Saitek rudder pedals randomly jerk to right when taxiing

[bbuckley 133]

Is there a way to check the output from the rudder pedals to see if some pot has gone bad or whatever else generates the output signals? I’ve had mine for 4 or 5 years and it seems they’ve developed a sudden and seemingly random jerk or pull (or braking) always to the right. It happens enough to be a problem. It seems to happen more in one airplane, maybe because that airplane requires more rudder adjustment to taxi.  

Thanks. 

Bruce

[DaveCT2003 1,820]

Hey Bruce. 

Sure, you can take them apart and measure the resist of the pot with a $10 Multimeter, however the graphical representation shown in Windows 10 (Start Menu search for "USB Game" will provide you with "Setup USB Game Controllers" application) and click on that. A popup window will open where you select the controller and then select Properties which will provide the graphical representation of the controller axis which is in essence the reading off the pot.  If one isn't working correctly you'll see it there when you manipulate the axis. If there is nothing mechnically wrong inside the rudder pedals (very easy to check with the bottom off), then it's the pot.

 

[bbuckley 133]

@DaveCT2003 Hi Dave! Thanks, I'll give that a try and report back. 

Take care!

[bbuckley 133]

@DaveCT2003 Well Dave, I owe you once again. The USB Game Controllers app clearly showed the right brake was sending outputs of varying intensities SOMETIMES when the right rudder pedal was pushed. So I opened the right brake to get at the mechanism and potentiometer. I tightened several screws on the rocker arm brackets and re-secured a wire that was taped to the housing (not exactly sure what that wire is for, I assume a part of a position sensor?). It seems to have fixed the problem, at least for a while.

Thanks again!

Bruce

[DaveCT2003 1,820]

58 minutes ago, bbuckley said:

@DaveCT2003 Well Dave, I owe you once again. The USB Game Controllers app clearly showed the right brake was sending outputs of varying intensities SOMETIMES when the right rudder pedal was pushed. So I opened the right brake to get at the mechanism and potentiometer. I tightened several screws on the rocker arm brackets and re-secured a wire that was taped to the housing (not exactly sure what that wire is for, I assume a part of a position sensor?). It seems to have fixed the problem, at least for a while.

Thanks again!

Bruce

You are very welcome my friend, it was my pleasure and I'm very happy to have been of help.

So now, I just have to convince you to come and back a Shared Cockpit flight with me on VATSIM!  🙂

 

 

[bbuckley 133]

6 hours ago, DaveCT2003 said:

So now, I just have to convince you to come and back a Shared Cockpit flight with me on VATSIM!  🙂

Would love to sometime, but I’m afraid I’d be dead weight. I have never done VATSIM, I’ve been on PE over 4 years now. IRL and sim I fly GA although many years ago I was an F-14 pilot. Only “shared” a cockpit with a back seater. 😀

[DaveCT2003 1,820]

18 hours ago, bbuckley said:

Would love to sometime, but I’m afraid I’d be dead weight. I have never done VATSIM, I’ve been on PE over 4 years now. IRL and sim I fly GA although many years ago I was an F-14 pilot. Only “shared” a cockpit with a back seater. 😀

Well how about that!  I'm retired Navy and flew as an NFO (not on fast movers), so it would be a role reversal for us both!

A wonderful, but often overlooked thing about Connected Flight Deck (Shared Cockpit) is that it allows you to help people learn a new aircraft and fly online (VATSIM, IVAO, and in the future POSCON).  The experienced pilot can do everything while also teaching (for lack of a better word) the less experienced guy. I've used Connected Flight Deck as a indoctination/training tool with flight simmers for over 15 years, and it's really tremendous and  a TON of fun. 

The best part is that you see, hear and everything together in real time.  There really is nothing like it, it's a APEX of flight sim as far as I'm concerned, and I've been at this hobby for well over 3 decades!

Let me know brother!

 

[bbuckley 133]

Let’s do it! It’ll also be a chance for me to get and learn a new airplane. I’ll PM to start planning.