Author Topic: Need TM Cougar throttle pot! Anyone... (Read 1205 times)

Sabre · « **on:** July 01, 2003, 02:58:49 PM »

got one of the new ones? As many of you know, there was a major problem with the last software release that killed the throttle potentiometers that originally shipped with the HOTAS. I only just found out that the only reliable fix is a new pot from TM-Guillemont AND THE CON IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!!:eek:

I'm afraid the new pot won't arrive in time. Does anyone have a spare new pot for the throttle axis? Not one of the original pots, but the new ones TM has been shipping to people with the slow/no throttle problem? I'll pay for shipping, and will ship you back the new one I get from TM on my dime as well. Please? I can't do the con without my Cougar!:eek:

Sabre
(Desperate and getting desperater)

Pongo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2003, 07:31:46 PM »

Just tore my two pots out of my cougar joystick and replaced them with hall sensors..but those wont help apperently.

Reschke · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2003, 08:09:31 PM »

The old one's work fine if you have already upgraded the firmware. I know because I have one each. The old one (courtesy of my squaddie JconradH) I put in works great and my Dad got the other and is giving me the new one he just ordered since his throttle just gave up the ghost as well. Although I just ordered new pots for my stick as well and got those in record time from TM. I ordered them on a Monday and 8 business days later they were in my hands...got them yesterday.

Sabre · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2003, 08:16:53 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
The old one's work fine if you have already upgraded the firmware. I know because I have one each. The old one (courtesy of my squaddie JconradH) I put in works great and my Dad got the other and is giving me the new one he just ordered since his throttle just gave up the ghost as well. Although I just ordered new pots for my stick as well and got those in record time from TM. I ordered them on a Monday and 8 business days later they were in my hands...got them yesterday.

Okay, I'm not sure I follow you here, Reschke. Are you saying that one of the joystick potentiometers, when installed in the throttle, will restore the throttle axis to full function? I thought they were different part numbers (the joystick X/Y pots and the throttle axis pots). I do have the new firmware installed, btw (downloaded 2.04 software and flashed the stick...that's what killed it in the first place). I haven't read anywhere on Cougar World of people fixing the throttle problem by using a pot from the joystick.

Reschke · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2003, 11:23:19 PM »

No not that pot. I do not know which 'pot' they used in the stick but I assume it is similar to the current one they are sending out for throttles now. I got an old throttle pot from my squaddie and that is what I have running the software now after flashing to 2.04 and there is nothing happening. Now I did do what one guy suggested on Cougar World and unplug my throttle in the update and since the night I put in the throttle pot nothing has gone wrong. I gave my Dad the one that TM sent to me and he is up and running and yes it was the newer part number. So he is giving me his when it comes in soon.

Karnak · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2003, 03:22:57 AM »

Sabre,

I have some pots for the X and Y axis sitting around, IIRC.

My throttle's pot also seems to be on its way out. In addition my throttle starts sending out random button presses after I've used it for awhile. Its always a great thing to be in a dogfight and have your gear or flpas deploy randomly, or have the gear retract when you're landing. My damage readout also pops up.

I think I'm going to have to send it back. This'll be the second time I've had to do this.

If you want my pots (TM sent them to me when I was having some issues with my X and Y axis, but I sorted them out before the pots got here) I'll send them to you. Don't know if they'll work for the Z axis though as the baggy they came in is labled X and Y axis pots.

EvenStrain · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2003, 11:32:08 AM »

FYI... the throttle pot is not the same as the joystick pots. The X and Y axis pots can't be used in the throttle.

Hope this helps,

Greg

sling322 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2003, 09:46:04 PM »

Heh...sounds like you Cougar guys spent your money wisely. Kinda glad I didnt drop the cash for it now.

EvenStrain · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2003, 10:18:12 PM »

Yeah, it doesn't even come close to the generic joysticks available. But, hey, I didn't have anything better to do with my money, so I let TM steal it from me.

Sheesh.

Greg

Seeker · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2003, 02:39:03 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by EvenStrain
Yeah, it doesn't even come close to the generic joysticks available. But, hey, I didn't have anything better to do with my money, so I let TM steal it from me.

Sheesh.

Greg

I know exactly what you mean, I fell for the hype too. Definate case of "emporer's new clothes syndrome".

I should have stuck with Sidewinders; but who'd have thought MS sticks would be better than a "real" stick

EvenStrain · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2003, 11:15:13 AM »

Actually, Seeker, I was being sarcastic. I guess that didn't come through in my writing.

I love my Cougar. Nothing else I've ever purchased flight sim related has brought more enjoyment to my simming experience than the Cougar.

The Cougar is just like any other product in the world. Some love it, some don't. Some think it's brilliant, some wish they hadn't bought it. There are almost 15,000 Cougars out there now, and naturally some folks will have have problems getting it to work the way they want. Many, many more are quite happy with their purchase.

Sorry to see you're not happy with your Cougar. The good news is that you can sell it (quickly), and at a price at or near what you paid for it new. The demand for the Cougar is still very high, and I think will be for many years to come. We're not likely to see another flight controller like the Cougar for quite a while.

Good luck,

Greg

Pongo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2003, 12:39:59 PM »

Unfortunatly the cougar was hyped as the ultimate. The ultimate in control and precision and qualitly. It is none of those things. It is cool, With the right mods it is excellent, But the thing is way to frustrating to have been released as a comercial product. All the mods including yours Greg are just telling evidence of that.
As a "thing" the cougar is very cool. As a joystick it has some incredible features..but very poor fundimentals. A Joystick is for controling planes in flight sims. And the cougar is poor at that. Especially for the money.

EvenStrain · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2003, 01:14:28 PM »

Hi Pongo,

I guess my first question would be, "What is your preferred sim"?

The Cougar was built for jet sims, yet there are many of us who prefer the props. Sadly, no one has yet built the perfect stick for all sims, so we have to mod what is available to suit our needs. Fortunately the Cougar lends itself well to modding.

I read some of your posts here and at CW concerning the UberII... seems it's working well for you. Ian has worked very hard to give the community a great product. Certainly offers a very different (and much more refined) flight experience.

Folks like you and I have put alot of money into our Cougars... many think we're crazy. The upside is that our Cougars, with the mods, will hold their resale value extremely well. I plan on owning mine for at least 10 years (can't foresee anything better than what I have now sitting on my desk coming along in that time), and then if I do sell it I'll still be able to get top $ for it.

So it may be tough putting the money into a Cougar now, but in the long run it will pay off in a greatly enhanced simming experience and top resale value.

Cheers,

Greg

Sabre · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2003, 09:29:16 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
No not that pot. I do not know which 'pot' they used in the stick but I assume it is similar to the current one they are sending out for throttles now. I got an old throttle pot from my squaddie and that is what I have running the software now after flashing to 2.04 and there is nothing happening. Now I did do what one guy suggested on Cougar World and unplug my throttle in the update and since the night I put in the throttle pot nothing has gone wrong. I gave my Dad the one that TM sent to me and he is up and running and yes it was the newer part number. So he is giving me his when it comes in soon.

Hi, Reschke. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but the weekend was very busy. It sounds to me that what you're saying is that the old partnumbered pot works, as long as it was not installed when the stick was flashed. Is that correct? That seems to fit with one theory I heard, that flashing the stick with the old pot installed physically damaged the stick. If that is the case, than I'd be happy to accept either the old or new pot, if anyone has an un-flashed/undamaged one. The likelihood seems remote, however; the only reason most people have an old pot is because it went bad and they replaced it.

Karnak: Thanks for the offer, buddy. While it appears I can't use them in the throttle, I'd very much like to get your X/Y stick pots. Mine are holding their own, but are starting to show some signs of wear. E-mail me at rkjern@adelphia.net, and we'll work out the details of how to ship them.

As far as the throttle issue goes, if anyone has a good throttle pot, old or new partnumber, please let me know. I'm getting a little desparate here:( .

As for the Cougar in general, I'm not sorry I bought it. It has a feel to it that is indescribable. I only wish TM had put decent pots in it (the "high quality" ones they promised). An anology would be the Mercedes company putting a Yugo engine inside a Mercedes luxuray sedan. It's a joy to sit in, and looks fantastic sitting in the driveway...just don't expect to pass a semi on a hill. I also wish they'd acknowledge this throttle problem. They haven't said diddly about it, yet if affects virtually the entire Cougar population.

Eagler · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2003, 10:05:47 AM »

what was the cougar ? $300?

take my saitek X45 - $70 plus the $10 12 month in store replacement policy = $80 for the original one

about 10 months later and another $10 for another 12month replacement policy and I have a brand new combo.....now up to $90

about 10 months later and another $10 for another 12month replacement policy and I have a brand new combo.....now up to $100 - 3 sticks later...

rinse / repeat for another $200 bucks and that places me somewhere around the year 2019 with a brand new combo every 10 months.

seriously though, gl on locating your pot in time for the con