WH Thrust levers out of alignment when up against AB detent (at full MIL power)

[Hippo]

I've just got a TM Warthog, and I'm finding that when I use the AB physical detent the throttles do not line up when up against it.  This shows up at around 2% difference in thrust in the sim (F18C).  I realise that that I can adjust curves to deal with the values not being the same in sim, but the problem is that it just feels very wrong in my hand that the levers don't line up.  Have I received a faulty unit or is this some sort of design flaw / tolerance issue?  At full AB and idle there isn't this problem.

When looking at the tabs that protrude from the lever shafts the LH one is visibly smaller (2nd photo), which means that the LH lever travels further when it hits the stop.

Grateful for anyone who can check whether they also have this issue.  Thanks.

PS (1st photo should read MIL / AB STOP not FULL IDLE STOP)

 

Edited November 30, 2021 by Hippo

[MrArsGravis]

I don't know if TM would consider this a QC or warranty issue (I don't remember how symmetrical mine was when new), so feel free to contact them instead if you want.

But if you want to fix it yourself, it's a pretty common and very simple mod to shave off or add pieces to the plastic AB detent piece (I have also done this to my own throttle).

Alternatively, if you're concerned about warranty or that you might screw things up etc., you can also order 3D-printed modded AB detents from Shapeways or from debolestis himself (who put them up on Shapeways). IMO the vanilla lift-to-AB detents are weird anyways and I'd recommend getting the pushthrough mod, but that's a matter of taste and you can even get an "original" replacement from debolestis, I think.

[Hippo]

On 12/8/2021 at 3:39 PM, MrArsGravis said:

I don't know if TM would consider this a QC or warranty issue (I don't remember how symmetrical mine was when new), so feel free to contact them instead if you want.

But if you want to fix it yourself, it's a pretty common and very simple mod to shave off or add pieces to the plastic AB detent piece (I have also done this to my own throttle).

Alternatively, if you're concerned about warranty or that you might screw things up etc., you can also order 3D-printed modded AB detents from Shapeways or from debolestis himself (who put them up on Shapeways). IMO the vanilla lift-to-AB detents are weird anyways and I'd recommend getting the pushthrough mod, but that's a matter of taste and you can even get an "original" replacement from debolestis, I think.

Hi,  thanks so much for replying.  I have contacted TM, and, to cut a long story short, was informed that this is "normal".  TBH this is what I suspected, but I was surprised that after much searching I could find no other reports anywhere regarding this issue.  I don't consider myself to be particularly fussy regarding these things, but to use the throttles independently was one of the main benefits I was hoping to get from this kit, and this seems to me to be a considerable flaw.  For now I have just decided to link the throttles and use the software to use one axis most of the time, and switch to two axes when required (in practice not often: startup, shutdown, emergencies, etc).  Since it is new I was concerned RE warranty issues, but I think I will just file away (or buy custom) the detent as required, as having to lift the throttles over the detent seems unduly cumbersome and I would much prefer a stop I can feel but easily push over.

For anyone considering buying this kit, whilst I'm not disappointed, and got it at a good price, I did rather jump in (hey there Black Friday) and buy based on very positive reviews that I remember reading from when it was first released (!).  I have found that it is far from the perfect HOTAS of my imaginings and does have several flaws.  Having said that I still think that for the price (I paid just over £300) it's very good value and I am very happy with it.