Problem with ACT-LABS Force RS

I saw something about that on their website. It said a little squeak is normal, and you shouldn't lubricate it. It's something inside the motor. The squeak might fade with time. -A

Hello, Since this morning my Force RS is making a small metallic sound when I am turning right, only right, if I turn left it is okay but when I turn right I can hear this sound, like a rusted bicycle wheel, not very loud but definitely here, the noise is mechanic because it is there when the wheel is powered or not, in use (force) or not. Should I open it and lubricate ? I know a lot of ACT-LABS people are looking here and I would like their opinion. Besides that the wheel still works fine but I don't want to break it so I am a bit afraid to use it. Thx

I have the same problem so I left them a voice mail and they replied right away with an email. I was told this. I use headphone most times anyways , so I'm ok with it. JD "It is not a sign of impending doom. The squeal you describe is coming from the motor itself and is caused by the brushes moving and setting up an oscillation against the commutator. It is similar to disc brake squeal in a car. Unfortunately, there is no lubrication possible, since that would burn up the commutator. One user has said that a shot of electronic contact cleaner solves it, but that would be at your own risk and there is a danger of using too much (washes out the lube from the bronze shaft bearing that is nearby) or the wrong kind (you need the kind with no lube in it). The noise can go away with more use as the brushes wear in further, however, this is a slow process. Pretty much any FF wheel or joystick on the market will do this at one time or another, since all use similar motors (ours is larger, of course). Brushless motors of decent torque would double the cost of the wheel." "

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>I saw something about that on their website. It said a little squeak is >normal, and you shouldn't lubricate it. It's something inside the motor. >The squeak might fade with time. >-A >> Hello, >> Since this morning my Force RS is making a small metallic sound when I am >> turning right, only right, if I turn left it is okay but when I turn

right

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>I >> can hear this sound, like a rusted bicycle wheel, not very loud but >> definitely here, the noise is mechanic because it is there when the wheel >is >> powered or not, in use (force) or not. >> Should I open it and lubricate ? I know a lot of ACT-LABS people are >looking >> here and I would like their opinion. >> Besides that the wheel still works fine but I don't want to break it so I >am >> a bit afraid to use it. >> Thx

Hello, NO!!! Don't open try to put more lubrication in it! The answer about the bushes is correct. Raymond On Sat, 18 Mar 2000 01:58:36 GMT, "Jim Dombrowski" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I have the same problem so I left them a voice mail and they replied right >away with an email. I was told this. I use headphone most times anyways , so >I'm ok with it. > >JD > >"It is not a sign of impending doom. The squeal you describe is coming from >the motor itself and is caused by the brushes moving and setting up an >oscillation against the commutator. It is similar to disc brake squeal in a >car. Unfortunately, there is no lubrication possible, since that would burn >up the commutator. One user has said that a shot of electronic contact >cleaner solves it, but that would be at your own risk and there is a danger >of using too much (washes out the lube from the bronze shaft bearing that >is nearby) or the wrong kind (you need the kind with no lube in it). > >The noise can go away with more use as the brushes wear in further, >however, this is a slow process. Pretty much any FF wheel or joystick on >the market will do this at one time or another, since all use similar >motors (ours is larger, of course). Brushless motors of decent torque would >double the cost of the wheel." > >" >Aubrey wrote in message ... >>I saw something about that on their website. It said a little squeak is >>normal, and you shouldn't lubricate it. It's something inside the motor. >>The squeak might fade with time. >> >>-A >> >>LL <[email hidden]> wrote in message >>news:8auhrb$c9v$[email hidden]... >>> Hello, >>> >>> Since this morning my Force RS is making a small metallic sound when I am >>> turning right, only right, if I turn left it is okay but when I turn >right >>I >>> can hear this sound, like a rusted bicycle wheel, not very loud but >>> definitely here, the noise is mechanic because it is there when the wheel >>is >>> powered or not, in use (force) or not. >>> >>> Should I open it and lubricate ? I know a lot of ACT-LABS people are >>looking >>> here and I would like their opinion. >>> >>> Besides that the wheel still works fine but I don't want to break it so I >>am >>> a bit afraid to use it. >>> >>> Thx >>> >>> >> >> > >

Raymond ACT LABS

> > Unfortunately, there is no lubrication possible, since that would burn > >up the commutator. You can get comm drops at your local hobby shop. It's used mostly on R/C and slot car motors and won't catch fire. It helps seat the brushes and cleans the comm and brushes. But don't use it often. Oh, and I'm not recommending that anyone use it at all, just that it's available and safe if not over done. Slot