Saitek X45 Stiffness + other stuff

[Cali]

I recently upgraded from a Precision Pro Twisty Stick to a Saitek X45 Hotas setup with CH Pro pedals (all USB), but i'm having a few problems.  

1.  The stiffness of the stick is very hard to get used to.  I was thinking about getting some type of grease and applying it to the base of the stick to see if it helps out.  Has anyone tried doing this or have another fix??

2.  Nose bounce - I'm not sure if its related to the stick "popping" out of place because of the stiffness or what, but it has become very hard to target a plane.  

3.  Pedals - How do you guys have your rudder adjustments set??  Any little movement in my pedals seem to cause the plane to over twist onto the target.  

Thanks in advance

[Eagler]

use wax, heard some use chap stick under the ring (spring holder)
or use dry graphite

I also jam something up under the lip to compress the spring when not playing to help loosen it. a 3/4" c-clamp for pipe works well (and it'll hold the stick forward for your gv trips too)

both my X45 and CH pro peds (USB) have the settings all the way up from 10 to 100 - straight across the top.

gl

[AcId]

you could also use some small zipstrips(tiestraps/whatever) to compress the spring, I used about 5-6 in the middle of the spring to compress two coils together. The spring still makes contact at the stick & base but with less force. You could also rub some parafin wax on the base edge&disc.

[MacGlide]

I cut off just slightly less than one loop of the spring, this worked pretty well. The stick centers fine.

My problem with the stick is failed buttons. I had three sticks that the hat switch failed on within 30 days. All were replaced by the store under their 30 day warranty. My last stick lasted 90 days before the trigger button failed. I'm stuck with this one and using another stick now.

Signed
Big Beefy Hands

[Dnil]

uggh what a junk stick.  I still use the throttle with my gameport combatstick now.

I had the same problems with the plastic contact.  I kept working at it till I found out it wasnt the plastic but the actual parts underneath it.  Seems it would stick moving it right to left and it wasnt the plastic or spring causing it.  The left axis just starting sticking and wouldnt recenter.  Ditch the stick, huge piece of junk.

[Easyscor]

Cali,

I had the same problem with my first X45 and solved it by exchanging the stick for one with less spring tension.  I bought the first stick in mid Nov. and it was useless just as you say.  I took it back and opened 4 boxes before I found a good one.

The same store got a new shipment of sticks at Christmas and I bought another one for my son and wish I could exchange my stick again.  His stick is smooth as any stick you could want to own.

If you can exchange the stick get cracking, open each box and try the stick.  Make sure you get the latest, v2.6 CD even if you have to take it out of another box.  btw v2.7 is available from the German Saitek website.

My stick has more tension requiring more hand pressure than my son's but it's still a very good stick and completely acceptable.

[krazyhorse]

lmao  i use white lithium grease on mine, sounds kinky greasing the shaft and all, but it works stick is alot, smoother now:), my old x445 trigger button broke also did my fire c button(chute open button)took back np now new stick, btw it last 10 months before they broke, and i log alot of hours.

[Pongo]

I just upgraded to a cougar cause the x45 spring was too stiff..