Stuck Pins

[imagin8]

I've had my MCG Pro + Gunfighter + 100mm extension for a month now. I spent the first 3 weeks after receiving the stick troubleshooting with VKB because the stick wouldn't connect to the base. It turned out to be stuck pins on the connector, and they sent me a replacement. I was able to get an entire 2 days of successful use out of the stick before the extension also developed a stuck pin and the entire thing stopped working.

I'm already working with VKB support to get this resolved. My real question to the group is how normal is this problem? Am I doing somehow doing something wrong with my equipment that I don't realize, can I expect to replace this connector every month, or am I just really unlucky?

[imagin8]

Update: since the extension pins are stuck, I’ve been using the stick directly attached to the base. It lasted about 2 days before I started seeing constant communications issues. Took the grip off and found that the recently replaced connector, once again, had a stuck pin.

I noted during the most recent issue that the grip does not seem to hold that to the base very well. The base clamp is tightened as far as physically possible (without bending the hex wrench), but the grip still seems to move slowly up the base as I play. Lost connections always seem to strike in the middle of a dogfight.

Are my springs too heavy, causing unexpected pressure between the base and the stick? For reference, I’m using the AVIAH-H cams with #40+#30 springs on both axis. I read that the maximum supported was #50+#30, so I assumed this setup was safe.

I still have 1 extra connector PCB from my first ticket, so I’ll replace and try switching out the clamp for the one in the extension to see if it makes any difference.