Virpil T-50 base "stiction"

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Very happy with my T-50 base, however as of late, it's movement is not as smooth as it used to be.

 

I can get an audible and tactile 'pop' (Feels like spring tension/stiction) when moving the stick, both in the X and Y axis.

 

I have tightened, and loosened and retightened the 'pitch' and 'roll' screws on the base. The tension on the stick is fine- I just want smooth (and quiet) operation back.

 

Anyone know what can be done here?

[GriffonBR]

I have the same problem, I don't use any extensions and change the springs to the soft one and I also get this "clunk" while moving the axis. I made a post here recently trying to get some help about the kind of grease that I could use to make a maintenance but nobody cares about the "old" Virpil hardware anymore. Let's see if you'll be fortunate.

 

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[Mr. Big.Biggs]

Did your tension rods( things with the springs under the rubber caps work loose or strip?

I changed them from standard to light right out of the box and noticed slop due to the “fragile “ nature of the threaded aluminum bit that they screwed into. Once I got them set, I red lock tighted (sp) them from below. Once they work loose or strip it becomes sloppy with a clunk.

Just a thought.

Edited December 29, 2019 by Mr. Big.”Biggs”

[HC_Official]

grease up the moving parts where the cams move on ?

[GriffonBR]

grease up the moving parts where the cams move on ?

I thought just to grease up parts that the cams race/move on. But I don't know what kind of grease I should use

 

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[some1]

The clunk is not the "stiction", it's the springs jumping under load. Mine was like this from the factory, I disassembled it (same way as for a spirng replacement), reassembled and it's all good since then. You can also try to rotate the springs 90 degrees.

[Fri13]

I thought just to grease up parts that the cams race/move on. But I don't know what kind of grease I should use

 

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You can use silicone spray, or silicone grease. Just don't let silicone get to any electronics....

Or if wanting better (metal only, as silicone can be used for plastic too) then white lithium grease spray.

Edited December 29, 2019 by Fri13

[GriffonBR]

You can use silicone spray, or silicone grease. Just don't let silicone get to any electronics....

Or if wanting better (metal only, as silicone can be used for plastic too) then white lithium grease spray.

Thanks man

 

 

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[Goblin]

Also check the cams. The first version of the MT-50 that I had, used M3 screws for the cams, and mine would wiggle a little, after a while. VPC swapped my unit for a new one, with M4 screws, which have worked flawlessly.

[VpR81]

I´m doing slotcar racing as a hobby and the controllers/switches need regular greasing as well. Tamiya offers specific switch/controller lubricant originaly meant for those and i used it to grease my WH gimbal too. Propably not a perfect solution, but the Tamiya lubricant is antistatic (so no worries about electronics), can be used on both metal as well as plastic and i had good results with it...

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Thanks for the input fellas. Gives me some initial options. But yeah, I suspect it is related to the springs rather than the cams themselves.

[herr_LaSk]

I had a similar problem, I have T-50 base (v1) and warthog grip combo, and moving the stick across the center point would result in a "click" feel and sound. At first I also thought there was an issue with the base, but looking more closely, the "clicking" only came when I was holding onto the WH grip, not when only holding onto the base shaft. So actually the problem was with the thrustmaster grip, the metal shaft that you screw onto the base had come slightly loose from the grip itself., due to a loose screw... I solved it with epoxy glue, and electric tape to remove any remaining gaps.

[Thasiet]

It's the bushing that the preload adjuster screws thread into. Pull the gimbal out and unscrew the preload adjusters until the screw falls out of the bushing. Next pop the bushing out out of the aluminum arm. Now go feel all the burrs in the race that the bushing rotates in as the spring compresses; that's your problem. Polish the races with a progression of sandpaper grits. 250 --> 600 --> 2000 should do you well. Grease the bushing and reassemble.

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

I had a similar problem, I have T-50 base (v1) and warthog grip combo, and moving the stick across the center point would result in a "click" feel and sound. At first I also thought there was an issue with the base, but looking more closely, the "clicking" only came when I was holding onto the WH grip, not when only holding onto the base shaft. So actually the problem was with the thrustmaster grip, the metal shaft that you screw onto the base had come slightly loose from the grip itself., due to a loose screw... I solved it with epoxy glue, and electric tape to remove any remaining gaps.

Damn, you were right!

 

The 'click' (that can be both felt and heard) was from the brand new Thrustmaster Hornet grip, while the 'squeek' is from the springs.

[Abburo]

For me it was from the cams... hard to believe I know... their movement was almost invisible to the eye. Still, the cams were my problem!

[herr_LaSk]

Cool that you found the problem. WARNING, if you try to open the warthog grip to tighten it up, don't make my mistake and apply too much force to the screw, mine snapped in half and now the screw is forever stuck... I solved it by using epoxy glue to fasten the base shaft to the grip. So far its holding up.

[VpR81]

mine snapped in half and now the screw is forever stuck...

 

I would simply drill out the screw with a drilling bit that is tiny smaller than the screws core diameter. Then clean up the thread with a mini steel brush and don't forget to use high quality replacement screws that won't snap in half again. As long as you know what you're doing, it's actually very easy with the correct tools.

[Firechickenfan]

On 12/30/2019 at 12:54 PM, herr_LaSk said:

I had a similar problem, I have T-50 base (v1) and warthog grip combo, and moving the stick across the center point would result in a "click" feel and sound. At first I also thought there was an issue with the base, but looking more closely, the "clicking" only came when I was holding onto the WH grip, not when only holding onto the base shaft. So actually the problem was with the thrustmaster grip, the metal shaft that you screw onto the base had come slightly loose from the grip itself., due to a loose screw... I solved it with epoxy glue, and electric tape to remove any remaining gaps.

I know that this is years later, but could you please elaborate on the electrical tape? What gaps do you mean?

Mine is doing this exact thing, and so far, this is the only answer. 

Thank you for your time.

[Scott-S6]

On 2/3/2025 at 2:20 AM, Firechickenfan said:

I know that this is years later, but could you please elaborate on the electrical tape? What gaps do you mean?

Mine is doing this exact thing, and so far, this is the only answer. 

Thank you for your time.

Having fixed a warthog grip recently - the problem is that the tailpipe works loose. The shell is not a close fit to the tailpipe so the screws loosen and then you get this problem. The screw primarily responsible for this is not externally accessible so tightening them is a hassle. Additionally, the zinc will eventually strip if you keep retightening them. 

I suggest using a suitable (mild) thread locker such as pink loctite and using something to fit the tailpipe more closely to the grip. I used epoxy putty to glue the tailpipe to one side of the shell, coated the exposed side in silicon grease to keep the epoxy from sticking and then filled the other side with epoxy putty as well. I also replaced the zinc tailpipe with a steel one while I was doing this 

You could alternatively use layers of tape, air dry clay, acraglas, whatever. Anything that makes the shell of the grip hold onto the tailpipe will help reduce this problem.

Edited February 28 by Scott-S6