Saitek HOTAS Tune-up

[Bullethead 12]

I have a Saitek X45 HOTAS that I when they were new, however many years ago that was. It's worked flawlessly through much hard abuse but lately has gotten a problem. All the LEDs on it flickered instead of being on constantly, like a flourescent tube that's starting to go bad. This has gotten more common over the last few weeks but because it had no apparent effect on functionality, I figured the loose wire was just for the LEDs and no big deal. After all, this thing has been through innumerable horrific crashes, so it should be showing its age. I mean, I've worn out many sticks and HOTAS over the last 20 years or so and this X45 has lasted longer than most.

 

Well, today the LED flicker mode changed. Instead of being mostly on with very short off periods, it switched to being the opposite. And that's when I discovered it had a big effect on functionality. When the lights were off, the whole HOTAS just didn't work. No buttons, not stick, not throttle, no rudder. Naturally, I discovered this in combat with a fairly successful DiD pilot.... Fortunately, all I was fighting at the time was unescorted 2-seaters on my side of the lines, and despite the HOTAS problems I'd already mortally wounded my victim. At the time, I thought it was TIR acting up, but while circling like a buzzard to make sure he stayed dead, I noticed the correlation between no LEDs and no control. The whole trouble seemed to be in the throttle. I found that if I pushed on it in a given direction, the lights went out, but in a different direction they stayed mostly on.

 

So, after watching the E/A crash, I headed for the closest friendly field and tried to land. Problem was, the hand position where the controls worked was incompatible with a good landing. As a result, I crashed due to excessive bouncing, but fortunately walked away from it. After this, I shut everything down and took a screwdriver to my throttle.

 

To make a long story a bit shorter, I discovered I could cure the problem by tightening up the "friction" screw on the bottom of the throttle. This after taking it all apart fruitlessly. I guess over the years, the brake pads have worn a bit.

 

SO...... If this ever happens to you, try tightening up the "friction" screw before you panic.

[Rickitycrate 10]

Bullethead, what's old gear for you is new kit to me. I got my X45 a couple weeks back, still adjusting to it, and I think it's great but no FFB. Now I know what to do if I have your experience down the road, thanks.

[Duce Lewis 3]

I had a similar problem with my X52 Pro

The lights went out on the stick ...never came back on

Turned out to be the internect cable between the stick & throttle

Replaced it with a off the shelf cable but it happened again about 8 months later

Now I just use the X52 Throttle and a MS Sidewinder Stick

[itifonhom 6]

Nice info there, thanks for sharing, I'm going to keep it in mind, just in case.

 

itifonhom

[Bullethead 12]

Bullethead, what's old gear for you is new kit to me. I got my X45 a couple weeks back

 

They still make the X45?!?!?!?!? That's great news. I thought the X52 had replaced the X45, in a shameless bit to force you to buy rudder pedals. I'll have to order me a backup set .

 

BTW, if you ever want a fairly good X45 profile for OFF, I've got one.

[sitting_duck 3]

wow,,,i had the exact same problem, but in my case,,,it was a bad usb port on the computer.

 

2 b honest,,cant see it being that friction screw. any chance you just plugged it into another port,,,and,,if you plugged it into the old one,,,it would still screw up?

[Bullethead 12]

2 b honest,,cant see it being that friction screw. any chance you just plugged it into another port,,,and,,if you plugged it into the old one,,,it would still screw up?

 

Yup, it was the friction screw. I first tried it in other ports but it was always the same. It all depended on the strength and direction of the pressure applied to the throttle handle. Note that I have the stick and throttle velcroed down so they hold still and don't transfer motion along the cable to the computer.

[Rickitycrate 10]

Logic is on SD's side. Experience is with BH. Hey as long as it works. I saw the X52 today and I can't see any advantage over the X45 for OFF. Actually it seems a step back with the twisty rudder. BH, I'ld like to see you X45 profile please?

[Bullethead 12]

Logic is on SD's side. Experience is with BH.

 

I agree with SD, it doesn't seem right, but that's what happened.

 

In my search for a loose wire, I didn't manage to get the whole throttle opened up so don't know how the throttle axis itself is wired. In fact, I don't know how digital sticks work even in theory because I haven't had a need to open one, unlike the old analog types where I was forever cleaning and replacing pots.

 

All I can think of is that there has to be some sort of sliding electrical contact between the throttle handle and something fixed in the base. Over time, wear on the throttle handle bearings has introduced enough off-axis slop that this contact can't be made reliably unless the friction screw is tightened to eliminate the slop.

 

I saw the X52 today and I can't see any advantage over the X45 for OFF. Actually it seems a step back with the twisty rudder.

 

Completely agree--there's a special place in Hell for the inventor of the twisty stick.

 

I find the X45's under-throttle rocker bar for the rudder very intuitive and convenient to use. I think it's actually better in some important ways than pedals and don't want to give it up now. So did I hear you right in the X45 still being available?

 

I'd like to see you X45 profile please?

 

OTW in PM

[Rickitycrate 10]

BH, I did not say the X45 was still available. I got mine secondhand, like new, for $10 but no software. After years of twisty sticks the throttle rocker has been a challenge but I'm catching on. Thanks for sending the profile.