Do Joysticks go bad?

[FlyingUnk 7]

Hi all! 

I'm a person who just enjoys flying, so I'm not heavy into simulation. ie- I don't care about preflight checklists, radio communications, etc, but I really want an authentic feel and as realistic as possible (well, with what my computer and internet can handle). 

This seems like a stupid question, but do joysticks go bad? lol As others mentioned, both of my old joysticks were not recognized, so I had to figure out how to assign all the major functions. I then got nervous when I went into calibrate the controls. Yikes! The curves were jittering around all over the place when the joystick was centered and I wasn't touching it. The responses on the screen when I moved any axis, or the slider were super jumpy and all over the place. Since they are all I have right now, I decided to give it a go with one of them. WOW! Barely controllable. 

I'm wondering if the pots inside the joystick get corroded over time? Or are the controls jumping around like that for everyone in the calibration screen?

 I'd like to get the Thrustmaster T16000M but want to make sure mine are bad before I make yet another investment into this. 

 

Thanks! 

[udidwht 133]

Ghosting issue. What device?

[C2615 319]

Most old joystick use carbon film or plastic film potentiometers will certainly wear out, as it works based on scrap a metal contacter on a film resister.

Some times it migh not be the film itself beyond repair, rather there are too much crumbs get on the film and interface the resister, you can try to clean it with pure alcohol, or WD40  electrical contact cleaner see if it works.

 

T16000m on the other hand, use hall effect sensor rather than potentiometer, without physical contact and friction. would last much longer.

[FlyingUnk 7]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

On 8/18/2020 at 3:13 PM, udidwht said:

Ghosting issue. What device?

I have 2, both of which are easily 10 - 20 years old, I'd guess? (Although I'm not good with dates) a Logitech Wingman Extreem and a Wingman Force 3D. Both have the same issues of being super jumpy on the calibration screen in MSFS2020, for the joystick itself and also the slider. I know I can use the throttle control bindings on the keyboard, but I'm having fun forcing myself to use the throttle slider, which is most of the time either 100% or 0%. I've deadstick landed more often than I've landed under power. LOL 

15 hours ago, C2615 said:

Most old joystick use carbon film or plastic film potentiometers will certainly wear out, as it works based on scrap a metal contacter on a film resister.

Some times it migh not be the film itself beyond repair, rather there are too much crumbs get on the film and interface the resister, you can try to clean it with pure alcohol, or WD40  electrical contact cleaner see if it works.

 

T16000m on the other hand, use hall effect sensor rather than potentiometer, without physical contact and friction. would last much longer.

I decided to just bite the bullet and order the T16000 M. MyPilotStore is saying their next pre-orders will ship on the 26th of this month. Hopefully that turns out to be the case. The longevity of that pot design is one of the things that pushed me over the fence. (plus just how crazy and spastic my current joysticks work in MSFS2020) 

Thank you both for the replies! 

[stans 702]

Anything that moves will eventually wear out.  The axles upon which the joystick or controller move will eventually wear, leading to excessive slop in the controller.  The potentiometers found in most controllers will also wear, leading to jitters.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,930]

Hall-effect sensors are the ideal solution. Nothing physical to wear out. I’ve ordered a Fulcrum yoke which uses them. The TQ6+ throttle quadrant by VirtualFly also has them.

If you don’t want to be replacing hardware every so often avoid potentiometers. They’re designed not to be replaceable unless you’re very skilled.

@FlyingUnk, the Thrustmaster 1600M does have Hall-effect sensors so you should be fine. This is from the website...

Exclusive precision: H.E.A.R.T* HallEffect AccuRate Technology™! 3D (Hall Effect) magnetic sensors located on the stick (*US patent: US08471815)
Precision levels 256 times greater than current systems (16-bit resolution: 16000 x 16000 values!)
Magnets ensure friction-free action for razor-sharp precision that won’t decrease over time.

[FlyingUnk 7]

7 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Hall-effect sensors are the ideal solution. Nothing physical to wear out. I’ve ordered a Fulcrum yoke which uses them. The TQ6+ throttle quadrant by VirtualFly also has them.

If you don’t want to be replacing hardware every so often avoid potentiometers. They’re designed not to be replaceable unless you’re very skilled.

@FlyingUnk, the Thrustmaster 1600M does have Hall-effect sensors so you should be fine. This is from the website...

Exclusive precision: H.E.A.R.T* HallEffect AccuRate Technology™! 3D (Hall Effect) magnetic sensors located on the stick (*US patent: US08471815)
Precision levels 256 times greater than current systems (16-bit resolution: 16000 x 16000 values!)
Magnets ensure friction-free action for razor-sharp precision that won’t decrease over time.

Thanks Stans and Ray. Yes the magnetic sensors are one of the ways I justified the extra expense to myself. (That plus I'm hoping flying low and fast with my terrible joystick will help improve my ability to control a plane, especially when I get a non-horrible joystick. 😉)