Author Topic: Saitek X45 Stiffness (Read 2964 times)

HavocTM · « **on:** December 11, 2003, 08:18:55 AM »

I keep going back and forth on the X45. I like the functionality, but the spring is too damn stiff.

Anyone physically hacked it or have any tips? Saitek told me to wax the bottom of the disc that the spring is on, but other than that I don't know what to do.

Thx,
Havoc

PS Don't worry about giving me advice and then me killing you. I still suck at this game and a better joystick is not going to help that! LOL

krazyhorse · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2003, 08:55:01 AM »

i use lithium grease on the disk

HavocTM · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2003, 08:59:39 AM »

ahhhh... that's a great idea. Thnks!

Shamus · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2003, 09:31:29 AM »

Put 3 or 4 wire ties around 2 loops in the spring and draw the loops together, helps a lot.

shamus

HavocTM · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2003, 09:35:34 AM »

Another good idea. Thanks a lot

dogsnot · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2003, 10:29:54 AM »

Hiya havoc,

The grease is the ticket. My base would actually lift off the table when I would pull back on the stick and it was driving me nuts. Just go to wally world or a auto store and get you a little tube(little goes a long way). Compress the spring enough to get a good size dot, bout the size of a tic-tac, and just stir the heck out of your stick. You will see instant results. Last a good long time too.

snot

HavocTM · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2003, 10:39:09 AM »

Awesome.. I am glad I am not the only one having this problem. When I first got the stick, my computer desk was just a big cheap hollow core door nailed to a shelf. I actually took the bottom of my stick off and screwed it down to keep it from moving.

The result was it didn't move, but it became a high-resistance exercise machine and I think I got some carpal tunnel from it! lol

Now i am using an antique desk and the wife isn't keen on me screwing it down to that.

Eagler · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2003, 12:34:44 PM »

quality control is an issue with Saitek .. stiffness varies with jstick

best bet is to open as many boxes as you need to to find one not as stiff <- have done this the last 2 x45's I've got from CompUSA after suffering through a bad one. waxpaper, graphite & compressing the spring with a clamp when not using it helped (tiewraps didnt for me)
but they are not suppose to be that way .. not all of them are

HavocTM · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2003, 12:39:41 PM »

I have a cyborg here at work that has the same spring system but it is light as a feather... maybe i could swap springs...

HavocTM · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2003, 12:59:45 PM »

OK, now i have a 'destroyed' cyborg stick. Saitek is right, there is no adjustment possible. The control rod is capped on the bottom near the pots in the base of the stick and wires run through the middle of the rod and spring and are soldered top and bottom.

Basically to get the spring off, I had to remove the stick parts, stretch the wires and 'unscrew' the spring keychain style.

I think this is a much lighter spring than my X45 so maybe it will swap but that will be last resort. Easier to grease first!

Roscoroo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2003, 01:49:52 PM »

if you can get the spring compressed you can clip off a coil or so off of it ... or try the zip tie method

wrag · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2003, 04:42:00 PM »

When I was using an X45 I clamped a long board that extended well under the desk and was as wide as the X45 base, using some rather large c clamps, to the desk. Then used 6 (3 each connected to each other) plastic wire ties to hold the X45 base to the board. I set up the throttle on a tall speaker set next to my chair and away I went.

Not sure if that will work very well with your desk however. As the clamps left marks on the formica and steel desk top

Mine is old but basically it's a junk office desk.

My CH set up is so much better IMHO

no plastic wire ties needed and only one c clamp keeps the board attached now

I have since become a sold on CH products person.

Cobra412 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2003, 07:47:23 PM »

My X45 actually isn't stiff anymore and I've had it for a few months now. If you don't want to damage your desk just use industrial strength velcro strips. You can get them at Walmart for a few bucks. Then later on if you don't want them on the desk just use alcohol or something of that sort to get them back off.

They keep the stick and throttles constantly in the same place so there's no slipping and sliding and since there always there you stick inputs tend to be more consistent overtime.

bockko · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2003, 09:27:21 PM »

i bought a 2 foot by 8" piece of wood shelving, then cut it to fit in my lap in my computer chair, then velcroed the throttle and stick to the wood. A bit of dry silicon lubricant to the base disc, in business. Then I added rudder pedals and made my stick rudder into flap controls. Love the setup.