An idea to make my Wheel bigger

  • Thread starter ropeadope
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ropeadope

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Size DOES matter! :) At least to me. I've been thinking the past month or so to try and "improve" on my logitech driving force by making it bigger, like the size of a normal steering wheel you'd find in a car.

Here's the idea. I was thinking i could build something to go around the wheel, to make it bigger. Here's a drawing to show what i had in mind (though i'm bad at drawing so it's not exactly how i imagined it, but you get the idea)
drivingforceextension.gif


I'm pretty sure it wouldn't look much like that =p - What do you think? I think i might try and build it. Not sure how i'm going to build it exactly though, maybe you guys can give me some ideas. It's really going to take some planning, i really have nothing in mind yet. No idea what i'm going to use to make it or how i'm going to attach it to the wheel. I might go out look for materials sometime this week. Any help would be appreciated.
 
well, the force feedback strength would be dumbed down due to the larger diameter wheel so steering weight and perhaps feel would go south pretty badly. and unless you are VERY good, you will probably end up with a very 60's feeling solid rimmed wheel. if you reckon you can make it very sporty to the touch then go for it. but make it a detachable modification haha

just constructive criticism. would like to see how this project goes. good luck!
 
Be careful!

Measure with attention the dimensions of your new project. A heavier structure may affect force feedback working (internal overheating).
 
I replaced mine with an old steering from the end of the 60's, aluminium and wood, but very light!
I did a custom wheel adaptor, requiring cutting, grinding and welding a tube tube to a small plate.

Now, I've just replaced it with one modern bought on Ebay (very light too).

The light weight of the steering is the key.
The feedback is not affected at all... and it is a lot more comfortable and realistic! :)

Pics of the modern wheel later...
 
I don't think the force feedback would cause any problems, or be lessened to any extent. That probably depends more on what kind of materials i use and how it's attached to the wheel though i suppose.

I need to find some heavy kind of circular thing, then i can cover it up with one of those steering wheel covers you can buy, something with nice grip. I haven't been able to do any shopping for this yet. Will get on it soon hopefully. Maybe i can find some old steering wheel in a junkyard or something and modify it to fit my logitech DF.

edit: i see a lot of nice steering wheels on ebay too. Junkyard still would probably be better.
 
atteiros
If you have the skills you might want to replace the whole wheel. It looks cool when done right. You can see a pic posted by one of the members here. I have no idea how he did this... :drool:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1157135&postcount=6

I guess he has a DS2 connected at the same time so he can use the ds2 to navigate the menus. Unless he tweaked the buttons on the momo wheel to mirror the DFP's buttons.
Click to expand...

I replaced mine with an old steering from the end of the 60's, aluminium and wood, but very light!
I did a custom wheel adaptor, requiring cutting, grinding and welding a tube tube to a small plate.



Pic Link: http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/83/00017948of.jpg
 
I suppose i could replace the wheel entirely, but i don't know if i have the hardware skills to do that.

I would like to get a DFP first, but i don't really have enough cash to buy such a luxury item right now.

Don't suppose you have a guide somewhere of how you managed to that, nurburgring? :P - That could help, but even then i don't think i'd be able to do it.

I'm still thinking i'll probably attach one to the outside of the wheel somehow (such as this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Ichibahn-Blue-Black-Steering-Wheel-3017606_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33704QQitemZ8052639560QQrdZ1) I'll have to start thinking this out more and figure out what i want to do. Chances are i'll just give up on the idea and forget about it :P - I don't see it working out how i plan right now.
 
atteiros
If you have the skills you might want to replace the whole wheel. It looks cool when done right. You can see a pic posted by one of the members here. I have no idea how he did this... :drool:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1157135&postcount=6

I guess he has a DS2 connected at the same time so he can use the ds2 to navigate the menus. Unless he tweaked the buttons on the momo wheel to mirror the DFP's buttons.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is insane and awesome. Not to mention, that's perfect for other games too.
 
I just replaced my wheel with one I bought off eBay for $30. It is the best ever!!! I am so glad I did it. Drifting is so much more realistic. It seems allot easier to control your drifts with a larger diameter wheel. I have a second DFP and PS2 setup I link with my cockpit set-up. I think I am going to order another wheel for that set-up as well. I'll try to get some links to pics of my set up soon.

Here's the links to my cockpit and new steering wheel.


 
Very cool, Erocks. I'd love to have one like that. I'd rather have the buttons stay where they are though on the wheel, and if i build around the outside of the wheel that shouldn't be a prob. Still, that looks real good.
 
I was actually thinking about transfering the buttons onto the new wheel. It could be done if some of the padding was removed from the side spokes. Not sure if I'll do it though. I am already used to the controls to the left of the wheel now.
 
:odd: Why would you want a BIGGER wheel? What are you gonna do NasCrap style or something? Might as well angle your seat so the steering wheel is hitting your chest too. :dopey:
 
Tourettes Guy
:odd: Why would you want a BIGGER wheel? What are you gonna do NasCrap style or something? Might as well angle your seat so the steering wheel is hitting your chest too. :dopey:
Click to expand...

Have you ever drive a real car? The steering on the DFP is ridiculously small (except for F1!) compared to the reality... and the feeling is a lot precise and better, trust me! :)
 
Yeah, for realism, and to be more comfortable.

I've still been real lazy about this, and probably will end up not doing it. I'm kinda afraid it will look real dumb too, since i'm not good at this kind of DIY stuff, and really have no idea where to start. Maybe i'll just wait for logitech to release a bigger wheel :P

Anyone know where they sell cheap full sized steering wheels?
 
I don't think that changing the wheel size will provide any overheating. Here are some explanations for those who want to understand how things work.

When rotating an electric motor internally generates some voltage that will tend to oppose the one that is supplied to get it to rotate. This voltage gets bigger as the motor rotates faster. Thus the value of the current through the motor will be less than if no internal voltage was present to counteract the supplied voltage.

Now what happens with our force feedback motor ? Well most of the time you're trying to keep it from rotating as you want the steering to do what you want it to do and not follow what the force feedback is doing. So most of the time the motor does not generate any voltage and thus is working at a maximum current value.

So how come nothing gets fried ? This is because the motor is designed to be able to cope with some maximum current value (wires are big enough and cooling is adequate), and that the electronics driving it is most probably a current generator rather than a voltage generator. It will only provide up to some current value when full force is needed and no more.

Now if we consider what you feel in your hands, wheel size does matter. Our force feedback motor is driven by some current generator and the torque it will generate will be proportional to this current. The force that you fell in your hands is equal to the torque at the wheel shaft (which is equal to the motor torque times some gear ratio) divided by the wheel radius. As you can see the larger the wheel, the smaller the force you feel will be.

That's the end of todays physics class, I hope you enjoyed it, now let's practice and get back behind our wheels.

PhM
 
The bigger wheel lets me get more control in mid drift. I found I am getting way bigger angles in drift now also. I have even switched the wheel to 60 % power in the force feedback. Full power was still a little too much for my taste.
 
if there some way to compensate it... a big motor...
is very difficult... cuz is not only the motor... the voltage to create the feedback too...
so...
someone with electronic knowledge create a "guide to do this"...
and is better do something like nurburgring...
take of all an put a real car strening wheel...
 
Hi peeps,

I'm getting an DFP in tomorrow :)

I also want to attempt to fit a real wheel something like 280-320mm in size.

It seems quite easy to fit the wheel. Just need a metal plate with holes in the right place. Only I can't think of any way to get some buttons. And it would be VERY nice to have paddles on the back!

This is also an interesting link. Showing some more detail on the FREX adapter.
http://www.theyoda.info/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=21
 
bump

I haven't put much thought into this yet to be honest, some good replies though. I would like to get a DF Pro first. I can't afford a DFP right now though and i might as well try and experiment this idea on my original DF first, since i might screw up something, the wheel isn't worth much so it's no big deal if i screw it up somehow. Maybe If i make the DF wheel bigger, i'll like it so much i won't want to buy a DFP after that, who knows, that'd be nice :P - Looking for more input on this idea though. I think i'll try and go to an auto junkyard soon and see if i can find any good wheels that might work.

My original idea was just to add something on to the wheel itself, but i'd rather replace the whole steering wheel part of the controller. It will look fairly crappy if i just add-on to what's already there. Then again, if i were to replace the whole DF wheel, it would be much more complicated, and i'd have to figure out what to do with the buttons, since i would like to be able to control stuff in-game from the steering wheel controller.

I'm not sure what i'm going to do yet. My guess is i'll probably end up going the less complicated way of just adding something to the outside of the DF wheel to make it bigger.
 
Don't try to make your wheel bigger. Just get the G25 setup. That wheel is bigger!!
 
Sorry to add to the old bump, but I was wondering how hard was it for you guys to to do this? I know the Nardi one must of took a while, but what were some ways you other guys did it?
 
bump again, sorry. Easier than making a new thread :P

How much bigger is the G25? How does it compare against the Driving Force Pro? Which one has better shifters?
 
I don't have a DF or DFP steering wheel but I'm pretty sure this idea will work
click on the image to see it enlarged






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the whole thing can be attatched using shoe string or fishing string or any kind of string
 

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