Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Vulcan on April 22, 2017, 05:45:49 PM

Title: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Vulcan on April 22, 2017, 05:45:49 PM
Just a general warning for all.

My 6 month old Saitek X-55 has started to 'lose' buttons on the throttle, some only work when the throttle is in a certain position. A bit of googling shows there is a design flaw where the wiring to the buttons starts to break internally due to the throttle movement. It sounds like the X-56 has the exact same internals.

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: guncrasher on April 22, 2017, 08:50:25 PM
had mine for over 2 years still works as when I bought it.


semp
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Ramesis on April 23, 2017, 02:44:31 PM
Mine works well as well !!
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Vulcan on April 23, 2017, 04:33:58 PM
I suggest you guys have a google, maybe it's only models made in the last 12 months but there is definitely an issue with them.

Mines under warranty still so I'm lucky. This is what people are reporting:

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HNdpztFMLSI/maxresdefault.jpg)

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Pudgie on April 23, 2017, 04:46:04 PM
I suggest you guys have a google, maybe it's only models made in the last 12 months but there is definitely an issue with them.

Mines under warranty still so I'm lucky. This is what people are reporting:

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HNdpztFMLSI/maxresdefault.jpg)



Ah, a picture is worth a thousand words........................ ...

 :salute
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 23, 2017, 05:38:21 PM
Well that would explain it! Stuff cut mighty clean didn't it?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: mbailey on April 24, 2017, 06:25:46 AM
Just a general warning for all.

My 6 month old Saitek X-55 has started to 'lose' buttons on the throttle, some only work when the throttle is in a certain position. A bit of googling shows there is a design flaw where the wiring to the buttons starts to break internally due to the throttle movement. It sounds like the X-56 has the exact same internals.

Thanks for posting Vulcan. I'm in the market for a new twisty stick and for the life of me can't seem to decide between the X55 or a VKB Gladiator (and just use my x52 throttle)  Definately food for thought
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: hotcoffe on April 24, 2017, 06:27:30 AM
mine x56 is almost 3 months old and works perfect sofar ...
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Serenity on April 24, 2017, 07:29:04 AM
Mine have had problems for the last year. I have two 55s. One has switches and buttons randomly activated during throttle movement, the other actively shocks my hand on occasion. 10/10 would not buy Saitek again...
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: 38ruk on April 24, 2017, 11:49:23 AM
Thanks for posting Vulcan. I'm in the market for a new twisty stick and for the life of me can't seem to decide between the X55 or a VKB Gladiator (and just use my x52 throttle)  Definately food for thought
I'm Using the VKB Gladiator and my old x-52 throttle ..... love it . The Vkb stick really helped smooth out my nose bounce i had with old microsoft sticks ( kept finding new precision pro 2's lol) I was using. The only thing I had to get used to was the hat switch location on the VKB...its off set as im sure you have seen.  It is  a bit awkward if you are used to a center located hat like i was used to.... Other than that, I love the VKB stick.
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: KrzyIvan on April 24, 2017, 11:58:43 AM
That VBK stick looks great. If they have the dual throttle developed by years end, then I know what Santa's bringing :D. I never even heard of them before.
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: hgtonyvi on April 24, 2017, 12:58:08 PM
VKB sticks is the better choice.
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Mister Fork on April 24, 2017, 04:45:19 PM
VKB sticks is the better choice.
+1 - it's what will replace my current X-52 sticks I have.
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: guncrasher on April 24, 2017, 04:57:19 PM
funny how nobody is mentioning the ch sticks anymore.


semp
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 24, 2017, 06:35:16 PM
Soon as that new grip is available I'm snagging a gunfighter.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Mister Fork on April 24, 2017, 08:58:24 PM
Is CH even in the joystick business really anymore? Can't even buy spare parts from them anymore... :old:
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 24, 2017, 10:17:55 PM
I saw a Fighterstick and throttle on Amazon so I guess they're still sold. You can reach out on the CHHangar forums to find parts. There used to be a company rep there that would just send you springs or pots if ya needed em. Don't know if that's still the case.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: KrzyIvan on April 25, 2017, 01:09:46 AM
Quote
funny how nobody is mentioning the ch sticks anymore

I've tried everything, (I think)but WartHog and VKB.

Having said that, I use a old CH stick, throttle and rudders.

I wish CH made a dual throttle (not the quadrant) and I'd stay CH.
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Infidelz on April 28, 2017, 07:24:44 AM
I think madcatz is out of business and Logitech has taken the saitech brand
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 28, 2017, 07:46:13 AM


I've tried everything, (I think)but WartHog and VKB.

Having said that, I use a old CH stick, throttle and rudders.

I wish CH made a dual throttle (not the quadrant) and I'd stay CH.

If I could figure out a way to convert my now pretty long in the tooth CH gear to contactless sensors like are found in the more modern stuff I'd stay with them too. You'd wonder why they don't come out with that themselves? I just hate having to tear it down to service the pots and you only get so many times you can do that before they're just shot. Nothing wrong with the gimbal itself, just the sensors.

I'm gonna snag a VKB gunfighter soon. When I do I think I'll buy one of the cheapie TM sticks with the contactless sensors, dissect it and try to make a hybrid CH/TM stick. Just to say I did hehe. I'm a wrench turner with geek mode!


Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Serenity on April 28, 2017, 09:16:26 AM

If I could figure out a way to convert my now pretty long in the tooth CH gear to contactless sensors like are found in the more modern stuff I'd stay with them too. You'd wonder why they don't come out with that themselves? I just hate having to tear it down to service the pots and you only get so many times you can do that before they're just shot. Nothing wrong with the gimbal itself, just the sensors.

I'm gonna snag a VKB gunfighter soon. When I do I think I'll buy one of the cheapie TM sticks with the contactless sensors, dissect it and try to make a hybrid CH/TM stick. Just to say I did hehe. I'm a wrench turner with geek mode!


Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Would a Saitek X-55 have the sensors you need?
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 28, 2017, 09:30:39 AM
Think so. Looking for hall effect type sensors with their USB controller. My plan is to physically swap the pots with those sensors if I can. I'll mount the USB controller outside as I'd doubt there would be room for both controllers within the base of the stick without causing some interference issue actually moving the stick. I'd do away with the pot connections on the CH controller and leave that as it is now using it only for the buttons on the stick. Now I'll have one stick with two separate controllers. One for the buttons, the other for the x/you axis. AH would see both of them. If it'd work theoretically it'd work.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Serenity on April 28, 2017, 09:47:07 AM
Think so. Looking for hall effect type sensors with their USB controller. My plan is to physically swap the pots with those sensors if I can. I'll mount the USB controller outside as I'd doubt there would be room for both controllers within the base of the stick without causing some interference issue actually moving the stick. I'd do away with the pot connections on the CH controller and leave that as it is now using it only for the buttons on the stick. Now I'll have one stick with two separate controllers. One for the buttons, the other for the x/you axis. AH would see both of them. If it'd work theoretically it'd work.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I've got a proposal for you! If you think you can fix the faulty wiring in an X55, I'll send you both of mine, fix one keep the other?
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: Drano on April 28, 2017, 09:50:55 AM
That'd be cool but it's not like it'd be a top priority project with summer coming. Good rainy day with nothing else to do.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: TDeacon on May 02, 2017, 08:04:25 PM
FWIW, I still like my CH sticks.  I had a spiking issue with my new one, and they sent me 2 free new pots, but it turns out all I had to do was clean the old pot (soak in isopropyl alcohol and blow out with a compressor).  So I have 2 spare pots.  Since I've never had to replace a pot (for at least 10 years, but see "rod" wear issue below), I see no need for hall effect sensors.  I do like my CH Combat Stick better than the new T-16000M I just bought, as the latter is a bit sticky, and reportedly gets more so with age. 

Note that the new CH sticks have an internal polished metal rod at the base of the shaft, presumably to fix the wear issue.  Wear on the plastic rod on my old Combat Stick is what motivated me to buy the new one.  I plan to do a mechanical repair on the old one, and also surgery to make it left-handed, for use in another on-line game (SC). 

MH
Title: Re: Saitek X-55/X-56 Wiring fault - Do not buy!
Post by: JimmyD3 on May 03, 2017, 09:28:39 PM
Think so. Looking for hall effect type sensors with their USB controller. My plan is to physically swap the pots with those sensors if I can. I'll mount the USB controller outside as I'd doubt there would be room for both controllers within the base of the stick without causing some interference issue actually moving the stick. I'd do away with the pot connections on the CH controller and leave that as it is now using it only for the buttons on the stick. Now I'll have one stick with two separate controllers. One for the buttons, the other for the x/you axis. AH would see both of them. If it'd work theoretically it'd work.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

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