Joystick

[1Cane]

I purchased my x55 in late March of this year. Very happy with the stick my kd in fiters doubled, very precise feel with no nose bounce!
 Only complaints are single stage trigger and I didn't buy it two weeks sooner.

[Ratsy]

I have had mine for about 25 hours flying time and using a stick program for Aces High that it is working well.

I am still learning the split throttle.  I have some issues with throttle #1 and calibration.  It is reluctant to calibrate (linearity).  I have 'turned it off' in Aces High pending learning a little more.

On other boards, users have had similar experiences and immediately jumped to quality as the culprit.  I'm not so proud, at this point, to rule out the 'nut job' on the stick as part of the problem.  If I can't figure it out, I'll open a thread in Tech Support.

The joystick is pretty awesome.  I am using the second lightest spring.  I may try the 'red one' (lightest) once I've solved the throttle issue.

All in all this is a good (if plastic) stick.  All this stuff wears out eventually.  I have a joystick pig next to my rig where I put all my spare change and 'cuss dollars' when the wife catches me swearing.  Right now my next stick will likely be an X55.

A challenge question:  What types of lubricants would be correct to use on a Saitek joystick.  STOP!  NO PORN!

 

[Zerstorer]

DOW MOLYKOTE 44 Silicone Bearing Grease

http://www.amazon.com/Dow-Corning-Molykote-Medium-Lubricant/dp/B001VY1EL8

You can find it cheaper on eBay in small 1oz tubs as well.

Great stuff. I have used it in the past on my TM Warthog and on CH Rudder Pedals so its safe for both plastic and metal.

[Ratsy]

Awesome.  Thanks, Fulcrum.

Update:  I downloaded Joytester2 and confirmed that throttle number 2 is throwing spikes (which causes unwanted button activity and screws up calibration in Windows 7 64-bit in my case).

Based on what I've read for the past two days, buying a Rhino is still somewhat a gamble.  If you get a good one, hang on to it.  If you are going to buy one anyway, I recommend using Amazon (Prime).  The return policy there runs at light speed compared to trying to obtain an RMA from MadCatz.  The sticks are covered by a 2-year warranty from MadCatz, but I don't want to wait. 

I submitted a trouble ticket with Saitek despite knowing that their process will likely have me running a driver reinstall-install multiple times before they see the light and issue the RMA.  Again, when I return them, I'll be sending them back to Amazon (retailer).

I love these sticks at this price point.  They do have quality issues presently, as far as my own experience goes.  I prefer to think they'll iron those out over time.

In the meantime...it's back to my CH rig which is awesome in it's own right.

 

[Pluto]

Has anybody had any problems with their x55 thottle? Occasionally mine freaks out and gets a mind of its own. I can tap on the bottom of it and it seems to go back to normal. Maybe I got a bad one. Other than that I love it.

[Ratsy]

Follow up:

I got the new sticks today (yes. 2-day turnaround.).

Using the original drivers and profile, everything is working very well indeed. 

I did see something that I can't explain.

I needed to calibrate the sticks in Windows 7 64-bit.  After calibration, the throttle started to act up in the test tab.  After two more cycles of calibration it was still acting up (throwing random key presses, etc).  So I calibrated one more time.  The calibration program comes back to test...no change.  So, for grins, I went back to the settings tab and selected "reset to default" button.  Then I went back to test and the throttle was right as rain.

So I used the same method on the sticks I'm returning and test tab showed the same problem with Throttle 2.  Back they go.

I also had a problem with the joystick.  The centering base (lower spring keeper) was too small for the stick shaft and it took considerable spring tension to force a return to center.  I was flying with the yellow spring (second softest).  The new stick came properly lubricated and the lower spring keeper moves free and easy.  I immediately installed the red spring (softest) and the difference is amazing.  It feels light and positive just like a CH Fighterstick.

So I spent part of the afternoon flying a P-38 with split throttles.  I watched a guy doing that at the first AH Con and it was amazing.  My experience today was not so much, but it has nothing to do with the sticks!

I'm liking these units very much.  But I'll use them a year before recommending them to others.

 

[Pluto]

I couldn't get used to the centering base on the x55 stick. Once it was unseated it was great but I couldn't control the first eighth inch or so and I had a hard time lining up shots with it. I guess maybe the right scaling might help too.