Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - Saitek Throttle Quadrant problems

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support | Saitek Throttle Quadrant problems

DVA4491
Senior Captain, MD-11
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Posted onPost created on April 17 2010 14:01 ET by Weston Woodward

Hey guys.

So I've had my Saitek Throttle (the one that comes with the yoke) for probably about 2 years now, and It's been great, except for recently I've been having problems with the first (left) throttle. Whenever I have all 3 throttles in the idle position, the left one seems to "spike" or be noisy. So when they should be idle, it sometimes flicks up (in the sim) to about 75%, then will fluctuate for a few seconds, then go back down to idle, while the physical throttle itself has been in the idle position the whole time. Anyone else had this problem or have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Weston

Weston Woodward (DVA4491)

DVA3050
Captain, A330-300

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Posted onPost created on April 17 2010 16:36 ET by Michael Schlabowske

sounds to me like you might have a bad "pot" ( potentiometer) I would email saitek about getting a new one alone with the wiring diagram to replace it... its a pretty east fix with the diagram handy... I had this issue with my X52 a few years back and they worked with me very quickly to get it resoved. al told I think the part cost more to ship ( 5 bucks) then the price of the part ( 4 bucks)

Michael Schlabowske

Captain, A330-300

Posted onPost created on April 17 2010 23:50 ET by Weston Woodward

Yeah, I'm thinking it's a pot. I've heard they're not worth 10c and really aren't made for the type of movement the throttles do. I'll contact Saitek about it though.

Thanks!

Weston

Weston Woodward (DVA4491)

DVA5929
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Posted onPost created on April 18 2010 09:51 ET by Nicholas Carpenter

I had a problem where my throttle quadrant (same as yours) would spike up to 100%. I did a bunch of reinstalls of FS, re-mapped the button to the quadrant a couple of times, and recalibrated it through FS and the Saitek calibrators, I haven't had a problem since.

Nicholas Carpenter

Senior Captain, B747-400

DVA7636
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
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Posted onPost created on April 18 2010 10:16 ET by Tracy Norris

Weston, if you're adventuresome enough, you can take it apart and spray the inside of the pot with "TV Tuner/Control Lubricant" (see http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103700# )

I keep a can of this stuff around for new joysticks, throttles, etc since they usually ship un-lubricated from the factory. This stuff works wonders on old, worn pots as well.

Tracy Norris

Senior Captain, L-1011-100

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Posted onPost created on April 18 2010 15:17 ET by Jack Vogel

Would a spray of WD40 do as well Tracy?? Mine is about as old as Weston's
and I've noticed this behavior too, its been just a nuissance so far but would
be nice to fix it.

Jack Vogel

Captain, MD-11

Posted onPost created on April 18 2010 18:22 ET by Tracy Norris

Jack,

I would definitely NOT use WD-40 as it is strictly a Water Displacer (hence the WD , try #40 originally developed to keep aircraft magneto wires dry when flying through clouds BTW wink

)

The contact cleaner has a fast-evaporating solvent that flushes out the worn pot material and also has an electrically conductive lubricant to keep the pot from wearing more. It's good stuff that I use even on new pots to give them a longer life.

Tracy Norris

Senior Captain, L-1011-100

Posted onPost created on April 18 2010 20:29 ET by Jack Vogel

Oh well, that I had on hand, dont have the stuff you're talking about. Not sure
I want to take it apart anyway...

Jack Vogel

Captain, MD-11

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