Kitty is on her last legs

[Evil.Bonsai]

My TM Cougar has reminded me today of her age. Decided to try the DEVIL'S CROSS campaign, had just made IP and contacted JTAC when all of a sudden I heard a loud SNAP and my stick came all the way back.

 

I opened up the base and found a piece of metal had broken off the y-axis pivot. This is the 'pin' part that provides tension on the spring when pulling back. The cast-metal part just snapped right off.

 

She's treated me well, I suppose, but now I am going to have to decide to get a TM Warthog or not. I THINK I can still fly with the stick, just have to make sure to keep forward tension. It's still sitting on the floor. I'll probably hook it back up later tonight. :cry:

[Hamblue]

You don't need us to convince you. Sounds like the little guy on your shoulder is already telling you. Get the Warthog and stop tormenting your self. :joystick:

[Brisse]

Or, get some modded gimbals and hall sensors! Cougar is a great stick but is not perfect untill you start modding it. I'm still waiting for mine (many years) to break so I can get some mods :)

 

Don't forget we might get DCS: F16 one day!

[Evil.Bonsai]

Or, get some modded gimbals and hall sensors! Cougar is a great stick but is not perfect untill you start modding it. I'm still waiting for mine (many years) to break so I can get some mods :)

 

Don't forget we might get DCS: F16 one day!

 

I've had enough F16. It was fun, but I've always loved the A10. I think she's the most beautiful plane ever.

 

And I do love the cougar. But the problem is that even the mods use the parts already in the cougar, just add special electronics. Mine is mechanically broken, as seen in the attachment (not mine; found pic). The red part snapped off.

 

I do want the Warthog, but seriously going to miss the Range and Antenna knobs. I don't have pedals and used the antenna knob for that. Range was my Zoom.

 

I did find a cougar stick on ebay, but not for $189. Also found just a base, with a 'rattling' noise (sounds just like mine) for $80.

[Ninefingers]

My TM Cougar has reminded me today of her age. Decided to try the DEVIL'S CROSS campaign, had just made IP and contacted JTAC when all of a sudden I heard a loud SNAP and my stick came all the way back.

 

I opened up the base and found a piece of metal had broken off the y-axis pivot. This is the 'pin' part that provides tension on the spring when pulling back. The cast-metal part just snapped right off.

 

She's treated me well, I suppose, but now I am going to have to decide to get a TM Warthog or not. I THINK I can still fly with the stick, just have to make sure to keep forward tension. It's still sitting on the floor. I'll probably hook it back up later tonight.

 

As far as I know, you can still obtain spare gimbals of Cougar from Thrustmaster.

Another good idea is to mod the Cougar with Hall sensors or install a commercial Force Sensor unit: http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html A FSSB mod, like this interesting and cheap project, could do the job too: http://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?7047-MY-LOW-COST-FSSB!!!

Edited June 16, 2012 by Ninefingers

[Brisse]

I've had enough F16. It was fun, but I've always loved the A10. I think she's the most beautiful plane ever.

 

And I do love the cougar. But the problem is that even the mods use the parts already in the cougar, just add special electronics. Mine is mechanically broken, as seen in the attachment (not mine; found pic). The red part snapped off.

 

I do want the Warthog, but seriously going to miss the Range and Antenna knobs. I don't have pedals and used the antenna knob for that. Range was my Zoom.

 

I did find a cougar stick on ebay, but not for $189. Also found just a base, with a 'rattling' noise (sounds just like mine) for $80.

 

Some mods replace the part marked in red and Thrustmaster sells spare parts if you want to go that way. Still, if you REALLY want the Warthog then go for it :)

[Evil.Bonsai]

Some mods replace the part marked in red and Thrustmaster sells spare parts if you want to go that way. Still, if you REALLY want the Warthog then go for it :)

 

Hmm, couldn't find a link on TMs site, and their 'contact us' form is broken. Left message on FB, doubt I will hear anything...

Edited June 16, 2012 by Evil.Bonsai

[Evil.Bonsai]

As far as I know, you can still obtain spare gimbals of Cougar from Thrustmaster.

Another good idea is to mod the Cougar with Hall sensors or install a commercial Force Sensor unit: http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html A FSSB mod, like this interesting and cheap project, could do the job too: http://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?7047-MY-LOW-COST-FSSB!!!

 

Sadly, not a public forum. :/

[Evil.Bonsai]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll search more for 'mods' see if I can find any with the gimbals that ISN'T going to cost nearly the same as a new Warthog.

[Double_D]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll search more for 'mods' see if I can find any with the gimbals that ISN'T going to cost nearly the same as a new Warthog.

 

Yea, my Cougar stick just went on me also..so I bought the Warthog on Friday should be delivered Monday..but will also look for replacement parts..or purchase the FSSB mod...love my Cougar..:music_whistling:

 

Thanks for the link to the FSSB..

 

Originally Posted by Ninefingers

As far as I know, you can still obtain spare gimbals of Cougar from Thrustmaster.

Another good idea is to mod the Cougar with Hall sensors or install a commercial Force Sensor unit: http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html A FSSB mod, like this interesting and cheap project, could do the job too:

[Brisse]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll search more for 'mods' see if I can find any with the gimbals that ISN'T going to cost nearly the same as a new Warthog.

 

If one were to buy a new Cougar and then buy one of the popular mods including hall sensors it will cost as much as the Warthog in the end. Since you already have a Cougar it will only cost you half of the Warthog's price.

[JG14_Smil]

Drill a hole and put in a screw to replace the post that broke off if there is room. Your Cougar is a kitten compared to my still-in-use TM F-22 :)

Edited June 16, 2012 by JG14_Smil

[Evil.Bonsai]

Drill a hole and put in a screw to replace the post that broke off if there is room. Your Cougar is a kitten compared to my still-in-use TM F-22 :)

 

It's not just the post. That whole quarter broke off. What I'd like to do is take the spring out. The boot has SOME tension to it, might keep it from falling forward or backward when I take my hand off, and that will at least even the tension out.

 

I emailed the guy that does the 'uber' mod, so we'll see how that works out.

 

Update: skip the uber mod. $400 for the gimbals alone.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Evil.Bonsai

[Panthro]

is it possible to just make a backing plate and rivet it to the broke one?

maybe thats a little red neck but as a temporary practically free measure......

Edited June 17, 2012 by Panthro
red neck

[Evil.Bonsai]

is it possible to just make a backing plate and rivet it to the broke one?

maybe thats a little red neck but as a temporary practically free measure......

 

My hillbilly fix is actually much cheaper than that...I stuffed a piece of foam between the rubber boot and lock-ring. It actually works. The tension isn't as high as moving it forward, but it's actually not bad, for a broken flight-stick that is.

 

We'll see what the guy from Thrustmaster says about getting a new gimbal, otherwise I'm just going to break down and get a warthog.

[Panthro]

+1 on the warthog but hey some one will do an F16 for DCS World so a working kitty would be good to have as well ;)