox"

Quoted text (14 lines)

>Can anybody help me here? >I have an F1 Sim steering wheel and pedal unit and the sealed switching unit >at the base of the wheel is frankly ****ed.... >Does anyone out there know of a web page / email address where I can contact >digital edge direct? >Any help would be VERY much appreciated...otherwise TOCA 2 will drive me >insane.... >Thanks in anticipation... >Paul

Paul, call that number: +44 1817 865898 i dealt with a support guy called 'Colin' there at Zye UK not so long ago. I hope they can help you there with your problem. -- Greg Hellmann "Cause when the feelin's right, i'm gonna race all night." Paul Simcox schrieb in Nachricht

http://www.interactiveracing.com/....but this is not the link to Digital Edge, this is the link to the original designers. hope this helps -- Cheers Ginger.....( Bowt NetterToDo )

Quoted text (13 lines)

> Can anybody help me here? > I have an F1 Sim steering wheel and pedal unit and the sealed > switching unit > at the base of the wheel is frankly ****ed.... > Does anyone out there know of a web page / email address where I > can contact > digital edge direct? > Any help would be VERY much appreciated...otherwise TOCA 2 will > drive me > insane....

AFAIK, Digital Edge are the licensed distributors for the F1 Sim, the actual original makers are a company called Ballracing Developments. Contact them at: Or visit thier website at: http://www.InteractiveRacing.com 8-) *Peter* #:-)

I too had the F1 Sim wheel. I say had simply because the damn thing gave up the ghost about 4 months after getting the thing. I was a bit suspicious about the pedal set, more in common with tonka toys if you ask me. Shoddy all over. I fixed the minimal electronics inside the pedal set myself and thought that all would be well, but not long after that the steering column went from bad to worse. ***build quality all over really. It wasn't as if I was thwacking the damn thing with bricks either. If you own one of these monstrosties and all is well, be warned, in the coming months you too will be bitter and twisted as well. By the way, I mailed Digital Edge about all of this about 3 months ago and have heard absolutely sod all from them. Moan, Moan, Etc. Hope you have better luck than I did. Cheers, Colin

Quoted text (24 lines)

> I too had the F1 Sim wheel. I say had simply because the damn thing > gave up > the ghost about 4 months after getting the thing. I was a bit > suspicious > about the pedal set, more in common with tonka toys if you ask me. > Shoddy > all over. I fixed the minimal electronics inside the pedal set > myself and > thought that all would be well, but not long after that the > steering column > went from bad to worse. ***build quality all over really. It > wasn't as if > I was thwacking the damn thing with bricks either. If you own one > of these > monstrosties and all is well, be warned, in the coming months you > too will > be bitter and twisted as well. > By the way, I mailed Digital Edge about all of this about 3 months > ago and > have heard absolutely sod all from them. > Moan, Moan, Etc. > Hope you have better luck than I did.

Hmmm, sounds like you are talking about the F1 Sim *Compact* which is the cut down version with the plastic pedals? The *full* size F1 Sim has all steel construction pedals, and is very well made and sturdy, IMHO. I have had my F1 Sim for over a year now, and use it almost every day, and have only ever had to replace broken pedal springs, which are available as spares. Maybe you were just unlucky? 8-) *Peter* #:-)

Tis indeed the F1 Sim Compact I was talking about. I have tried the F1 Sim and it was indeed champion stuff. I'm swaying over which to go for now. The F1 Sim or a FF Wheel. Any recommendations?

Go for the "New F1 Sim" http://www.interactiveracing.com/ Also, check out the Game Frame Pro special deal -- Cheers Ginger.....( Bowt NetterToDo )

> Go for the "New F1 Sim" > http://www.interactiveracing.com/ > Also, check out the Game Frame Pro special deal I just got a leaflet about the game frame too, looks very tempting, and reasonably priced? The previous offer was for the F1 Chassis wasn't it (at about 500.00!!!!) the new one is only 300.00 but looks just as sturdy? 8-) *Peter* #:-)

> Tis indeed the F1 Sim Compact I was talking about. I have tried the > F1 Sim > and it was indeed champion stuff. I'm swaying over which to go for > now. The > F1 Sim or a FF Wheel. > Any recommendations? Yeah, sure, Get an F1 Sim (full size) but make sure you get the new steering set-up, the old one had minor problems and sometimes didn't re-centre properly. Apparently the new ones have a new improved steering return mechanism? I could get an upgrade for my (older) F1 Sim, (the upgrade costs 60.00) but to be honest the steering on mine is pretty good, and re-centres ok, so its not a problem. I'd order direct from Ballracing rather than buy from PC World or similar, as they designed the original concept, and should be able to tell you if you have the new upgrade or not. If you don't get an F1 Sim, I'd get a TSW or ECCI wheel, but both are pretty expensive, but worth it, and only available from the states (AFAIK?) 8-) *Peter* #:-)

Yeh great...I just hope nothing goes wrong with it...coz it looks like you don't stand a chance getting any help or email responses to sort things out... And they're a UK based company too? Good huh...

Quoted text (13 lines)

>Go for the "New F1 Sim" >http://www.interactiveracing.com/ >Also, check out the Game Frame Pro special deal >-- >Cheers Ginger.....( Bowt NetterToDo ) >> Tis indeed the F1 Sim Compact I was talking about. I have tried the F1

Sim >> and it was indeed champion stuff. I'm swaying over which to go for now. >The >> F1 Sim or a FF Wheel. >> Any recommendations?

Agreed, I am really happy with my F1-SIM. I can't see having any trouble with it at all - though my gas pedal spring did also break. Mailed Digital Edge for a spares list / prices - but they just sent me two new ones for free! ----- Jules

: Agreed, I am really happy with my F1-SIM. I can't see having any trouble : with it at all - though my gas pedal spring did also break. Mailed Digital : Edge for a spares list / prices - but they just sent me two new ones for : free! Seconded - digital are really good with replacement parts. However, the F1-Sim compact is not nearly so rugged as the F1 Sim. -- Richard G. Clegg Only the mind is waving Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York. www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

Quoted text (7 lines)

> Agreed, I am really happy with my F1-SIM. I can't see having any > trouble > with it at all - though my gas pedal spring did also break. Mailed > Digital > Edge for a spares list / prices - but they just sent me two new > ones for > free!

Free, FREE! I just paid around 11.00 for Four new ones, B*st*rds!!!! Mind you, I did e-mail them first and offer to pay for them, so they obviously thought they would take my money as it was being offered? 8-) BTW, Tip: for any F1 Sim owners out there replacing pedal springs? When you put on the new spring, place a bit of masking tape or other similar material around the bolt that the spring attachs to. When I changed my first spring, I didn't do this and the bolt had nothing around it, and the new spring quickly snapped cos it was rubbing on the bolt! Applying tape reduces the friction caused by metal on metal rubbing and makes the spring last a lot longer? 8-) *Peter* 8-)

I'm still on my original pair after a year's thrashing. The brake spring's still intact, but the clip holding it to the pedal snapped twice. Once I kind of repaired it, now it's been replaced by a shoelace... I like to be self-sufficient in spares ;-) The accelerator spring's snapped twice, but on both occasions it just lost a loop off the end. Using a couple of pairs of pliers I just bent another loop off the spring, stretched it a little to reduce tension and increase potential longevity and bob's yer uncle. I've learned to live with the non-centering wheel, and the new replacement unit is a bit steep... think I'll save the money towards a new F1Sim or TSW. Andrew McP

Hmm, I offered to pay too. But I did write a nice letter saying how I got so much enjoyment out of my wheel. 2.50 per spring sounds a bit steep to me. Perhaps the bloke dealing with yourself spotted an opportunity to get a few cheap pints? When my spares next run out, I might just send a cheque for a tenner and ask for the equiverlant amount of springs back and see what result I get. At least I would, but I will probably be fitting old bed springs in place instead, and using a key-ring attachment to hold them in place. Those should never break, but might make the peddles a bit heavy - cue the whole pedal set moving about a foot across the floor whenever the brakes are applied! Mind you, the steering will probably pack-up before then. As anyone managed to dissasemble the column yet to get to the workings? I tried to take out the four surrounding screws so I could lubricate it, but it just wouldn't budge. Do I need a wratchet or something on the bolt hidden underneath the front part of the wheel instead? In the end, I found it's better to squit WD40 in behind the gear paddles - this really loosens the wheel up and I imagine prevents too much wear. But I would like to know on how to get to the column internals in case something breaks. Can anybody offer any help? Oh, and as for the masking tape tip - I don't think it makes any difference because each spring seems to have a different weak point - mine split half way up for instance.

I thought the F1-SIM was self-centering!? Do you have an earlier version? I'm under the impression that minesa "MK3", but I'm not so sure. I thought they were all the same, but I have two pics with a slightly different design, and when I ordered mine I had to wait 4 months before I got it because they said they were making changes.

> Mind you, the steering will probably pack-up before then. As anyone > managed to dissasemble the column yet to get to the workings? Sure, I've had mine apart a few times..... Undo the four screws, they may be a bit tight? Undo the front nut to get the steering wheel off. Pull out the cable stop at the base of the steering column (to allow the cable to run loose in the inside). Carefully remove the *** washer (which was behind the steering wheel) and (gently!) pull off the round circuit board with the two buttons on it. Unscrew and remove the steering centering knob from about half way down the steering column (used for fine tuning/recalibrating the steering?) You should now be able to (gently) pull out the whole steering assembly from within the steering column. Make sure the cables have a bit of slack as you pull the assembly out. You may also want to disconnect the wires from the round circuit board to aid pulling out the assembly (but make a note of which wire went where?) 8-) *Peter* 8-)

Peter's comment reminded me I never answered you... sorry. I think Peter has one of the original F1 Sim's, made before they farmed out the manufacturing to Digital Edge. The more recent versions have suffered from a centering problem. A couple of cheap n cheerful clips hold the *** sleeve inside the column and it slips with anything more than slight wheel movements, so you always end up driving 30 degrees or so from where your hands ought to be. Some people have solved this with an extra clip or something similar, but I've just learned to live with it. There's an upgraded assembly available now from Interactive Racing, but it's quite expensive. I'd advise anyone after an F1 Sim now to order direct from them and avoid the backlog of older models in places like PC World. Andrew McP