X-Axis lost in Gladiator MK II

[methylmercaptan]

Hello -

I was using my Gladiator MK II just fine up until today and noticed an odd, sudden fault where the roll left started mimicking roll right. I checked diagnostics and recalibrated with the Flaps + Eject button, no dice. I checked the diagnostics and found a minimum X-axis translation of 22,000, nothing close to zero. Tried calibration again which failed.

I opened up the case and found... two loose silver screws in the body. One of which wedged itself against the X-axis control board. Now the X-axis isn't responding at all. All other axes and buttons work.

Highly disappointed that not one but two screws are fully loose and stripped. Is it possible to get an X-axis sub-board to replace?

Trying to calibrate now gives me flashing red/green alternating lights as if the calibration was invalid, likely due to the zero X-axis response.

Thanks.

Apparently I cannot upload photos because an HTML error. Bizarre. I have a picture where I found the screws in the body.

[fallout9]

This is... new? unexpected? strange?
Please fill up a service ticket with your vendor.

[methylmercaptan]

It was working very well in the middle of a game until suddenly I lost X-axis authority, so yes, it was sudden and strange. Just appeared tonight and I cannot get any response from the X-axis in the Joytester program.

I opened a ticket with X-Plane.org where I bought the stick.

[EDIT] I should also add I updated the firmware, defaulted, and then re-calibrated. Still no response on the X-axis but everything else works fine. When I unplug one of the molex connectors on the X-axis board it does register as a new value, so I'm thinking my guess is correct, the x-axis sub-PCB is toast. Disappointing to say the least.

[methylmercaptan]

Note the two missing screws from the circled blue portions. Screw was found wedged in the red circled position.



Note the damage above and left of the "2015.12.16" board revision text. This sub-board is shot.

I contacted X-Plane.org where I purchased the stick and got no response.

I'm guessing this joystick is a total loss now.

[UIV]

Please email to warranty@vkb-sim.pro
I'll ask our service engineers to solve your problem. Don't worry.

[methylmercaptan]

Thank you for your quick response UIV.

I'll contact the VKB warranty address accordingly.

I'm saddened that X-Plane.org isn't responding at all, and I have noticed they no longer have any VKB products for sale. I wonder if those two topics are related.