replacing Fanatec FFB motor?

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Meurig
Chaps,
I have recently had an issue with my PWTS wheel and Fanatec have advised me that they will replace it.

The issue is shown in the following vid:



It is very notchy now instead of smooth whist turning. I suspect it is either the Belt, the Motor or the PCB. Having never opened my wheel how realistic is it to change either the motor or the PCB?


***Vid in properly now***
 
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Definately not sale.. but it can't be bad to have a spare can it..

Whilst waiting for delivery i have tried to use my old DFP and it just doesn't cut the mustard so i would like to have a back up if possible.. to be honest i'm not sure it's even possible.
 
Fair enough, it's definitely worth a shot.
I'm no expert on Fanatec internals, but from the sound of it, it's probably the motor or the belt. Don't they use R/C motors or am I thinking of another wheel?
 
Yep, RC motor.

Tis following statement is lifted straight from the PWTS website.

Powerful Mabuchi RS 550 Motor as used in RC cars delivers extra strong Force Feedback effects

I guess its just a case of being able to fit all the gear cogs on the from teh motor onto a new one.
 
Sorry to hear tour troubles mate, have you sent of to Fanatec yet?

Edit, Just read your other post.
What courier service did you use?
 
Hi Spagetti,
Fanatec are replacing it under warranty so no worries there. They really got their customer service sorted out by the looks of it..

The new one should be here tomorrow (according to UPS tracking service). They have advised me that i cannot sell the old one and given the customer service i am happy to comply with that but it seems a shame to not at least try and fix it and use it as a backup.

However i am not sure just how viable that is. Still, gotta try i guess otherwise its straight into the bin with it.


*edit, just checked.. due Wednesday now*
 
Don't bin it mate. At least use it as a donor machine if nothing else.

Should have kept your seat mate.
Split screen with the wife would be order of the day lol.
 
I managed to open my wheel and fix the wiring loom that connected the wheel to the base after they sent me a replacement wheel. I kept it to use as a back up in case of a fault with the replacement. At least if you got the cover of and had a look inside you would get a better idea of what was faulty and if it could potentially be fixed.
 
Meurig
Chaps,
I have recently had an issue with my PWTS wheel and Fanatec have advised me that they will replace it.

The issue is shown in the following vid:

LINKY

It is very notchy now instead of smooth whist turning. I suspect it is either the Belt, the Motor or the PCB. Having never opened my wheel how realistic is it to change either the motor or the PCB?


***hmmm.. can't figure out how to get the vid to show properly... colour me dumbass***
Click to expand...

This video may help you figure out how to get in..

 
gslooney: cheers for the vid. I'm holding off opening it until i receive the new one just in case they ask me to send it back.. I would hate to open it and then find they want it back.

If i had to send it back would i have heard by now considering the replacement (a GT2) has already been dispatched and will be here on Wednesday?
 
Whilst trawling the net looking for a possible cause of my Fanatec problem i came across this vid of what i presume is a bicycle with an electric motor. Basically a larger version of the type of motor used in RC cars and our Fanatec wheels:



That is exactly the symptom being displayed in my Fanatec so i am pretty sure it is the motor at fault now... All i need to do now is source a replacement motor and i could be onto a winner..

The trouble is i'm having a terrible time sourcing a motor of equal specs because i have no idea what the specs and full model name of the Fanatec motor is.
 
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damn.. why can't i place videos in my posts properly.. I'm using the "youtube" button and then pasting the URL for my video into it..
 
Getting into the wheel is the easy part. Replacing that motor may take a trick or 2 though.
 
Had a quick search and couldn't find any RS 550 motors for sale, but I'd suggest asking in an R/C forum.
I hope you've got the tech skills to make this happen :)
 
Hi guys.. yeah, I got a post on a rather large UK based RC forum already.. the only suggestion so far is

THIS

It's only 6 quid so i'll give it a go. I've seen a Mabuchi RS 550 on a US site for about $13 so the price seems about right.. if it isn't a custom model as you pointed out.

PS, cheers for the youtube pointers.

PPS, thats a great find on the Mabuchi Motors site.. that is the number i need to find to get an exact replica of the motor used by Fanatec.
 
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I think after 2 solid days of googling and emails being sent i may have to give up on this.

I can find plenty of RS 550 and RS 555 motors but none of them with dual shafts as required for my use. Unless anyone can point me toward somewhere i may have missed i think i will have to call it a day on this.

Thanks for all the assistance chaps.

Marcus.
 
I have had an idea... In my back room i have my backup Logitech DFP... if i can get the PWTS working then i will have no need for a backup. Also, whilst i was waiting for my GT wheel to arrive i tried to use it and frankly decided to pack it away rather than use it as it was so poor when compared to my fanatec wheel.. Apparently it uses an equivalent of a dual shaft Mabuchi 550 motor... teh same as the fanatec. Should i chance ripping it apart and cannibalising it for it's motor?

What say you petrolheads?
 
Not sure on that one TBH.

What really surprises me is that the motors are equivalent.

Maybe better trying the proper motor and keeping the working back up.

Trust me you say the DFP is crap but given the choice of that or nothing there's no real comparison.

Edit. Are the motors exactly the same?
 
I am trying to find that out now but from what i can tell they are yes.. motors are not the be all.. its the drive mechanism and the pcb that helps make the wheel what it is i think and the dfp is obviously light years behind the fanatecs.
 
Although both of the wheels may have 550 motors, it doesn't mean that they are the same, as this number only shows the size of the motor.
 
bumer
Although both of the wheels may have 550 motors, it doesn't mean that they are the same, as this number only shows the size of the motor.
Click to expand...

That is a fair point. I have the full model number of the Fanatec motor but not the logi one.. i shall carry on googling... well.. until i get bored anyway then i may just try it ;)
 
Out of curiosity, have you tried contacting fanatec about a replacement motor?
 
This is for the wheel they have replaced with a new wheel.. i just don't want to throw away the old (broken) one if it can be fixed.

I just presumed they would not supply me with a motor as i am effectively attempting to repair something they say is not worth repairing and they have already sent me a new wheel.
 

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