Picked up my first FFB2. Did I get a lemon?

[breezytrees]

The grip itself is well-worn with an intermittent hat-switch, but I was planning on swapping it with a suncom F-15e, so my main concern is over the condition of the FFB and the motor.

 

The action feels gritty when force feedback is being applied to the stick. It has about 7-9 small but noticeable notches in any direction from center that you can feel as you go through the sticks motion (so in total, about 14-18 notches in the X axis, and 14-18 in the y). It almost feels like you can "feel" every little tooth on the gears as you move through the motion. The slower you move the more you can "feel" the teeth on the gears. The notches get further apart and more noticeable the further you are away from center. The grittyness is not present when you move the stick fast, only when you move it at normal and definitely at slow speeds. 

 

The stick itself (not the grip) also has a little bit of play and a noticeable audible rattle within the base. The stick is a little loose and moves a little bit before the force feedback "grabs." It's as if the whole force feedback mechanism inside seems to have a little bit of play...

 

Is this normal for a FFB2?

Edited February 11, 2014 by breezytrees

[z0ttel]

breezytrees, I can confirm your obversations - my sidewinder feels exactly as you have described. This was also my first one so I never thought about it; in the end, it never disturbed me anyway. Do you have the version with the silver main trigger or the red translucent one?

[Sandhill]

You could try this tool:

 

Force Feedback Diagnostic Program

This is a small utility program you can download to test the force feedback capabilities of your joystick.

Download : ForceTest.exe  (108 KB)

 

 

Thanks Simon, a great test of FFB function, worked for me even with an old MS FFB Pro gameport stick running through a Teensy adapter.

[Bearcat]

This is just what the Dr. ordered..

[BFsSmurfy]

I`ve got 3, 2 red trigger and 1 silver, they all have a slightly notchy feel, a couple are mint and one is an old one. I buy em on Ebay when I see one going cheap.

 

Ps  if I remember correctly there are gears in the casing, and it`s that which gives the notching feeling.

Edited March 4, 2014 by BFsSmurfy

[VR-DriftaholiC]

I haven't has a MSFFB2 but I do have a G940. My understanding from my research is that you have to have play in the center or the motors would be constantly fighting each other and burn up. Even my G940 which is supposedly smoother then a MSFFB2 has graininess to the force. I found that using a extended stick help reduce the perceived feeling of both the deadzone and graininess.

[Sokol1]

BTW - There some issues with G-940 Y axis ball bearing support.

 

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Logitech-G-Controllers/G940-loose-bearings/td-p/591488

 

Sokol1

[SEE1947]

I have a red trigger and grey trigger MS FF2.   The grey trigger FF2 is silky smooth but the red trigger one feels 'gritty'and I can detect/sense the gear movement, it also seems to have a bit more 'play'. 

 

I removed the bases on both to make a comparison but couldn't see any obvious reason for the difference in 'feel'.  My guess is that it is some sort of wear or misadjustment - I will be having another look as the red trigger unit is just gathering dust and I would like to have it as a viable spare.

Edited March 15, 2014 by SEE1947

[mac2]

I just got my first ffb2 stick - and just wondering for BOS is there anyway to get stronger FFB effects (already in game mine are all set to 100%) - strangely when I configure the axis in the options screen the game saves saves some of them as inverted also?

[nicka117]

Hey mac. I'm getting the same thing. My ff 2 works much better in clod. I can just barely feel anything in stalingrad.

Edited September 23, 2014 by nicka117

[Mugwump]

Same.  Really weak effects even when I've maxed out the sliders for FFB.

[nicka117]

Is it just us or everyone? Are the forces more faint than COD? Mine works awesome in COD.

 

If it felt the same with BOS, it would be incredible.

[LLv24_Vilppi]

I think this might be somewhat related to my post here: http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/10714-ffb-different-different-planes/

 

I tested a little bit more and there is a big difference in the stall feedback between different planes. IRC, BFs have almost non-existent stall flutter; FW, Ju, Il-2 and the Russian fighter planes some; He-111 and Pe-2 quite heavy.  For a good example in the difference between planes, try to stall an F4 and a Pe-2.

 

Whether this difference between different is intentional or not (i.e. feature, bug, or work-in-process), I cannot really tell. Even less if it is authentic / realistic, as I've never flown an aeroplane let alone a ww2 fighter / bomber, or -- God forbid -- tried to stall one :D.

 

- PitbullVicious

[LLv24_Vilppi]

Can anybody verify what I wrote above, or am I just imagining things?

 

I'd like to inquire the developers about this, but I'd like someone to see if they have similar behaviour with the FFB so that it's not just my settings / hardware.

 

- PitbullVicious