Can I OIL (lublicate) the innards of my DFGT? Its kind of rough nasty and noisy

[xSNAKEx]

I'll say from the start I have little to no knowledge about what the insides of simwheels are like.

But... I've felt a few around and am noticing big differences even withinin the same model. And mine feeels different whether its warmed up or been left in the cold.

It's got me thinking if I could smoothen up the way the wheel works if I open it up and add some kind of appropriate lubricant to it myslef, I'm thinkining in liberal ammounts. Have other people gone about doing this? Can it break it and how is it done? Any guides out there for the DFGT?

 

[xSNAKEx]

Just to elaborate on the differences I've noticed. A friend has a DFGT as well, he got it before I got mine, has barely used, it and I can definitively say his one is much rougher coarser and louder in feel than mine, and both have seen about the same use, which is very little..
And no I'm not reffering to force feedback settings or anything silly or setting related like that. I mean even when its off, just raw mechanical friction is very different on both. And they're the same model! Mine is bad but his is just terrible. It almost feels like your grinding sand.

Mind you he got his wheel with GT5p when it was launched and I got mine a few months ago new in preperation for GT5, so I thought it may have been something like his oil had dried up a bit or something else is different, but I hardly doubt the design has changed and I can conclusively remember using his one when he got it new and many times after that and it was identical to how it is now; i.e always felt very different to mine.

I like the DFGT wheel a lot, even small shifting buttons work for me (I hate the huge in your way metal g25/27 ones) but the noise and friction from this wheel is just ridiculous. Maybe its because I'm comparing it to a g27 Ive also used which is so smooth friction free and next to noiseless, but I feel this is how all sim wheels should be from the start.

The DFGT is just not practical cos its so rough and noisy.

When i use mine I'm under pressure not to make make sudden moves just to keep the noise down and you shoulnd't be under this influence while trying to drive.
Whenever my wheel is used you can literally hear it from anywhere in the home. I am sure when I use it in my room for GT5 it will sound like I am building terminators inside to anyone nearby. Its way too loud to be practical.

For the Lubricant, I was thinking something like Lucal Oil stabilizer, as even in my car adding some I can notice the engine running smother and with less resistance.

But I know for example the g27 has more helical supercharger type gears instead of direct gear to gear and this accounts for the majority to all of the difference bretween the two wheels, but I'm just wondering how much smoother I can make mine with some extra lubricant in there. And by "in there" I actual mean I dont know where, so if anyone is willinng to let me know where to add preferably with some pics it I will certainly try it if its reasnable idea and let you guys know if it goes well.

 

[HKS racer]

I don't know if you can lubrificate it, probably not. DFGT is noisy but i need to consider the price and the fact the wheel works good anyway.

 

[xSNAKEx]

I still don't see why you could not add extra lubricant to the mechanical moving parts. Especially with all this modding around this should be one of the most simple things to do.It would be helpful even seeing some pics of the inside of the DFGT

 

[the_greeze]

Pop it open and have a look Snake. Nothing bad is going to happen if you just want to take a look...

 

[spyrrari]

I still don't see why you could not add extra lubricant to the mechanical moving parts. Especially with all this modding around this should be one of the most simple things to do.It would be helpful even seeing some pics of the inside of the DFGT

I have opened up my DFGT wheel several times to lubricate it and its very easy...

If you open it up you will see that it ia all very professionally build and the moving parts are all in the open and easy to get to...

Just make sure you use a lubricant which is especially made for plastic moving parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,any other will be too agressive and will probably eat away,or damage the internals...put the lubricant on all moving parts you see and you don't have to hold back with it.....

Than when closing the cover back on again,you have to mind this....:

Make sure the sequential shifter goos back in the exact right place,it hangs loose after opening so taqke attention to it!!
Make sure the cover fits properly especially were the wheel comes out of the box...it is a very tight fit and therefor needs to be placed perfectly....
Make sure you don't screw the screws back too tight...it is plastic where you screw them in,so you can easily damage the holes by over doing it,and it only has to hold the cover in place so there is also no need to ....

Happy driving... 👍


spy.

 

[xSNAKEx]

thanks for the rpely. Spyrarri, I was thinkiing of using this http://www.lucasoil.co.uk/products/10001.jpg

How many moving parts are plastic anyway? I'm not even sure where to find suitable plastic friendly lubricant.

Also I assume since oil is non conductive even excessive spilling into components like circuit boards or the motor shouldn't have a negative impact?

mine is still under warranty as I only got it a few months ago so I was hoping for a guide or something before I delve in, but I will probably give it a go as its getting annoyong. How were the results of your oiling btw?

 

[spyrrari]

thanks for the rpely. Spyrarri, I was thinkiing of using this http://www.lucasoil.co.uk/products/10001.jpg

How many moving parts are plastic anyway? I'm not even sure where to find suitable plastic friendly lubricant.

Also I assume since oil is non conductive even excessive spilling into components like circuit boards or the motor shouldn't have a negative impact?

mine is still under warranty as I only got it a few months ago so I was hoping for a guide or something before I delve in, but I will probably give it a go as its getting annoyong. How were the results of your oiling btw?

No problem,(btw,its spyrrari....as in spying on a ferrari... lol)



All parts except offcourse the electric motor are plastic...
That link you showed is for iron parts and is highly agressive!!!!don't use it!!!!!


Just go to any hardware store or radiocontroll toys store or something simular and they know what to use...if i where you i would use something more solid than thin oil,because _as you mentioned- it is less likely to spil on other parts...

You can offcourse also change your wheel cause of the warrenty,but in time your new wheel might need the same medical care...




spy.

 

[xSNAKEx]

Lol the only reason I raised the Oil stabilizer link s a good oil to use is because I remember their used to be a little demo of it in the motor shop of a transparent case with plastic cogs inside and a handle to turn it so you could compare regular oil to that lucas stuff and how much smoother it is. The parts were all plastic and didn't show sign of wear.

Also I'm very newb at this type of hardware, but I take it I shouldn't be oiling any insides of the electric motor just external moving parts?

On the using a more solid oil subject, I actually think a looser more free flowing oil would be better, since a thick lubricant might end up causing more noise and friction than a thinner alternative, but I do understand it should stay on the parts.

Anyways the main thing I'm happy to have found out is its safe to use in liberal amounts and others have done it.

 

[HBR-Roadhog]

I am wondering what makes you think that oil is non conductive? I would use caution and keep it away from electrical circuts.

 

[the_greeze]

Yep, keep it out of the internals of the motor(s) 👍

The voltages are too low in the DFGT to worry about the oil conducting electricity. That said, don't go sloshing it all over the boards!

 

[HBR-Roadhog]

Ah yes I was not thinking about how low the voltage is. Just the comment of oil not be conductive was a bit odd to me.

At low voltages oil is not conductive enough to cause a dead short but it will still conduct some current and could cause things not to work properly..

 

[bibio]

Hi, look at Silicon Grease, or check out synthetic oil, rather than mineral.


Cheers BOB

 

[xSNAKEx]

Most common oils are definitively non conductive from what i know.
I'm wondering what made you think it is?

Just because something is a fluid or liquid doesn't mean its conductive.

Actually I think oil is a better electrical insulator than air. Its not just because the DFGT has low voltages which make oil safe to use in it, its because of oils are general not conductive.

Before you try tear that apart lol, no research on my part, I just always have had feeling thsi was the case since I know from ages ago many people used to submerge their bare pc circuits in oil to cool them.

Yup bilbio silicon oil sounds like a great idea, smooth and doesn't dry up. I use it on the motor belts in my car. Btw silicon is an insulator on its own and used to insulate computer chips

I guess its silicon oil then?

spyrrari s the only other person I know of that has done this yourself, what did you use out of curiosity and how was the result.

 

[spyrrari]

Most common oils are definitively non conductive from what i know.
I'm wondering what made you think it is?

Just because something is a fluid or liquid doesn't mean its conductive.

Actually I think oil is a better electrical insulator than air. Its not just because the DFGT has low voltages which make oil safe to use in it, its because of oils are general not conductive.

Before you try tear that apart lol, no research on my part, I just always have had feeling thsi was the case since I know from ages ago many people used to submerge their bare pc circuits in oil to cool them.

Yup bilbio silicon oil sounds like a great idea, smooth and doesn't dry up. I use it on the motor belts in my car. Btw silicon is an insulator on its own and used to insulate computer chips

I guess its silicon oil then?

spyrrari s the only other person I know of that has done this yourself, what did you use out of curiosity and how was the result.

I used a silicone grease stuff(don't have it anymore so can't tell you the brand)wich i bought at a radio controll shop here in Holland...its especially made for plastic internalls for radiocontrolled cars/choppers/boats etc etc...you apply the grease with a small paint brush onto the wheels etc etc inside the wheelbox so you don't spill any grease where you are not supposed to....
Its something like this:http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...4/products_id/38181/n/Traxxas-Silicone-Grease



The result whas a much smoother feel from the wheel and much less noise!!....👍👍👍



spy.

 

[sideshowfrost]

If oil conducts then this guy is **** out of luck:

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/01/mineral_oil_computer_cooling_s.php

 

[hrtrob]

I opened up my DFGT and lubricated the gears using "Tamiya Ceramic Grease" which I also use for the gearboxes of my RC cars, so I know it's good stuff. DO NOT USE OIL! Drop by your local hobby shop and pick up a tube of hobby grade grease, they are made for high-temperature, high-RPM applications so they should be more then adequate for the DFGT

 

[nurburgring]

For years, I just put car grease, only on the gears. Still working great !

 

[No46_TheDoctor]

Don't use oil, use Silicone Grease, it's plastic friendly and won't eat the insulayion of the cables, I use it on the cables passing through the wheel assembly on my G25 as I have about 25 cores passing through it as opposed to the original 5 or so.