For all Cougar owners...

Since these metal beasts seem to break down quite often, especially the pots. Just as a precaution, we should all order more pots (X, Y and Z) so we have a "supply" whenever needed!

I just sent my newely delivered pots to Striker. Got em just in time when his roll axis pot gave out...

LawnDart

I just ordered my first cougar...looking forward to messing with it. Regarding the pots, how often do you find that they wear out?

Unfortunately, bad pots seem to be more the norm than unusual sometimes, possibly because the high number of hours we put on our sticks. Still, I'd go ahead and order some spare ones as soon as you get the joystick just in case. They're the weakest link or Achilles heel in what otherwise is the "tank"of joysticks available for a PC!

Of course if you really want a top notch stick, get Hall Sensors installed! Guaranteed to work and much more precise, but of course more expensive too. There should be a link in our link page to Cubby's homepage to order these.

LawnDart

If you still have the old pots, would you be willing to send them to me? I may be able to fix them and send them back to you. I'd like to try it since I figure I'll be dealing with this too.

THANKS LD! SAVED MY AIRCRAFT FROM CODE 3! PLUS SINCE I AM A FLIGHT CONTROL SPECIALIST IN REAL LIFE SO ITS NICE TO SEE I CAN DO IT VIRTUALLY TOO!

Once again... For every Cougar owner:

Register on TM's support site and put in an order request for pots (for every axis)!!! Even if your stick is not spiking now, by the time your current pot(s) go bad, you'll still be waiting on the spares if you place the request late! So, NOW is the time to act! I've been trying to get a second set of stock pots since March (even though I don't need any yet) and still haven't seen any packages arrive, although TM says the order has shipped multiple times.

After you register on TM's support site and send a request, they'll email you back and then you can use that email as means to communicate back and forth (not as complicated as when you first need to register and fill out the request form on their site).

Here's the TM support page:
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/

LawnDart

Well, I bought my cougar used, so I have to buy pots from them... I requested the order form today. We'll see if they ship them sooner if I'm paying for them.

TM actually delivered this time! I emailed them back and forth a few times this past month and today (to my great surprise!) there was a package with not only one or two, but a dozen pots! Actually, more than that if you count all the Z-pots (throttle) they sent too! So, if anyone has a bad pot, let me know cause I'm sitting on a fair amount right now...

P.S. I'd still suggest you pursue TM yourself if you still have warranty on your Cougar, since spare parts are hard to come by and delivery times are outrageous (except this one time for me)!

LD, I'd love a full set. One for each axis. I'll reimburse you for shipping plus some for the trouble if you like... Should I email you?

Once I'm back from my vacation, I'll get in touch with you.

So, why don't you guys go with Hall-effect sensors and get rid of the pots? Pots are so 50-years-ago. I flew with a friends' Cougar that had been converted to UberCougar 2 specs and the pots had been replaced with hall-effect units. The stick felt much more like the real thing. Like Striker, I should know.

Kev

Some of us have NXT mods, some have zero movement force sensor sticks, and some of us (myself included) just replace our pots every year or so for monetary reasons.

Burner wrote:Some of us have NXT mods, some have zero movement force sensor sticks, and some of us (myself included) just replace our pots every year or so for monetary reasons.

This is the reason I've not went to a modded Cougar as well, too much $. 'sides, I'd rather spend the $ on my boat.

Kev

As much money as I've put into my Cougar, I could have easily bought another computer. I have no regrets though and having zero centerplay and hall sensors is definitely worth something! Question is how much...

LD

Same here I invested money in that kitty but I wouldnt exchange it for something else. I bought the U2 with the Stick and Throttle HS and now Im waiting for my FCC. Yea its alot of money but every pennies are worth it.