What happened to all the racing wheels?

I noticed that some of the companies that used to make racing wheels have
discontinued their models.

So I ordered the Logitech Momo force feedback wheel, but it is defective.
It will not power on. Apparently this is due to some kind of manufacturing
problem with the pin where the adapter plugs into the wheel. Many others
are running into this same problem.

Have quality force feedback racing wheels become extinct?

"vvx" wrote...
>I noticed that some of the companies that used to make racing
> wheels have discontinued their models.
>
> So I ordered the Logitech Momo force feedback wheel, but it
> is defective. It will not power on. Apparently this is due to some kind
> of
> manufacturing problem with the pin where the adapter plugs
> into the wheel. Many others are running into this same problem.
>
> Have quality force feedback racing wheels become extinct?

There never were any.

I used to have a MOMO Force (you're talking about the MOMO Racing I presume,
as the Force can no longer be bought new), which was considered to be "top
end" when it was released.

Over the 3,5 years I owned it, apart from wearing out pots and switches, it
developed problems with the wiring, clamps and steering shaft, all due to
poor quality of manifacture and design.
It also developed horrendous play in the FF mechanism and pedal surfaces.

All of which one could live with if Logitech would provide spares, which
they don't. As a result I've had the distinc displeasure of giving them
another 112,- Euros for a Driving Force Pro (and don't even get me started
on that one).

The only "quality" manufacturer of simulation controls I know of working on
an FF wheel is Ball Racing Developements:

http://www.interactiveracing.com

Which reminds me... I was going to send them an e-mail to nag them about it.
<g>

Perhaps Act Labs will start producing it's Force RS again... that wasn't bad
either (and they do provide spares).

Jan.
=---

The annoying part is that there's nothing in between. You've got Logitech's
crappy plastic wheels which barely last 6 months for a regular sim racer
(and as you point out don't have spare parts) and then you've got BRD stuff
which is completely over the top for anyone except racing professionals.

"vvx" > wrote in message
. com...
>I noticed that some of the companies that used to make racing wheels have
>discontinued their models.
>
> So I ordered the Logitech Momo force feedback wheel, but it is defective.
> It will not power on. Apparently this is due to some kind of
> manufacturing problem with the pin where the adapter plugs into the wheel.
> Many others are running into this same problem.
>
> Have quality force feedback racing wheels become extinct?
>
>

What about this one from saitek? My momo is still going strong but I have a
friend that is interested in sim racing. He doesn't even have a computer yet
so he is not up any type of hardware so it's become my job to get him set
up. The only wheels that I found in his price range were either the black
momo or this one.

http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/r440.htm

I tried FF wheels and got tired of them breaking and needing replacement every year or so. So I gave up the FF idea and purchased a TSW2, and never regreted that decision.

Joel Willstein
"vvx" > wrote in message . com...
I noticed that some of the companies that used to make racing wheels have
discontinued their models.

So I ordered the Logitech Momo force feedback wheel, but it is defective.
It will not power on. Apparently this is due to some kind of manufacturing
problem with the pin where the adapter plugs into the wheel. Many others
are running into this same problem.

Have quality force feedback racing wheels become extinct?

I'm very happy with the new Thrusty GTPro Rallye FF(sheez... they've gotta
shorten the name tho' .Much the same price as the Momo racing FF.
Have had it six months or so now.Was squeaking a bit, so opened it up (there
goes the warranty),tensioner for the belt just needed a little
grease.Greased all the cogs i could get to(they were all dry), bolted back
up.No probs.
--

Steve H

"Steve Simpson" > wrote in message
...
> The annoying part is that there's nothing in between. You've got
> Logitech's crappy plastic wheels which barely last 6 months for a regular
> sim racer (and as you point out don't have spare parts) and then you've
> got BRD stuff which is completely over the top for anyone except racing
> professionals.
>
>

"Enos Nivek" > wrote in message
...
> My Microsoft FFB2 is still running like new and it must be at least 6
> years old now. Wonder if it's a collectors item yet? If I do buy a new
> wheel it won't be FFB anyway as there are only a few games that ever
> got FFB right. Same with my MS FFB joystick. I never use it because it
> just doesn't feel right in most games. IL-2 series is the only one
> that got it right.


I never really liked FF myself and likewise choose not to use it. I'm
running Rfactor mostly now but haven't even bothered to try it out yet.

> I tried FF wheels and got tired of them breaking and needing replacement
> every year or so. So I gave up the FF idea and purchased a TSW2, and never
> regreted that
> decision.

There was a time when FF was just a gimmick, but those days are behind us
now. Richard Burns Rally, netKar etc are all much better sims with FF.

So whats a good wheel then huh?

Steve Simpson wrote:
>> I tried FF wheels and got tired of them breaking and needing replacement
>> every year or so. So I gave up the FF idea and purchased a TSW2, and never
>> regreted that
>> decision.
>
> There was a time when FF was just a gimmick, but those days are behind us
> now. Richard Burns Rally, netKar etc are all much better sims with FF.
>
>

"Enos Nivek" > wrote in message
...
> My Microsoft FFB2 is still running like new and it must be at least 6
> years old now. Wonder if it's a collectors item yet? If I do buy a new
> wheel it won't be FFB anyway as there are only a few games that ever
> got FFB right. Same with my MS FFB joystick. I never use it because it
> just doesn't feel right in most games. IL-2 series is the only one
> that got it right.

I have three MSFF wheels, one original game port, a usb gray and a newer usb
red, they all still work perfectly. The only problem is the grips wear out.
I'm going to look into the frex wheel for it. Anyone know if it's worth the
price? The wheels have been rock solid and I don't want to ruin them, even
though I have spare parts.