Saitek Proflight Yoke

[iwik]

Hi Guys,
Just bought one of these,but find the shaft seems reasonably smooth but sound as though its grating on something and leaving a sllight powdery residue
on the shaft.Has anyone had to lubricte the shaft when they first bought it.I excercised it a bit but it still sounds not right.Appreciate any comments.
Rgds
Les

[slopit12]

Hey there,

I had the same problem (well I had a number of problems, but all is well at the moment thankfully).

I found the forward and back movements nice and smooth, but the turning left and right movements horribly creaky! I opened it up and found that it was pretty complex inside. But I located the problem area as the interlocking circular plastic fittings around the metallic shaft. They seemed to tight and not well lubricated. It's quite a struggle to get the two plastic parts apart, but its inside them (dam its really hard to describe) you need to spray lubricant. I did this months ago and haven't had a problem since.

Now the important bit that I messed up first time. DO NOT use oil based lubricants like 'WD40' it will make it a whole lot worse. You might know, I didn't, but oil based lubricants are not good for plastics. I got some 'Sta-Lube, Silicon Star', a silicon surface lubricant. This did the trick really nicely (ended up spraying it on all my joysticks). It makes a good tire shiner too!!!

Hope this helps.

[iwik]

QUOTE (iwik @ Jun 14 2009, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Guys,
Just bought one of these,but find the shaft seems reasonably smooth but sound as though its grating on something and leaving a sllight powdery residue
on the shaft.Has anyone had to lubricte the shaft when they first bought it.I excercised it a bit but it still sounds not right.Appreciate any comments.
Rgds
Les

Thanks Slopit12,
Its the in/out movement thats strange,Bank is fine.Dont wont to open it up as i only bought it two days ago,may return it and try another one.
Les

[Bazza]

QUOTE (iwik @ Jun 14 2009, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Slopit12,
Its the in/out movement thats strange,Bank is fine.Dont wont to open it up as i only bought it two days ago,may return it and try another one.
Les

I think returning it is the clever option - once you start fiddling with it you'll be stuffed as far as the retailer is concerned.

As a two day old piece of kit it's certainly not working as intended. Good luck...

[iwik]

QUOTE (iwik @ Jun 14 2009, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Slopit12,
Its the in/out movement thats strange,Bank is fine.Dont wont to open it up as i only bought it two days ago,may return it and try another one.
Les

Thanks for your comments Bazza.Dont see why one should put up with shoddy workmanship.Ive heard plenty about these yokes,good and bad.
Heres hoping i can get another one thats better.
les

[slopit12]

Returning it is certainly an option I recommend also.

However you may find a similar problem occurring eventually anyway. Things like this with working parts that need to be running smooth and will often need a bit of maintenance.

It did take a month or so for mine to start running rough. However, I still wouldn't fly a yoke flown aircraft without now!

Best of luck!

[iwik]

QUOTE (slopit12 @ Jun 14 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Returning it is certainly an option I recommend also.

However you may find a similar problem occurring eventually anyway. Things like this with working parts that need to be running smooth and will often need a bit of maintenance.

It did take a month or so for mine to start running rough. However, I still wouldn't fly a yoke flown aircraft without now!

Best of luck!

Thanks Guys,
Returned it and got a replacement,much better,i see they or someone has lightly lubricated this one.Seems the factory doesnt see the need.
Agree Slopit12.i wouldnt fly with anything other than a yoke.have had a variety of yokes ranging from CH Saitek and PFC.None are perfect and all have something the others dont.
Les