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#4552381 - 01/15/21 12:52 PM Cougar Gimbal Question  
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,600
Recluse Offline
Mediocrity Above All!
Recluse  Offline
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Posts: 5,600
Randolph, NJ
So, I have been having issues with play in the X direction. I wrapped some Metal Repair tape


https://www.acehardware.com/departm...ats-and-heating-supplies/duct-tape/47523

around the central spindle where it had worn down. Last night, oddly enough the X GIMBAL FRACTURED into pieces!!

Luckily, I had a spare thanks to a generous SIMHQer. I replaced the GIMBAL, but again wrapped the tape around the center. I cannot imagine the Metal Tape is that much harder than the actual metal piece, but just to save myself some grief, is it POSSIBLE this was the reason for the Gimbal fracture? I am thinking just coincidence due to long wear.

I have looked at some of the Gimbal mods, and it is just too expensive and time consuming for me at this time..

Attached Files Gimbal.png

Long system spec sig follows:






PowerSpec G436
Lian Li ATX 205
MSI Z490 Plus Motherboard
Intel Core i7 10700K 3.8 GHz
32 GB RAM DDR4 1600
Nvidia RTX3070

Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit

Flight Gear:

Cougar Hotas S/N 26453
Thrustmaster RCS Rudder Pedals

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#4552430 - 01/15/21 04:31 PM Re: Cougar Gimbal Question [Re: Recluse]  
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Wizard43 Offline
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Wizard43  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Canada
I've never had a Cougar and I have no idea what I'm looking at in your picture. So I don't have context of where the metal repair tape is in relation to the broken part. The only thing that comes to mind is, do you possibly have a corrosion issue with dissimilar metals?

Wizard

#4552435 - 01/15/21 04:51 PM Re: Cougar Gimbal Question [Re: Recluse]  
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,600
Recluse Offline
Mediocrity Above All!
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,600
Randolph, NJ
That's a good question. For reference, the image below shows what it looks like. The tape is around the central "pole" just around the top where it contacts the Gimbal to reduce the play that came from wear on the metal.

I could have sworn that I saw this "use Aluminum tape" fix all over to fix this, but now, of course, I cannot find the reference.


I found one reference that says the Cougar is made of ZAMAK , a Zinc/Aluminum/Magnesium/Copper alloy. Not sure if this refers to the body or the internals as well.

The tape is Aluminum..

According to this Galvanic reaction chart. It could be an issue, but I guess it depends on the ZAMAK alloy proportions. Maybe I'd better take off the Aluminum tape and use something non-reactive.



Attached Files Gimbal2.PNGgalvanic reaction.png
Last edited by Recluse; 01/15/21 05:09 PM.

Long system spec sig follows:






PowerSpec G436
Lian Li ATX 205
MSI Z490 Plus Motherboard
Intel Core i7 10700K 3.8 GHz
32 GB RAM DDR4 1600
Nvidia RTX3070

Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit

Flight Gear:

Cougar Hotas S/N 26453
Thrustmaster RCS Rudder Pedals

#4552495 - 01/16/21 01:23 AM Re: Cougar Gimbal Question [Re: Recluse]  
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Wizard43 Offline
Member
Wizard43  Offline
Member

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Canada
I did a Google search for a larger picture of a Cougar gimbal and interestingly it brought me back to an old thread right here on SimHQ.

https://SimHQ.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2944337/2

Maybe the problem is just fatigue. Again I have no Cougar experience but is that alloy a bit weak and are there are some heavy-ish springs providing resistance? Sorry, I'm more questions than answers.

Wizard

#4552499 - 01/16/21 02:45 AM Re: Cougar Gimbal Question [Re: Recluse]  
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,600
Recluse Offline
Mediocrity Above All!
Recluse  Offline
Mediocrity Above All!
Hotshot

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,600
Randolph, NJ
Well that's interesting. Just Metal Fatigue then. As a precaution, I took off the Aluminum tape and replaced it with regular old Black electric tape. I don't expect it to last, so maybe next repair I will put the Aluminum tape on. The Aluminum tape was only on there for a week or two so it is hard to imagine so much corrosion in that short period, but it scared me smile


Long system spec sig follows:






PowerSpec G436
Lian Li ATX 205
MSI Z490 Plus Motherboard
Intel Core i7 10700K 3.8 GHz
32 GB RAM DDR4 1600
Nvidia RTX3070

Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit

Flight Gear:

Cougar Hotas S/N 26453
Thrustmaster RCS Rudder Pedals


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