Any FFB2 users about?

[Les]

Not intending to hijack the thread, but while it's on the subject of faulty FFB2 sticks...mine just upped and died a few months ago and instead of trying to fix it I just replaced it with a Logitech G940, mainly for the separate throttle and pedals.

I'm thinking now about trying to fix the FFB2 though, or at least finding out what went wrong with it.

IIRC the power plug came out of the unit while I was using it, and when I plugged it back in the whole stick was dead, no red light, no ffb, nothing. It was plugged into it's own USB port and was working fine and had shown no signs of cutting out beforehand.

Just wondering if anyone knows what might have happened to it internally, or where I might start looking if I open it up to check it out.

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by Les

Not intending to hijack the thread, but while it's on the subject of faulty FFB2 sticks...mine just upped and died a few months ago and instead of trying to fix it I just replaced it with a Logitech G940, mainly for the separate throttle and pedals.

I'm thinking now about trying to fix the FFB2 though, or at least finding out what went wrong with it.

IIRC the power plug came out of the unit while I was using it, and when I plugged it back in the whole stick was dead, no red light, no ffb, nothing. It was plugged into it's own USB port and was working fine and had shown no signs of cutting out beforehand.

Just wondering if anyone knows what might have happened to it internally, or where I might start looking if I open it up to check it out.

There's a fuse on the internal PSU board.

You can solder an after market one across the old ones pins.

The rating values are written on the fuse, and depending if the FFB2 has a green light or red, can have different fuse type too.

If I can dig up some old info I will post it here.

Originally Posted by LegTaste

Thanks.

Software works fine.

I'll check out that other program once i get win7 running again.


Update:

the profile spoftware doesn't seem like it wants to work properly

Change the force or centring to low for example, it will briefly work as it is set, then the joystick will return to full force. I haven't restarted windows yet, but i doubt it will change anything.

You can use Fedit to change the "spring" file tension in the force feed back folder in the IL2 directory, make a back up of it first be fore attempting to make changes.

EG: Spring adjustment

Open fedit>effect>insert>spring>right click spring2d1>properties

See the thread here >> http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...5/m/8531046888

[Les]

Originally Posted by KG26_Alpha

There's a fuse on the internal PSU board.

You can solder an after market one across the old ones pins.

The rating values are written on the fuse, and depending if the FFB2 has a green light or red, can have different fuse type too.

If I can dig up some old info I will post it here.

Thanks for that, I'll open it up and have a look, can't say when though.

Edit - Don't worry about the fuse info Alpha. I was about to open the stick up when I thought I'd better plug it in and try it one more time, and the bloody thing was working as normal. I've quadruple checked it on several different occasions and it was a no go, to the point where I replaced it and left it sitting in a wardrobe for months (maybe it just needed a rest lol). If it keeps working, I'll have to decide now whether I use it or the G940. I find the FFB2 much easier and effective to use, but the separate rudder and pedals on the G940 are more immersive. Thanks for your help anyway, I'll keep it in mind if the stick stops working again in the future.

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by Les

Thanks for that, I'll open it up and have a look, can't say when though.

Edit - Dont' worry about the fuse info ALpha. I was about to open the stick up when I thought I'd better plug it in and try it one more time, and the bloody thing was working as normal. I've quadruple checked it on several different occasions and it was a no go, to the point where I replaced it and left I sitting in a wardrobe for months (maybe it just needed a rest lol). If it keeps working, I'll have to decide now whether I use it or the G940. I find the FFB2 much easier and effective to use, but the separate rudder and pedals on the G940 are more immersive. Thanks for your help anyway, I'll keep it in mind if the stick stops working again in the future.

I have a collection of MSFFB's for parts now

The G940 is a nice option but my new oak floor wouldn't like having the screws run into them for the pedals (wifey request), my CH ones had to be retired due to them slipping all over the floor.

[Les]

Originally Posted by KG26_Alpha

...The G940 is a nice option but my new oak floor wouldn't like having the screws run into them for the pedals (wifey request), my CH ones had to be retired due to them slipping all over the floor.

You've probably already tried it, but the Logitech pedals have the selectable carpet-grabbers on the bottom. Maybe using those on a heavy, sticky, rubberized mat or piece of carpet would be an option. I have my pedals set to their least resistance and at a distance where I don't really have to kick against the end point of the pedal's travel, and haven't noticed them slipping around with the carpet-grabbers.

[Azimech]

The sensor in the stick is an infrared gate, and the only thing it does when not blocked is power down the forces of the stick. Always funny to show to friends when the stick hangs in a corner and I use a finger to "magically" let it climb to center. On some occasions a stick that's not centered causes strange phenomena if software uses joystick input by default when newly installed.

I bought mine in 2002 due to IL2, but it took me years to have the insight the standard IL2 profile was totally wrong for this stick, disregarding the FF effects. Later some parts broke but it still worked, so I got myself a free, broken one with a different defect and built myself a "new" one out of the two.

The G40 is an nice toy but I'm building myself a pedal set out of a diesel timing belt and two camshaft sprockets, and the optical sensor of an USB steering wheel.

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by Azimech

The sensor in the stick is an infrared gate, and the only thing it does when not blocked is power down the forces of the stick. Always funny to show to friends when the stick hangs in a corner and I use a finger to "magically" let it climb to center. On some occasions a stick that's not centered causes strange phenomena if software uses joystick input by default when newly installed.

I bought mine in 2002 due to IL2, but it took me years to have the insight the standard IL2 profile was totally wrong for this stick, disregarding the FF effects. Later some parts broke but it still worked, so I got myself a free, broken one with a different defect and built myself a "new" one out of the two.

The G40 is an nice toy but I'm building myself a pedal set out of a diesel timing belt and two camshaft sprockets, and the optical sensor of an USB steering wheel.

Brilliant