With any roll applied, the added friction of the roll sensor mechanism means that fine pitch control is almost impossible and becomes quite notchy, most noticeably near the neutral point of the spring centring where fine control is most needed. I don't think that the nylon bearings are really the problem here.

 

Interesting observation.  Well, I'm giving it a second try before packaging and returning the Cessna yoke.  I did dedicate the right-most toggle on the throttle quad to single-click elevator trim adjustments to be able to land the thing.  Works quite well but it does surprise me as mentioned that w/ all of the trouble they went in designing, fabricating, marketing this yoke that some of this very basic stuff wasn't solved including the hard detent.   I must say I do like the trim wheel a lot, and as time goes on I will probably be able to land planes well by using it or the toggle switch approach, and at least I have the trim wheel on the left of the yoke and the throttle quad on the right so I have options.   The alternatives to the yoke for me are the GoFlight & PFC yokes but they have their own set of issues and the cost is very steep.

BTW, does anyone have insight into how to solve two prominent issues I've had since installing the yoke & throttle:

 

1.  Whenever I start a flight in P3D V2 engines are in acceleration mode and I have to move the throttle up and down to reduce engine power.   I've tried doing this, then overwriting my default flight, and it continues to happen.   This is new since the Saitek was installed and calibrated using FSUIPC.

 

2.  When I go into SLEW mode the plane spins hard right and fast.  I can undo the NumLock key and get stop the spin using the #5 key, and go back to NORMAL flight mode and then once again the throttle is fully advanced (internally, it's apparently reading the value as maximum) just like it does when I start a new flight.   When I hit slew again, it starts its counterclockwise spin.  Any ideas what's causing this?

 

Thanks in advance...

Whenever I start a flight in P3D V2 engines are in acceleration mode and I have to move the throttle up and down to reduce engine power. I've tried doing this, then overwriting my default flight, and it continues to happen. This is new since the Saitek was installed and calibrated using FSUIPC.

 

When I go into SLEW mode the plane spins hard right and fast...

I have the same "open throttle" problem with FSX. I have to make sure that I have the brakes on when the flight starts to give me a chance to cycle the throttle to get it back to idle. I don't use FSUIPC for calibration or axis assignment so it's not down to that. Strangely, it didn't do it when I first got the throttle quadrant and I can't remember when it first started. I occasionally also have to cycle the prop lever to get the RPM set correctly (but not very often).

 

Can't comment on the slewing problem as I don't use the slew function and I'm away from home at the moment so can't check it.

I have the same "open throttle" problem with FSX.

 

Ahh!  Found the problem.  I went back and set all buttons & axis settings in the control dialogue in P3D V2 to default and reassigned them all.  During that process I discovered somehow the Cessna Trim Wheel had not only elevator trim set checked but also somehow had Throttle assigned as well.  Once we deselected that all's well w/ the open throttle issue.  Check it and see.

 

One thing I cannot figure out is how to use FSUIPC's AXIS ASSIGNMENT for my mixture axis on the throttle quadrant.  I'd like it to decrease the lowest range so as not to shut it down but can't figure out how to.  Tried everything!

During that process I discovered somehow the Cessna Trim Wheel had not only elevator trim set checked but also somehow had Throttle assigned as well.  Once we deselected that all's well w/ the open throttle issue.  Check it and see.

Not at home at the moment so I can't check but this would make sense as I have recently installed a new joystick. I've assigned the throttle on the joystick to elevator trim but I wonder if it's still also assigned to throttle. Thanks for the tip.

I think I'll keep it, but at the moment because of the stickiness in the yoke slide (it hitches & then releases) I'm needing to continue making fine elevator trim adjustments using a rocker switch or trim wheel.  I hope it looses with age.  Everything I've read says don't use lubricants on nylon bushings.  If it doesn't improve over time I will open it up and see if it can be improved w/ some mods, including putting a very thin slit in the bushings to relieve some of the tension.  This has never been an issue w/ the plastic shafted CH yoke and I assumed w/ a metal shaft this would be a non-issue, but I was  wrong on that.

I just (after years and years) did the yoke mod referenced in another thread.  I cannot believe it took me this long!!  It really is a huge improvement and I would highly recommend it.  Should you have to do it, no but with all due respect I also shouldn't have had to put better suspension, brakes and rims on my motorcycle but sometimes to get something just right we have to do it ourselves lol...  It isn't the yoke shaft, it is the internals that are sticking and causing your issues unfortunately.

Cheers.

Thanks guys lots to chew over there. I have been reading it all i've just been busy.

I just (after years and years) did the yoke mod referenced in another thread.  I cannot believe it took me this long!!  It really is a huge improvement and I would highly recommend it.  Should you have to do it, no but with all due respect I also shouldn't have had to put better suspension, brakes and rims on my motorcycle but sometimes to get something just right we have to do it ourselves lol...  It isn't the yoke shaft, it is the internals that are sticking and causing your issues unfortunately.

Cheers.

I guess just a few rubber bands is all that's needed?  I can say roll is very smooth but elevator not good.  Does this mode impact this, if so by what mechanism?  It doesn't seem like it is affecting the friction between the shaft and bushings and I don't see how something else would cause the subtle 'catch and release' that one feels when push/pulling.

Do any Cessna yoke owners or other Saitek know why every time I start P3D now the Cessna Trim wheel loses its USB connectivity.   It's present in the P3D control dialogue, but if you turn the wheel it doesn't pick it up.  Pulling and replugging its USB connector re-activates it.   Any ideas on how to restore this to normal functionality?  I worked fine yesterday w/ several reboots, not today w/o the USB unplug/plug routine.

 

 

Do any Cessna yoke owners or other Saitek know why every time I start P3D now the Cessna Trim wheel loses its USB connectivity.

 

Are you connecting the USB cable to a port on the yoke?  Or on the computer?  I have the Cessna Pro Flight yoke and have had some issues with the power of the available USB ports on the yoke.  And oddly enough, I purchased the accessory Saitek power supply for the yoke and the power to the yoke's USB hub actually got worse, as clearly seen by the LED display on my Saitek Multi-Panel going even more dim when that power supply was connected to the yoke.  I now connect everything Saitek USB to the USB ports on my CPU, or to a separate powered USB hub.  And also of note is that Saitek USB devices do not seem to mate well with USB 3.0 connections.  Hope this helps.

Are you connecting the USB cable to a port on the yoke?  Or on the computer?  I have the Cessna Pro Flight yoke and have had some issues with the power of the available USB ports on the yoke.  And oddly enough, I purchased the accessory Saitek power supply for the yoke and the power to the yoke's USB hub actually got worse, as clearly seen by the LED display on my Saitek Multi-Panel going even more dim when that power supply was connected to the yoke.  I now connect everything Saitek USB to the USB ports on my CPU, or to a separate powered USB hub.  And also of note is that Saitek USB devices do not seem to mate well with USB 3.0 connections.  Hope this helps.

Thank you Frank.  I started w/ it in the yoke and all was well--but just for 24h.  Then I moved it to a USB 2.0 on the CPU and it worked fine..I turned the machine offl, came back later and same problem.   One thing I noticed was in FSUIPC I have the 'disconnect trim on A/P connect' or something along those lines, so perhaps that's involved somehow too.   

I guess just a few rubber bands is all that's needed?  I can say roll is very smooth but elevator not good.  Does this mode impact this, if so by what mechanism?  It doesn't seem like it is affecting the friction between the shaft and bushings and I don't see how something else would cause the subtle 'catch and release' that one feels when push/pulling.

Do any Cessna yoke owners or other Saitek know why every time I start P3D now the Cessna Trim wheel loses its USB connectivity.   It's present in the P3D control dialogue, but if you turn the wheel it doesn't pick it up.  Pulling and replugging its USB connector re-activates it.   Any ideas on how to restore this to normal functionality?  I worked fine yesterday w/ several reboots, not today w/o the USB unplug/plug routine.

 

The MOD makes the world of difference, Remove a few plastic brackets and replace with rubber bands..The center detent is still there but nowhere near as bad, I did mine a few years ago and it made a HUGE difference.

 

Make sure you get some good chain lube and give it a spray while its open as well.

I guess just a few rubber bands is all that's needed?  I can say roll is very smooth but elevator not good.  Does this mode impact this, if so by what mechanism?  It doesn't seem like it is affecting the friction between the shaft and bushings and I don't see how something else would cause the subtle 'catch and release' that one feels when push/pulling.

Do any Cessna yoke owners or other Saitek know why every time I start P3D now the Cessna Trim wheel loses its USB connectivity.   It's present in the P3D control dialogue, but if you turn the wheel it doesn't pick it up.  Pulling and replugging its USB connector re-activates it.   Any ideas on how to restore this to normal functionality?  I worked fine yesterday w/ several reboots, not today w/o the USB unplug/plug routine.

Actually springs now... Rubber bands was phase 1 of the mod I believe, then the mod was "upgraded" to springs.  It is all in the full post in the HW section, give it a good read.

 

 

Make sure you get some good chain lube and give it a spray while its open as well.

 

Actually, the detents and spring tension are somewhat tolerable, it's the fact that the shaft upon push/pull sticks then releases, sticks then releases.   Does the MOD take care of this?  It's been said in several places NOT to use lubrication on the nylon bushings.  I'm curious if any kind of compatible w/ nylon lubricant improves this.  This is my main concern.  If the answer is a clear YES then I may well open the thing and lubricate it, and while there do the rest of the MOD.

Actually, the detents and spring tension are somewhat tolerable, it's the fact that the shaft upon push/pull sticks then releases, sticks then releases.   Does the MOD take care of this?  It's been said in several places NOT to use lubrication on the nylon bushings.  I'm curious if any kind of compatible w/ nylon lubricant improves this.  This is my main concern.  If the answer is a clear YES then I may well open the thing and lubricate it, and while there do the rest of the MOD.

 

I was more than a little nervous about this mod going in, but this was bar none the best decision I made for my hardware. It is *especially* effective for the elevator. I was pitching all over the place on final trying to make "fine" adjustments which IMO is impossible with this yoke out of the box. I used the bands and a bit of lithium grease. There's enough tension left to center the yoke automatically, but light enough resistance so that you can fly with your fingertips with a relatively decent degree of precision (especially if you calibrate using FSUIPC).

 

Seriously, you'll be asking yourself when you're done, "Why did I wait this long to do this?"