Fanatec Clubsport Shifter SQ review

[fatkrakr]

I am deeply sorry that this is my first post but I admit that I have been reading here on GTP since quite a long time but finally I had to make a comment. I also have been "afraid" of getting a CSW because of those stories and this is why I asked the Fanatec Team about the motor problem and not just blew a bunch of crap out into the endless forum space in the web.

I will not be a part of a flame war. That's a promise!

I would also love to know what they said to you about the motors.

 

[bumer]

It has already been determined what the problem is though, the motors being used are designed to either push paper or move a printer head not run a sim wheel. The problem is my $1000 wheel has $3 motors in it.

Those motors may not be good, but you can't basically say that they are not good for sim wheel because are designed for printers. Bühler motors eKretz offers are also made for printers and work very well, but for sure you get a lot better quality for a lot higher price.

 

[magicaldog]

I hope you do order your CSW, it is only fair ordering it knowing that some of us have had issue, but most of us, me the first, would order a wheel again, even if I have had issue with a set of motor and still believe they are weak.
That said the wheel is that good and IMO above the other offering, that it is worth it. Fanatec support has always been good to me. I hope you never have to find out.
Maybe because we love Fanatec product that makes some of us whishing Fanatec would be an even better company. Overall we could all appreciate better reliability and more transparency.

Hi there Cote D !

I received my CSS SQ wednesday and have mounted it on my CSL Seat.

I have tried it with both Assetto Corsa and RBR and I must say it takes my Sim racing immersion to a whole new level.

Now the non paddle cars are really fun to drive too.

The F40, Lotus 49 and BMW M3 GT2 are hilariously fun to drive with a stick.

 

[fatkrakr]

Those motors may not be good, but you can't basically say that they are not good for sim wheel because are designed for printers. Bühler motors eKretz offers are also made for printers and work very well, but for sure you get a lot better quality for a lot higher price.

I believe the motors eKretz is using are designed for vending machines. The ones that have the mechanism go to your soda selection picks up your soda and delivers it to the dispenser. They are a much higher quality than the Fanatec motors. Your right they were not designed to use in a sim wheel this was the best work around he could find. I am sure the motors he is using wouldn't be his first choice either, but he had limits he need to stay within. Doesn't really matter though what the motor was designed for as long as it will do the job. The Fanatec motors wont do what they are being asked to do.

 

[RacerXX]

If you are handy there are various options. Some are direct drop-in and cheap - I've gatherered a number over time for the heck of it. Generally I get them for 4-10 dollars. One I came across drops in and has +30% TQ. Or if set to stock torque would last WAY longer since the motor is not run to the very edge. As I've noted it also helps immensely to get the drag lower since then the motors don't have all the drag compensation drive all the time during movement. And then that same force, instead of being "wasted" cancelling the high drag, instead can turn into FFB forces. You could go with way better motors but again as I've noted, it makes little sense to replicate existing design limitations. That's doing things the hard way instead of moving forward.

 

[raptoronwheelz]

What's the thread size and pitch on the shaft?

 

[mrbasher]

What's the thread size and pitch on the shaft?

The thread is M12x1.5

 

[CFD3Captain]

Well I just had my second CSS SQ take a ****. I should NOT need to take it a part and fix something myself. I am almost fed up with them all together. I am about to sell it all.

 

[DeeVeePee]

Hi guys,

I am a bit irritated that you prefer guessing what the motor problem was instead of asking Fanatec by yourselves!? The problem was heat. One (big) batch of motors from the supplier was not up to the task to work in the conditions inside the CSW if you drive it for longer turns. Now they are testing all motors in production to make sure all is fine. Since ~ May 2013 (varies a bit due to the worldwide distribution) they are using only the tested motors in production and for all repairs. Since then there is no single confirmed case that any of those tested motors did show any problem like this again.

 

[magicaldog]

Hi guys,

I am a bit irritated that you prefer guessing what the motor problem was instead of asking Fanatec by yourselves!? The problem was heat. One (big) batch of motors from the supplier was not up to the task to work in the conditions inside the CSW if you drive it for longer turns. Now they are testing all motors in production to make sure all is fine. Since ~ May 2013 (varies a bit due to the worldwide distribution) they are using only the tested motors in production and for all repairs. Since then there is no single confirmed case that any of those tested motors did show any problem like this again.

That explain why my CSW has been working flawless since I bought it in July 2013

 

[Carson79]

I am scared to even tempt fate by saying this, but since my last motor change (it being in double figures now!) these one's are holding up. It only took like 18 months for that to happen though! A lot of headaches and emails for something that was the manufacturers fault.
@DeeVeePee I don't understand why you are getting irritated with Fanatec customers that have had many valid problems with their Fanatec equipment. It's Fanatec's responsibility to provide fully working reliable equipment, they get paid for it after all. So it's more than normal for people to share their experiences good and BAD!

 

[DeeVeePee]

@Carson79
I am not irritated by comments about problems in general. I was talking about mentalists preaching...CSW will fail by design, the motors will always break down, blablablabla

 

[paskowitz]

Hi guys,

I am a bit irritated that you prefer guessing what the motor problem was instead of asking Fanatec by yourselves!? The problem was heat. One (big) batch of motors from the supplier was not up to the task to work in the conditions inside the CSW if you drive it for longer turns. Now they are testing all motors in production to make sure all is fine. Since ~ May 2013 (varies a bit due to the worldwide distribution) they are using only the tested motors in production and for all repairs. Since then there is no single confirmed case that any of those tested motors did show any problem like this again.

I can 100% confirm this has NOT been the case for me. I am just going to leave it at that.


I think customers are more "upset" about the fact this has been a known issue for quite some time and Fanatec stopped allowing users to replace the motors themselves.

 

[DeeVeePee]

I think customers are more "upset" about the fact this has been a known issue for quite some time and Fanatec stopped allowing users to replace the motors themselves.

I know...I wanted to exchange the motors by myself which was not possible anymore at that time. Do you know why? I asked and received a good reason.

 

[Cote Dazur]

@Carson79
I am not irritated by comments about problems in general. I was talking about mentalists preaching...CSW will fail by design, the motors will always break down, blablablabla

Thank you for sharing your opinion on your post number 4, which is the same as post number one. Not sure what you are trying to achieve but pretending that their has been no motor failure since May 2013 is not true.

 

[DeeVeePee]

Tell me details (by PM). I have been in touch with a Fanatec Support agent and if can try if I can get some more information. Btw.: I did not say that there has been no motor failure since May 2013!?

 

[Cote Dazur]

Tell me details (by PM). I have been in touch with a Fanatec Support agent and if can try if I can get some more information. Btw.: I did not say that there has been no motor failure since May 2013!?

Fair enough, then what do you mean by" Since then there is no single confirmed case that any of those tested motors did show any problem like this again "

It reads to me like: since they allegedly started testing the motors in May 2013, no problem of burning motors, since this is the issue we are discussing, have been reported, therefore none exist.

 

[DeeVeePee]

It reads to me like: since they allegedly started testing the motors in May 2013, no problem of burning motors, since this is the issue we are discussing, have been reported, therefore none exist.

Motors in wheels which have been sold before around may 2013 still can get defective later on, right?

 

[Cote Dazur]

Motors in wheels which have been sold before around may 2013 still can get defective later on, right?

Absolutely, thank you for the clarification, so you are saying that there has not been any motor failure in Elite/CSW wheel base with motors received after may 2013.

 

[eKretz]

If you are handy there are various options. Some are direct drop-in and cheap - I've gatherered a number over time for the heck of it. Generally I get them for 4-10 dollars. One I came across drops in and has +30% TQ. Or if set to stock torque would last WAY longer since the motor is not run to the very edge. As I've noted it also helps immensely to get the drag lower since then the motors don't have all the drag compensation drive all the time during movement. And then that same force, instead of being "wasted" cancelling the high drag, instead can turn into FFB forces. You could go with way better motors but again as I've noted, it makes little sense to replicate existing design limitations. That's doing things the hard way instead of moving forward.

Here we go with more baloney. Changing to any motor that is not exactly the same as the stock motor will affect linearity of the motor response, which in your other thread is SUCH a big no-no. Your $4-$10 motors are not even on the same league as a Bühler motor, and if you have any sense or skill as an engineer you know it. If it's so easy to do for these guys why don't you shut your yap about it and make a step by step guide so they can do it? Then we'll see who actually does it and if it even holds up. The Bühler mod works fantastic and has not one single dissatisfied user, though according to you it's doing things the "hard" way and "wasting" forces. (Though the stock motors also use the drag cancelation routine, and so do YOURS for that matter, so I guess they are all wasteful.) We've been through this many times and I'm getting tired of it. Perhaps my wheel has slightly more drag than yours (maybe, but we don't know for sure since you don't really detail any of your mod work) but FAR less than a stock wheel. Doesn't really affect linearity. The MOTORS themselves do.

As far as the "new" Fanatec motors being any better I can't help with that because I don't have any stock motors made after May 2013. However they have the same excuse prior to that date and stated that there were "new batch" motors that weren't defective and I had a pair of those fail.

 

[eKretz]

Also, this is from a British friend who just had a 5 week old wheel fail:

I have brought 6 Fanatec wheels for myself and all have been returned at least once. 3 with losing centre, 3 have had motor issues in 6 years. Plus the 2 CSW I brought for a friend coz he didn't have paypal. 1 went back with motor issue, 1 is still working.

I have messaged him to clarify if his 5 week old wheel has had a motor failure or something else.

 

[Carson79]

@Carson79
I am not irritated by comments about problems in general. I was talking about mentalists preaching...CSW will fail by design, the motors will always break down, blablablabla

Well in my case the motors have always broke down .... at least one a month from October 2012.
I really don't understand your crusade, Fanatec is a big company and are more than capable of fighting their own battles.
How many different products have you owned, how many have developed issues?
Do you know how frustrating it is when you save your hard earned cash for something to then wait weeks or months on it being delivered, to then spend a year and a half getting to know the UPS guys better than the product you purchased.
Worrying every time you use it, could this be the time it fails again??
Until that has happened to you don't tell us that have had real issues that its BS, BLAH BLAH BLAH

 

[magicaldog]

Well in my case the motors have always broke down .... at least one a month from October 2012.
I really don't understand your crusade, Fanatec is a big company and are more than capable of fighting their own battles.
How many different products have you owned, how many have developed issues?
Do you know how frustrating it is when you save your hard earned cash for something to then wait weeks or months on it being delivered, to then spend a year and a half getting to know the UPS guys better than the product you purchased.
Worrying every time you use it, could this be the time it fails again??
Until that has happened to you don't tell us that have had real issues that its BS, BLAH BLAH BLAH

I'd love to see how you use your Sim Gear

 

[Carson79]

LOL not as much as I should have considering all the down time


This was me with the T500 lol I'm a real beast

 

[Cote Dazur]

Nice setup Carson79.👍
From what I can see from this video, we are using our wheels the same way, yes I know,what the odds of that happening.

 

[bumer]

Well in my case the motors have always broke down .... at least one a month from October 2012.

You must be the most unluckiest person in whole simracing history. Some of us have not had any problems with motors while you have every month for a year and a half now. Hope you have sold your gear long ago to get rid of your misery and still use your T500 or whatever else.

 

[fatkrakr]

Hi guys,

I am a bit irritated that you prefer guessing what the motor problem was instead of asking Fanatec by yourselves!? The problem was heat. One (big) batch of motors from the supplier was not up to the task to work in the conditions inside the CSW if you drive it for longer turns. Now they are testing all motors in production to make sure all is fine. Since ~ May 2013 (varies a bit due to the worldwide distribution) they are using only the tested motors in production and for all repairs. Since then there is no single confirmed case that any of those tested motors did show any problem like this again.

Just checked and my new replacement wheel base was shipped out around July 23, 2013. Guess that holds about as true as it did the first time Fanatec used that line.

 

[eKretz]

I think he is just one of those guys that believes everything anyone in a position of authority tells him.

I will say this also regarding motor failures: I've noticed that the PS3's GT5 really heats the FFB motors heavily compared to any other sims. We're talking like a minimum of 30°-40° F difference! I would be curious how much GT5 the guys with a lot of motor failures played.

 

[Cote Dazur]

I was playing GT5 a lot when I had one of my motor go bad, since late 2013 I have been playing mostly AC and Race07 before that, and, touch wood, no more motor issue.
I also have to say that I am monitoring the temperature of my wheel with a Temp gauge and lowers the FFB at the wheel as soon as it reaches over 29 Celsius.
Better be safe than sorry, It all might be for nothing, as I truly wish "The VP" is right about the "new batch", but I do not think so.
In any case checking the temperature gives me peace of mind and almost adds to the immersion, as it is a little like checking water temp in a real car.

I agree GT5 generates a lot of heat from the motors, a little bit of a non sense as it is also the FFB with the less details, mostly only weight transfer.

All that said I am totally enjoying my Elite wheel and recommend to anyone in search of a great wheel to go ahead with a CSW. It is, in my book, totally worth the possible technical issues. No fatal injuries reported so far.

I might enjoy it even more when I install my mod kit from eKretz that I received last week.

 

[Carson79]

I think he is just one of those guys that believes everything anyone in a position of authority tells him.

I will say this also regarding motor failures: I've noticed that the PS3's GT5 really heats the FFB motors heavily compared to any other sims. We're talking like a minimum of 30°-40° F difference! I would be curious how much GT5 the guys with a lot of motor failures played.

I have only ever played GT5/6 I keep the FFB turned down in game to 5 with the CSW, but had it at 10 with the T500.
The T500 was sold before I took delivery of the CSW. The latest motors are working fine for a few months now, but I have had annoying issue with the BMW rim when using the direction stick. It triggers the start and X button when scrolling in menus, and Fanatec have been unable to find a solution.